ChrisWeigant.com

Friday Talking Points -- We Don't Need No Education! We Don't Need No Thought Control!

[ Posted Friday, May 7th, 2021 – 17:22 UTC ]

In 2018, Democrats dominated the midterm elections. This was not historically unusual, although the size of the victory was at the high end of the scale. Since there is now a Democrat in the White House, the 2022 election has to be seen as tilted towards the Republicans. But there is one very potent issue that Democrats should truly begin exploiting -- in the same manner they exploited healthcare in 2018. Back then, Democrats ran on a very obvious choice: vote for us, we will try to make health insurance cheaper and easier to get, while Republicans' only answer is to repeal Obamacare (which, by then, had become quite popular). It worked. In 2022, the Democrats' message should be: vote for us, we will make [or, if it passes, "we made"] four additional years of education free, while Republicans told you it was evil and socialism and maybe even communism -- while they fought hard against two free years of preschool for America's children.

This is a truly perfect message, because it aims right at the heart of the key demographic battleground: suburban women. Who here thinks suburban women are going to militantly fight against free preschool and two years of free community college? Because that is exactly what the new Republican position is. Don't believe this? Here they are in their own words:

Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell: "[the Biden administration] wants to jack up taxes in order to nudge families toward the kinds of jobs Democrats want them to have, in the kinds of industries Democrats want to exist, with the kinds of cars Democrats want them to drive, using the kinds of child-care arrangements that Democrats want them to pursue." Those dastardly Democrats! Forcing people not to pay for child care! Oh, the horror!

Senator Tim Scott (in his response to Biden's speech to Congress): "[Democrats want] to put Washington even more in the middle of your life, from the cradle to college." To Republicans, providing free schooling is somehow the jackboot of tyranny, obviously.

Senator Josh Hawley, speaking of the Biden proposal: "I think there's a lot of lefty social engineering paid for by mortgaging the future of my children and my grandchildren." Mortgaging the future of grandchildren to pay for the grandchildren's school? Oh when will this nightmare end?!?

Senator Marsha Blackburn: "[Biden's proposal would] incentivize women to rely on the federal government to organize their lives. Three-year-old pre-K, they're going to mandate this. Two years of college, whether you like it or not. These are the things that take away choices from the American people. It favors those who want power and control over every single minute of your day. It is disgusting." None of this is true, of course -- nothing will be "mandated" or "whether you like it or not." That's just unadulterated moosepoop. And free school somehow "takes away choices from the American people." Like the choice of paying for school, or doing without. The death of freedom! She went further, during Biden's speech, tweeting an article from 1974 about the prevalence of affordable child care in the Soviet Union, with the text: "You know who else liked universal day care". Seriously -- universal pre-K is going to mean Marx and the commies take over our country? Say what???

Last Sunday, Chris Wallace of Fox News finally asked the question we have been urging all journalists to ask Republicans. Speaking to Senator Bill Cassidy of Louisiana, Wallace ran down the actual items in the Biden proposal, one by one. And then he asked: "Which of these programs do you think people in your state don't need?" Cassidy tried the standard GOP talking point: "It's not a bridge, dammit!" No, seriously, here was his answer:

It's not infrastructure. When people say, "Wait a second, I like this because we need a new bridge across the Calcasieu River in Lake Charles," I'm saying this plan will not give it to you. The amount of spending for roads and bridges is so low and split between 50 states over 5 years, you're not going to get your bridge. Now we may need this. But that is not going to give you a road and bridge. And that's what people in my state would really like to see.

This is ridiculous nonsense, of course. Who cares whether it's a bridge or not -- is it a good idea? Which (to our astonishment and to his credit) Wallace actually called out:

There are a lot of programs that aren't infrastructure and the question I'm asking you is would you support the government paying for them? I looked into it, in your state of Louisiana, the rate of child poverty is 25 percent -- one in four of the children in Louisiana are in poverty. And according to the White House, 42 percent of residents in Louisiana do not have access to child care. So wouldn't they benefit -- forget whether it's infrastructure or not -- wouldn't they benefit from these government programs?

This is precisely the question they all need to be asked. Repeatedly. Because they simply have no viable answer to it. Here is Cassidy's weak attempt:

I don't know if they would. If you think about the main driver of elevating out of poverty, it's good education. What we saw during the pandemic was teachers Unions keeping schools shut even when the Centers for Disease Control said it was safe to go back. The president wants to give universal pre-K run by the same teachers Unions. There's more money going to the school systems and the Unions and yet they still won't open? Not because the C.D.C. says it's not safe, but because they don't want to? Your kids are not going to have a better education. They're just not. So whether or not these programs benefit those who need it, we don't know.

Got all that? It's more than just anti-teacher word salad. First, education fights poverty the best. Second, if we spend money on education, then some of it finds its way into teachers' pockets and we obviously can't sanction that. Third, school reopenings! This issue is going to be almost totally forgotten by the 2022 election cycle, though. And finally, who knows? Maybe education doesn't actually benefit anyone, so of course we're against free education for the one-fourth of my state's children who live in poverty.

The disconnect between the Republican position and reality is just breathtaking. And breathtakingly stupid, since (once again) suburban moms may be the most important swing demographic in the midterms. Republicans lost them and lost them badly the last two election cycles, so if they lose them a third time it might permanently move them over to the Democratic coalition. And you know what Republicans are patting themselves on the back over -- their secret scheme to win back these same moms? Banning transgender kids from participating in school sports. That's it. That's their big wedge issue. Because it is so obviously more important to moms and dads than free preschool.

So we'll have banning transgender kids versus free pre-K and free community college, which will extend by four years the very same free public education that already exists in this country. Which the Republicans are planning on fighting on ideological grounds of "taking away your freedom" and "communism!" They're not even going to attempt to make a practical argument, because the practical argument boils down to: "You should have to pay a lot of money for your 3-year-old and 4-year-old to go to school. You should have to pay for community college. Pull yourselves up by your bootstraps, dammit!"

That, pretty obviously, should be a pretty easy political battle to win. On one side is a sane and reasonable solution to a problem that tens of millions of parents face and worry about, and on the other side is... free education is the Soviet Union? Seriously, what are they going to do, play Pink Floyd at their rallies? "We don't need no education / We don't need no thought control." Good luck with that, you know, with all those suburban moms out there. Maybe a laser light show would help?

This is a fight Democrats should be relishing just as much as they did the healthcare issue in 2018. Because this is what a winning issue looks like, plain and simple.

Speaking of Democrats and winning, President Joe Biden had another pretty good week. He did what could accurately be called "the most Biden-ey thing ever" this week, by helping Amtrak celebrate its 50th birthday. And you could just see how much fun he had while doing so.

Biden gave a few speeches to increase the already-high support for his two current big legislative agenda items, down in Louisiana -- a state that didn't vote for him, but is still (of course) part of America. Nothing like a bipartisan travel itinerary, eh?

The president also killed off forever the last remnants of Donald Trump's grandiose border wall project, and returned the money to the Pentagon (from where Trump had stolen it).

Also, his press secretary hinted that a new First Cat is on the horizon, predicting (probably pretty accurately) that it will "break the internet" when announced. All in all, a pretty good week.

And to end on a positive note, America just got at least a first vaccine shot into the 150-millionth arm. This is more than 45 percent of the total population of the country, and a stunning achievement in its own right. Of course, from this point on it is going to get harder and harder to convince people to get a shot, but for now the program is still hitting impressive milestones.

 

Most Impressive Democrat Of The Week

It was kind of a quiet week all around, really. Politics usually takes somewhat of a break after a big presidential speech to Congress, and this week was no different. So for both awards, we're not even going to hand out the major statuettes, and will retire them to the shelf until next week (unless we missed someone glaringly obvious, so feel free as always to make suggestions/nominations in the comments).

We do have one minor award in each category, however.

Nancy Pelosi is no stranger to snark. And this week, her office couldn't resist weighing in on the turmoil in the House Republican caucus. While one line of this sounds like Pelosi made up some hyperbole, sadly, she didn't have to. Here is the full text her tongue-in-cheek press release (titled "Seeking Replacement for House Republican Conference Chair"):

Word is out that House GOP Leaders are looking to push Rep. Liz Cheney from her post as House Republican Conference Chair -- their most senior woman in GOP leadership -- for a litany of very Republican reasons: she won't lie, she isn't humble enough, she's like a girlfriend rooting for the wrong team, and more.

So what exactly are House GOP Leaders looking for in a #3? ... they want a woman who isn't a "threat" to them.

Again, that "girlfriend rooting for the wrong team" came straight out of the mouth of a Republican, not Pelosi. For pointing all this out (with extra snark), Pelosi and her press office deserve at least an Honorable Mention.

 

Most Disappointing Democrat Of The Week

Once again, this simply does not rise to the level of the main award, so instead we're awarding a (Dis-)Honorable Mention award to all the Democratic candidates in the race for a special House election in Texas. The "jungle primary" was held this week, and the only two who will be advancing are both Republicans -- which locks Democrats out even before the final voting begins. We can't say it was exactly "dishonorable," but it was certainly disappointing. Just not enough to rise to the level of a Most Disappointing Democrat Of The Week award, that's all.

 

Friday Talking Points

Volume 617 (5/7/21)

There were a lot of little issues this week, some of which had to wind up on the cutting room floor, but the seriousness of the direction of the Republican Party (or as we dub it, the "Big Lie Party") simply took precedence. What the Republicans are doing is downright dangerous not just for their party, but for the country and for our democracy. By centering their party around Trump's Big Lie and by sowing so much doubt and distrust about the most secure election in American history, they are setting up a situation where the next presidential election might indeed be stolen. By them. So we had to pay a goodly amount of attention to these developments, this week.

 

1
   A nightmare? Spend a morning with my kids, that'll teach you what the word means!

This one is so easy, it is pathetic.

"Republicans are going to try to somehow fearmonger providing help for parents with child care, two free years of preschool, and two free years of community college as some sort of far-left socialist nightmare. Seriously. How many parents are going to recoil in horror at the news that their 3- or 4-year-old can go to pre-K for free? Or that their teen will be able to attend community college tuition-free? Does that sound like some sort of nightmare to you? And it'll all be paid for -- by rich corporations and the richest-of-the-rich individual taxpayers. If you don't make $400,000 a year, your taxes will not go up. That is somehow socialism? That is some sort of loss of freedom? That is some kind of nightmare? You know what? Democrats know that the American voter is a lot smarter than that, and will not be hoodwinked by ideological fearmongering."

 

2
   Trickle-down ain't working

This was from an address Joe Biden gave right in front of that bridge the Louisiana Republican senator was blathering about. Biden frames this issue perfectly, so we find we cannot improve on his words (except, perhaps, we would have used "Democratic road" at the end, there... just sayin'...):

In my view, it's an easy choice between giving tax breaks to corporations and the super wealthy and investing in working families.... [The Trump tax cut] created a two-trillion-dollar deficit with the vast majority of that going to the top one-tenth of one percent of the wage earners. I don't want to punish anybody.... Just pay your fair share.... Trickle down ain't working very well. We've got to build from the bottom up.... I've never seen a Republican or Democrat road. I just see roads.

 

3
   The Big Lie Party

They have redefined themselves, so let's call them what they truly now are, shall we?

"There is no Republican Party left. Instead, it has been replaced by the Big Lie Party. There is no unifying ideology, no platform, no core party belief anymore except one -- absolute worship of one man and whatever he is for or against on that given day. That's it. They are about to kick out one of the highest-ranking GOP leaders in Congress for daring to tell the truth when the rest of the party is quite content to run on Trump's Big Lie that the election was somehow stolen from him. All the other Republicans are just fine with swearing that the emperor's new clothes are gorgeous (and, of course, visible), while Liz Cheney cried out forcefully: 'but he's naked!' Because they really don't want to hear that -- the truth simply is not allowed in the party any more -- she has to be booted from her leadership post and another woman who totally supports this false conspiracy theory will take her place. Their one north star is now not only Donald Trump, but his Big Lie. Their biggest legislative agenda items at the state level is 'fixing' the problem of 'election security' which does not actually exist. That's what they stand for, and that is precisely what they are doing with their power. So why not just start calling them the Big Lie Party? Because that's really all they have become."

 

4
   A threat to democracy

Liz Cheney's got a tough week ahead. Earlier in the week, we wrote an article about Cheney's extraordinary opinion piece in the Washington Post, which (as we showed) actually stood for truth, justice, and the American way. And against her party's stance on all three of those. But there were two other quotes worth mentioning from Cheney this week as well. Democrats should print these out and have them at the ready for any interview they do.

First, the quote that got her into trouble. Trump tried to float a new bit of gaslighting: that the falsehood that the election was stolen from him was not only actually true, but that the Democrats were the ones guilty of "THE BIG LIE" for pointing out this reality. Cheney fired back on Twitter, within hours:

The 2020 presidential election was not stolen. Anyone who claims it was is spreading THE BIG LIE, turning their back on the rule of law, and poisoning our democratic system.

This, of course, is now heresy within the Republican Party. You simply cannot just stand up and blurt out the truth like that! What was she thinking?!?

Later, at a closed-door conservative conference, she was even more explicit about the direction of her party:

We can't embrace the notion the election is stolen. It's a poison in the bloodstream of our democracy. We can't whitewash what happened on January sixth or perpetuate Trump's Big Lie. It is a threat to democracy. What he did on January sixth is a line that cannot be crossed.

 

5
   Cult of personality

Democrats are already getting gleeful at how closely the Republicans are tying themselves to Trump and his endless whining about his election loss. This will help Democrats, heading into the midterms.

"The Republican Party has become, in Liz Cheney's words, a 'dangerous and anti-democratic Trump cult of personality.' Lindsey Graham admitted as much, later in the week. But every Democrat out there should really understand the depth of what we are fighting. Here is an extraordinary quote from a Michigan Republican organizer, explaining her views on the matter:"

I think I speak for many people in that Trump has never actually been wrong, and so we've learned to trust when he says something, that he's not just going to spew something out there that's wrong and not verified.

"Got that? Donald Trump, who uttered over 30,000 lies during his time in office, has, quote, never actually been wrong, unquote. That is what we're up against, folks. Blind faith. Belief in something that just isn't so. And a fierce and rabid determination to cling to that belief. Or, to put it another way, a cult."

 

6
   Country getting more bipartisan all the time

It would be useful for Democrats to start separating "Washington Republicans" from the rest of reality. Since they've already voluntarily done so themselves, this is really just pointing it out.

"As Joe Biden likes to point out, the country itself is pretty bipartisan in what they want to see from the government. When he gave a speech in Louisiana this week, a Republican mayor introduced him with some support for his infrastructure plans. All of the items on Biden's jobs agenda and families agenda poll with incredible bipartisan support from the public. It is only the Washington Republicans who refuse to recognize this new bipartisan reality. They are the ones refusing to take part in any of it, even though their own constituents want to see Biden's plan succeed. Mitch McConnell just swore he was going to devote 'one hundred percent' of his energy to stopping all of Biden's plans. That is not what the country wants. Not by a long shot. Republicans just keep getting more and more extreme and out of touch -- even with their own voters -- with every passing day."

 

7
   General meltdown

Hoo boy. Imagine for one tiny minute what Foxlandia would be saying now if this had been a Democrat and not a Republican!

"Michael Flynn, who pled guilty to lying to the F.B.I. about a Russian contact and was later pardoned by Trump, just proved how much of a patriot he isn't. He was trying to lead a crowd in the Pledge of Allegiance, a pledge that every schoolchild in America gets drilled into them until it is actually hard not to remember it. The Pledge is only 31 words long, folks -- it's really nowhere near as tough as the National Anthem or anything. And this, mind you, is coming from a retired 3-star general. Here is what he came up with, before just lapsing into silence as the crowd corrected him: 'I pledge of [sic] allegiance to the flag of the United States of America, individual [sic]....' Seriously. He added one word ("of"), possibly changed another word ("individual," although it's hard to hear, he might have correctly used "indivisible") and left out 12 intervening words. Can you just imagine the faux outrage from the right if a Democrat had face-planted this badly?"

-- Chris Weigant

 

Follow Chris on Twitter: @ChrisWeigant

Cross-posted at: Democratic Underground

 

103 Comments on “Friday Talking Points -- We Don't Need No Education! We Don't Need No Thought Control!”

  1. [1] 
    Kick wrote:

    I'm [not] powerless to stop myself!

    This one goes out to JL's number one son:

    Sacha Baron Cohen - Original King Julien

    Because Baron... you know, a Lord in the mother country. :)

  2. [2] 
    John M from Ct. wrote:

    On number seven, wherein Flynn forgot about Richard Stans, I note yet another example of us good honest liberals wanting to have our political criticism both ways.

    The lead is "Imagine for one tiny minute what Foxlandia would be saying now if this had been a Democrat and not a Republican", and then goes on to mock Flynn for not knowing the Pledge of Allegiance by heart.

    Well, logically, either Foxlandia would be right to eviscerate a Democrat for this type of horror, or Foxlandia would be wrong to carp about a Democrat making this minor faux pas.

    If the former, then by criticizing Flynn we are admitting that Fox is right in its hyper-political nonsense. If the latter, we should not be copying Fox's ridiculous hyper-political nonsense.

    Now, of course, I've heard Democrats say both things, but not the same Democrats: Some do say the party should get down in the mudpit and lie, cheat, and steal just like the Trump Party and its media minions. You can't bring a knife to a gun fight, much less a Kumbaya song sheet. Others say, no, there are other and better ways to communicate our values and programs to the voters through honest media, and the end never justifies the means - conduct politics like the Trumpists, and we become Trumpists ourselves, and can hardly call foul on their foul methods without looking as hypocritical and evil as they do.

    (Conflict of Interest warning: I can't remember the last time I heard much less recited the Pledge of Allegiance. I had to rack my brains to remember it and get the point of what Flynn had done wrong. Sure, that's the job of a political type who attends public events in a certain sector of our society, but honestly I hardly felt an ounce of outrage for another man roughly my age flubbing this one.)

  3. [3] 
    Kick wrote:

    CW: Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell: "[the Biden administration] wants to jack up taxes in order to nudge families toward the kinds of jobs Democrats want them to have,

    decent paying ones

    in the kinds of industries Democrats want to exist,

    the ones that already exist

    with the kinds of cars Democrats want them to drive,

    cars with wheels

    using the kinds of child-care arrangements that Democrats want them to pursue."

    ones that are subsidized... just like education already is!

    Those dastardly Democrats! Forcing people not to pay for child care! Oh, the horror!

    I know, right!? And while we're playing a game of Fear and Smear®, who are we more afraid of (?): the Party who wants to use some of our taxpayers' dollars to help educate our child(ren) OR the Party who wants to force us to give birth to a rapist's baby?

    "Pro-life" my ass; the GOP is "pro-birth." You can't be "pro-life" when you favor unrestricted and unlimited access to firearms. That's inconsistent with common sense and science. Personhood begins at conception? Inconsistent with science. Besides, if they gave two shits about "life"... and not just fetal tissue... they would support children, education, and health care.

    George Carlin said it best (warning: bad language)

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GTyeBQXk8V4

  4. [4] 
    Kick wrote:

    CW: She went further, during Biden's speech, tweeting an article from 1974 about the prevalence of affordable child care in the Soviet Union, with the text: "You know who else liked universal day care".

    I guess Martha forgot that Donald bragged about having that at Trump properties:

    “I do it all over, and I get great people because of it." ~ Donald Trump bragging about his (nonexistent) company provided child care

    Despite the fact the Trump child care consisted of people paying him for it, Donald was "all in" on child care:

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F7gsNzqob6w

    Where was Marsha Blackburn? Trump and the GOP keep claiming they are the Party of the "working class." I guess Marsha just forgot. Even Fox News was loving it.

    Maybe Marsha and Tim Scott and Fox will all be cancelled for mocking Hair Dick Tater's childcare plans for the "working people"?

    Liars! ALL LIARS... or at the very least hypocrites with memory issues!

  5. [5] 
    MtnCaddy wrote:

    [2]

    I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America. And to the Republic,for which it [the flag]stands, with Liberty and Justice for all.

  6. [6] 
    MtnCaddy wrote:

    [2]

    Why does it have to be only one or the other? If you agree that most folks don't care how things get done -- they only care about results,

    then I say, go HIGH if that's what works but never hesitate to go LOW if that's what it takes.

    By all means, use every means to make Government work better for ALL 'Muricans.

    Collect 'em [means] all, trade 'em -- woot!

    (ahhh...the 12-year Single Malt Scotch is a-kickin' in...)

  7. [7] 
    Kick wrote:

    CW: Seriously, what are they going to do, play Pink Floyd at their rallies? "We don't need no education / We don't need no thought control." Good luck with that, you know, with all those suburban moms out there. Maybe a laser light show would help?

    Nah... they just need to go to their "go to guy," Tim Scott; he can explain the horrors of what happens when children raised in poverty are offered access to a college education. Oh, wait!

  8. [8] 
    MtnCaddy wrote:

    [3]

    ...Fear and Smear®?

    Hair Dick Tater's?

    Gawd, I like your work down here in Weigantia. For what it's worth, you are my Queen of Snark. And that ain't nothing but a compliment, Miss Texas.

    May I pay you the highest form of flattery by using these gems myself? And are either or both of these something that you invented yourself? It sure wouldn't surprise me haha.

    Thanks to you very existence I've decided that once I become the competent dictator of America that Trump didn't become I've decided that I'll spare Texas from my list of Repug States that need to liquidated. Your welcome!

  9. [9] 
    MtnCaddy wrote:

    JK....

    (I'd have spared all the non-Trumpanzies. You were never in any actual danger.)

  10. [10] 
    MtnCaddy wrote:

    Speaking of Snark, I give CW high marks in this FTP.

    Chris, Just remember that Snark is Sexy.

  11. [11] 
    MtnCaddy wrote:

    [3]

    And why not add,

    1- pro-Capital Punishment.

    2- pro-war (e.g. W's Iraq War.)

    3- pro-Big Fossil Energy. I mean, Global Warming is only going to devastate our planet, right?

    Yep, Ladies and Gentlemen, today's Evangelicals!

  12. [12] 
    goode trickle wrote:

    It occurs to me with some sense of irony, that the Dems should use...

    That the very people up in arms about expanding education are directly products of the large investments made into the education system during the space race, and in true GOP fashion they are proving yet again the they are truly the party of tis for me and not for thee...

    And don't even get me started on the whole extractive school voucher non-sense that would have me subsidizing Donny Douche Bag jr.'s private school education...

  13. [13] 
    MtnCaddy wrote:

    Yeppers, for forty years the Christofacists have traded the destruction of the American Dream, destruction of our environment and ultimately Earth, the destruction of 4,000 American lives (and as much as a million Iraqis,) and most recently the attempted destruction of our Constitutional Republic...

    All for making it tougher and more dangerous for poor women in
    Red States to get an abortion.

    Jesus wept.

  14. [14] 
    nypoet22 wrote:

    i KNOW people who lived in the old soviet union. for all their legitimate grievances with that system, strangely enough not a single one complains about the free pre-school. in case anyone cares, that's the one educational reform most thoroughly proven to make kids' lives better. not charters, not vouchers, not whatever the hell michael bloomberg did to the NYC system. pre-paid pre-k for all. that and to a lesser extent smaller class sizes. it ain't rocket surgery.

    @kick,
    hugo thanks you for the tune. after all, he certainly does like to move it move it.

    JL

  15. [15] 
    Kick wrote:

    MtnCaddy
    8

    ...Fear and Smear®?

    Yes, sir.

    Hair Dick Tater's?

    Yep!

    Gawd, I like your work down here in Weigantia. For what it's worth, you are my Queen of Snark. And that ain't nothing but a compliment, Miss Texas.

    Queen is actually one of my many nicknames. Yes, you may use it. I have spoken. ;)

    May I pay you the highest form of flattery by using these gems myself?

    You are required to use them. I have spoken. ;)

    And are either or both of these something that you invented yourself?

    Those two? Nah.

    Thanks to you very existence I've decided that once I become the competent dictator of America that Trump didn't become I've decided that I'll spare Texas from my list of Repug States that need to liquidated. Your welcome!

    We're not worthy! :)

  16. [16] 
    MtnCaddy wrote:

    Yeah...Statewide you are not worthy. But nevertheless, you MUST live!

    We're ALL "Muricans and I assure you that every last non-Trumpanzie will be safe under my benevolent dictatorship.

    Sleep tight, Miss Texas. And don't let the bed bugs bite!

  17. [17] 
    MtnCaddy wrote:

    Aaaand...

    Miss Canada, Elizabeth, I sincerely thank you for pushing your "proper link" envelope. I just KNEW that if you accepted my advice you'd find that it was "not so bad.
    been MIA in re Sunday Night Dance Party¢ but I'll do better, I promise!

    I'm thinking thinking thinking about what I'd like to recommend come Sunday afternoon.

  18. [18] 
    MtnCaddy wrote:

    []

    Er..."...not so bad. I'VE been MIA..."

  19. [19] 
    MtnCaddy wrote:

    [13]

    Mongo have strong feelings for KICK. KICK should NOT worry about MtnCaddy. Only Repugs need worry.

    Signed --

    Discrete and Judicious Avenger against Reaganism® and all of it's works.

  20. [20] 
    John From Censornati wrote:

    You've got to be impressed with the idiocy of Florida Man's fans and their "lawyers". GQP death cult zombies pick the damnedest times to speak truthfully.

    Foxitis is priceless, but despite being true, "The TV told me to do it." is a very weak defense when charged with terrorism and insurrection (or something).

  21. [21] 
    John From Censornati wrote:

    I'll give MIDOTW to Jen Psaki for toying with that Newsmax "reporter" at Friday's press briefing.

  22. [22] 
    James T Canuck wrote:

    I'm so glad you uttered the words 'trickle down', CW, saves me drumming up a cunning segue...I'll circle back to that.

    Josh Hawley, the guy who's found every media delivery system on the planet to whine he's completely cancelled and silenced by the left, he's the lowest hanging fruit there is, he should change his name to Strawberry. He's a legislative nihilist, he doesn't even read bills, he was the one and only member to vote no on a bill that extended healthcare benefits to Afganistan and Iraq war vets because it was a Dem bill, his own party didn't want to break it to him what he was doing was mindless...

    I don't know if mentioning him even helps here, he's at best a chocolate teapot, completely useless. Standards, standards. Maintain the standards.

    Biden had an outstanding week all in the space of one five minute presser after a speech. I was impressed and strangely proud of his emotional outburst when asked about tax hikes for the rich, with believable incredulity he pointed out that with his plan the maga-mega-wealthy won't have their lifestyles affected in the least if they pay their fair share, as he put it, they will still be able to buy that second or third house, pick out that new jet or afford whatever they want, and he will be able to help the people he grew up alongside, the working-class people. It impressed me, the academy might want to rethink that non-award, I'm not easily impressed, and my bar is way higher than the average Bears.

    Good grief... We have touch-down, pay dirt too. Trickle-down economics is the solution. The money is in the question.

    Context... I'm lucky, I have kids who at their present stage of development are hungry for knowledge. Not how to bake cake information, but cerebral content, ranging from god to goldfish. Thing one, my son, wanted to know how do you decide who to vote for... It's a fantastic question that most adults want to ask, but are too embarrassed to. To my mind its easy, I always want to know where the spending goes, it's the central pillar of every democracy, all governments spend tax-payer money, if I elect you, how will you spend mine? Me, I will never vote for a govt. that gives money to corporations in the form of tax breaks to encourage growth, because it's bullshit economics based on a bullshit theory that they will trickle it down to the workers... If that's the case, why hasn't minimum wage budged in years? Why is it instant socialism to even suggest an increase? We all know why because it's simply a con. The original Republican big lie and that baby is 40 fucking years old and looking none the worse for wear.

    I get the distinct impression America has bigger issues than simply deciding who to vote in and out of office, hyper-tribalism has no cure I'm aware of other than civil war. Number five talking point should scare you more when you factor in the nakedly obvious voter suppression that's going, by being so blatant the GQP are screaming to the Democrats that don't care what it takes, the destruction of democracy itself if need be, but they want all the power all the time everywhere.

    They're not listening anymore, they're convinced their model of America is the only way forward and they fuck up everything before they give any of it up. Absolute undiluted nihilism.

    It's easy to laugh that the GQP have no platform... But they do, a really good one, one that can't be beaten by normal political activity, their platform has one message.

    The Democrats hate your freedom and want to take it away. We all know you won't miss what you never had, so don't be too surprised if the logic of free pre-K is lost along the way, the Republicans are counting on it.

    In other news, Buckingham Palace has released the cause of death of HRH Prince Philip Duke of Eddy at 99 it was confirmed today that he died of old age.

    Not one word of a lie. Now if Buckingham Palace can still have a laugh, so can we all.

    LL&P

  23. [23] 
    Kick wrote:

    John From Censornati
    20

    You've got to be impressed with the idiocy of Florida Man's fans and their "lawyers".

    Absolutely... and you can't help but "feel" for Florida Man and those "lawyers" who are going to go through some things. He told that comedian dude that plays the president of Ucrainia that they'd be in touch. Kinda hard to deny it now since we all saw it in that "perfect letter" of that "perfect phone call" Florida Man done released.

    GQP death cult zombies pick the damnedest times to speak truthfully.

    Social media! What are you going to do, right? You conspire with Florida Man and his "lawyers" to interfere with America's democracy, you storm the Capitol, you post that patriotism on social media, and then BAM... just like that you're in prison: Where we go one, we go all. But y'all all know it was antifa that did that; I did not beat up that occifer with a pole, I told them, and then dang if they don't roll video. Okay, then. I do not "remember" beating up that occifer with the pole from my "Trump is My Lord and Savior" flag. My new lawyer said to tell them I was in a cult-like state so I reminded him that DC is not a state. I might need a better lawyer.

    Foxitis is priceless, but despite being true, "The TV told me to do it." is a very weak defense when charged with terrorism and insurrection (or something).

    Unpossible! This was Trump's idea... and Momma, of course. Momma drove me. And who is the jackass that put all that video on social media!?

    https://projects.propublica.org/parler-capitol-videos/

    I hate when that happens!

  24. [24] 
    Kick wrote:

    John From Censornati
    21

    I'll give MIDOTW to Jen Psaki for toying with that Newsmax "reporter" at Friday's press briefing.

    I know, right!? She is like a cat playing with human toys. They should name the new White House shemale kitty after Jen. :)

  25. [25] 
    Kick wrote:

    James T Canuck
    22

    I don't know if mentioning him even helps here, he's at best a chocolate teapot, completely useless.

    There is no thing on Earth such as useless chocolate... regardless of its shape, and, yes, Josh Hawley is a dick. Only a dick would use his iPhone to go on Twitter in order to brag about his Amazon sales of a book about how big tech is silencing him.

    Josh is all over Facebook, YouTube, the Twitter, Instagram, and Fox News, and it's pure unadulterated tyranny the way he's being silenced. Big tech doesn't want you to read his book, and if you don't believe it, just follow that link he posted to Amazon where they're selling that book.

    Josh Hawley is the new poster boy for the GQP who are seriously not known for their ability to connect dots.

    In other news, Buckingham Palace has released the cause of death of HRH Prince Philip Duke of Eddy at 99 it was confirmed today that he died of old age.

    Brilliant. That's the kind of transparency that all governments should strive for. ;)

  26. [26] 
    BashiBazouk wrote:

    Don,

    You are a true anti-intellectual. The vast majority of your problems with OD could be fixed with a little college. I happened to be in college when the internet was released to the public. Things I took classes in that would directly benefit your movement: html coding, networking, graphic design, logic and philosophy, civics, psychology.

    But the biggest flaw in your thinking is college is just about jobs. A flaw shared by many republicans. A college education is about learning to think and how to access knowledge in a general way to benefit yourself. It certainly is not the only path. I have friends that took at most a year of college but they threw themselves at subjects they needed to learn. College is just a very convenient shortcut that comes about when many people still have parents paying for stuff.

    And it's not too late for you. I started taking college classes in my junior year of high school. It was at the local junior college and I was surprised at the age range. I was the youngest but every age was represented all the way up to quite a few retired folks.

    An education is a lot more than making cogs for industry. It's too bad you are too stubborn to see that...

  27. [27] 
    BashiBazouk wrote:

    Don,

    As for the free pre-K childcare, it has the same problem as sending people to college.

    Why are we subsidisng a system that does not pay for itself?

    Actually pre-k does pay for it's self and is considered one of the best investments a society can make. Not only does it put kids on a path to higher learning and a better chance they will go to college but it also reduces crime and incarceration. All those Nordic countries that Bernie likes to talk about all have some form of it as does most the rest of the developed nations.

  28. [28] 
    Kick wrote:

    BashiBazouk
    28

    Don,

    You are a true anti-intellectual.

    As you know, it is not at all uncommon to find that those who constantly whine about education are those that have none.

    The vast majority of your problems with OD could be fixed with a little college.

    The vast majority of his outright ignorance regarding all manner of things could definitely use some education. You don't know what you don't know until you know it.

    At any given time, there are millions of unfilled jobs in America due to the "skills gap."

    https://www.progressivepolicy.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/SkillsGapFinal.pdf

    Anyone telling you otherwise is either lying or seriously uninformed.

    And it's not too late for you.

    You sure about that? Don is much too busy misinforming the masses and whining constantly about those who aren't doing enough for him and giving him things to actually do anything for himself. He has his "demands," you know?

  29. [29] 
    John From Censornati wrote:

    Charles Peruto, Jr is running for the GQP nomination for Philadelphia District Attorney. Good luck with that Chuckles.

    Anyway, the good part of this story is that, if you go to his website and click on Meet A. Charles, there is a section titled The Girl in my Bathtub. lol

  30. [30] 
    C. R. Stucki wrote:

    B B [29]

    Pre-K is simply glorified daycare. Before you make exaggerated, unsubstantiated claims for it's educational benefits, research the audit report the gov't issued on the 'Cadillac' version of Pe-k (known as "Headstart") a few years ago.

    Bottom line turned out, its only lasting benefit was as as a high-dollar inner-city jobs program, with no long-term effect on the kids.

  31. [31] 
    BashiBazouk wrote:

    Don and Stucki,

    the research on pre-K programs say otherwise...

  32. [32] 
    MtnCaddy wrote:

    [22]

    The original Republican big lie and that baby is 40 fucking years old and looking none the worse for wear.

    This 40 year con job is called Reaganism, of course. I would beg to differ with your statement, though.

    I think that after the crisis of 2008 and the more recent Covid crisis America (more specifically the non-Fox News Cinematic Universe dwellers) has figured out that trickle down was always a lie.

  33. [33] 
    MtnCaddy wrote:

    [23]

    Excellent point, Brother Harris!

    This, and your keen political humor is what you ought to be doing down here in Weigantia instead of hopelessly flogging OD.

  34. [34] 
    Elizabeth Miller wrote:

    Kick,

    I hope you'll play the psychadelic version of Mr. Blue Sky at our Sunday night shindig tomorrow - that was fun!

  35. [35] 
    BashiBazouk wrote:

    Don,

    I see you did not read the link I posted. It's over a hundred pages and covers both your arguments...

    Read the study first and get back to me before you just stupidly discount it. Bonus points if you can provide a link backing up your argument....

  36. [36] 
    BashiBazouk wrote:

    Don,

    Why are you so obsessed with body mass index?

    Kidding aside, the more common term is UBI universal basic income. The current research [nature.com] on UBI is mixed. Does not sound like it's ready for prime time...

  37. [37] 
    nypoet22 wrote:

    @bashi,

    don had an argument? well that's something new. good citation, though i'm more familiar with the OECD/PISA data.

    JL

  38. [38] 
    ListenWhenYouHear wrote:

    [5]

    The Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag:

    "I pledge allegiance to the Flag of the United States of America, and to the Republic for which it stands, one Nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.”

    Seriously, did no one else realize it wasn’t complete?

  39. [39] 
    C. R. Stucki wrote:

    B B

    You're right, I did not read the "full 40 pages", didn't see the need, because the so-called "consensus statement" at the beginning was ambiguous at the best, and supported my claim at least as much as yours, that Pre-K is simply high-dollar day care.

  40. [40] 
    nypoet22 wrote:

    @crs,

    in many cases the same could easily be said of high school. yet we persist in trying, and sometimes even succeed a bit...

    JL

  41. [41] 
    BashiBazouk wrote:

    Stucki-

    that Pre-K is simply high-dollar day care.

    That ends up being cheaper in the long run due to higher tax from higher wages from higher college attendance, less crime and incarceration related costs, less drug addiction and related cost, better health outcomes...

  42. [42] 
    BashiBazouk wrote:

    Don,

    Clicking on a link to research that does not cover the subject at hand that is not an area of disagreement is a waste of time.

    My comment was about the child care component not an educational component.

    And if you pulled your head out of your ass and actually read, or even skimmed as Stucki alleged to do you would find out the study looked at all facets of pre-k including the child care aspect. In fact the educational component is one of the weaker aspects...

    I did click on your BMI/UBI article.

    Funny stuff.

    From what I read it was propaganda. It seemed more like set up some trials that are designed to fail to provide research that it won't work.

    Then please point out what is propaganda...

    Keep in mind nature.com is the website of the journal Nature, one the the oldest and most respected science journals in existence and if you had actually read the article you would find it is a review of current research.

  43. [43] 
    C. R. Stucki wrote:

    B B

    If I remember correctly, the gov't audit report I cited did not substantiate any of those claims, at least for the "Headstart" program, which admittedly dealt primarily with ghetto populations, where the problems were worst to begin with.

  44. [44] 
    BashiBazouk wrote:

    Stucki-

    The link I posted goes deeply in to headstart as well as other programs. Unless you link to it, I have no idea what's in report you are citing...

  45. [45] 
    James T Canuck wrote:

    So glad GQP is catching on, it's quite elegant and says volumes. Easily beyond the sum of its parts.

    Kick... There's simply no pleasing some people, who knew you'd die on Chocolate Hill... Not I.

    By way of an apology.

    Call it what you want, but we all enter into a social contract with our fellow citizens when we turn 18. Whether we're educated or not, we all understand (to varying degrees, apparently) that bold lettering on the contract clearly states..."I understand that; I won't commit murder, arson, theft, embezzlement, be violent physically or emotionally towards other signatories or misrepresent myself as another and accept the degrees of punishment should I do otherwise."
    Ok, I hit highlights, there are lots of others, but you're picking up what I'm putting down.
    Now, the fine print also includes things that really don't appear in any criminal code, and they could be defined as things taken for granted, like wearing too much perfume or farting in a crowded elevator... The 'common courtesies', if you like. I think it's high time we amend this section to better reflect the times in which we live...I believe we have to update and address the vaccination section of the contract first, I think it's a logical place to start, given our present predicament and the 100% of us who want to get this gone as quickly as we can. CV19 has woven itself into every aspect of our lives and is sewing disunity as quickly as it mutates. The only question is, do we, as a society, want to entertain an anti-vaxxer splinter group and allow them the right to exist? We have already conceded that in theory only that they do have that right, but in reality, do we want them to be among us. Let's face it, fellow signatories, once the CV19 vaccine is as available as a yearly flu shot, this will be our only stumbling block, those among us who think it's 'their' right to not do what the vast majority has reconciled themselves to accept, and that is vaccines are as safe as taking an aspirin for a headache.
    We all have our opinions, and I get that, but vaccines aren't an opinion in terms of their proven efficacy and overall general safety, much in the same way that I don't think I need oxygen to breathe, I know for a fact I do.
    So, get your jab, shot, hammer, or whatever you want to call it to make it more palatable, just do it don't be scared, you don't have polio today because the state made your parents face their fears. Please don't make us come for you, mock, insult, vilify or separate you into camps of cowards.
    Fulfill your social contract commitments, before your government starts making laws that no one wants or for that matter needs. This may be a one-off pandemic, it may not... But sure as shit, it will come down to this if that segment of society that thinks they are more important than the rest of us don't smarten up and bite this bullet.
    As a good friend of mine used to say; You can either take one for the team or take one from the team... Tmac.

    I was always going to segue.

    LL&P

  46. [46] 
    MtnCaddy wrote:

    CW --

    HAVE YOU EVER considered an at least occasional MIROTD (Most Impressive Republican....) award?

    Folks like Raffensberger, Romney and (Satan's spawn) Liz Cheney have and are demonstrating real political courage in holding Trump accountable/trying to rescue the GOP from the crazies.

    For the record, I don't think there need be a MDDOTW (Most Disappointing Repug...) as you'd have to sort through a "cast of thousands" as it were.

  47. [47] 
    MtnCaddy wrote:

    [53]

    Your comment is superb!

    Hey, Weigantia:

    Y'all are doing especially good work down here in the peanut gallery! Even Brother Don released his (going nowhere) obsession with OD (for only a moment, perhaps) and pointed out something about education versus jobs that I hadn't before considered but that I've since incorporated into my worldview.

    Keep up the good work, Fellow Travelers!

  48. [48] 
    BashiBazouk wrote:

    Don,

    You inadvertently make a really good argument for the value of a college education...

  49. [49] 
    BashiBazouk wrote:

    Don,

    Instead of automatically discounting an article because the title does not match up to your bias, try reading it first. I used "mixed" and "not ready for prime time" for a reason. Then post your disagreements with links of your own to research that backs up your disagreements.

    That is called a rational discussion. Automatically dismissing is a text book dodge. Your projecting fools no one here but yourself.

  50. [50] 
    BashiBazouk wrote:

    obvious propaganda

    And yet you are unable to point out that propaganda specifically. Interesting that.

  51. [51] 
    BashiBazouk wrote:

    Don,

    You do get it was a review of studies conducted by other organizations and in some cases countries? Can you point out the propaganda? You keep making this accusation but don't seem to be able to back it up.

    Replacing many different government agencies that each work separately on different aspects that could all be taken care of by one government agency is not going to cost more money.

    According to the article Milton Friedman agrees...

    But this is not about the shape of a celestial body but a proposed massive government program. You only have to provide links if you want anyone to take you seriously. If pontificating is all you are after then carry on, you are doing a fine job...

  52. [52] 
    BashiBazouk wrote:

    JTC- [53]

    I do wonder if there would even be an anti-vax movement if vaccines were administered by pill. Maybe it's all just a massive rationalization of a fear of needles?

    Michael:
    I don't know anyone who could get through the day without two or three juicy rationalizations. They're more important than sex.

    Sam Weber:
    Ah, come on. Nothing's more important than sex.

    Michael:
    Oh yeah? Ever gone a week without a rationalization?
    -Big Chill

  53. [53] 
    nypoet22 wrote:

    @caddy,

    if the main purpose of education were job training, then why not skip the middleman and switch kids into classes to be plumbers, electricians and car mechanics starting at age ten? some countries do that sort of thing already. providing non-rich americans an attainable means to meet basic needs is a real problem, and perhaps some form of government dole might work out as part of a better system.

    but what we on the left frequently don't want to admit is that back when actual conservatives existed in the USA, they had a valid point about free stuff making people lazy. education included. case in point:

    https://youtu.be/Bdf_XdDwc-o

  54. [54] 
    TheStig wrote:

    5 & 44

    The Pledge of Allegiance has long history. The words “Under God” were added in 1948. The United States went from a small coastal nation to a superpower up to this point, so it would seem that God was not greatly insulted by the omission.

  55. [55] 
    Kick wrote:

    John From Censornati
    31

    Anyway, the good part of this story is that, if you go to his website and click on Meet A. Charles, there is a section titled The Girl in my Bathtub. lol

    OMG, JFC... hysterical!

    Of course, "A. Charles" -- born Angelo Carlo Peruto, Jr. -- neglects to inform voters that the dead girl in his bathtub was one of his own employees, a 26-year-old paralegal named Julia Law [you can't make this shit up] who had worked for him for approximately two years. Yes, ladies and gentleman, Chuck was her 58-year-old (not a typo) boss and boyfriend. She was found dead in the bathtub of his Rittenhouse Square residence by another employee of Chuck's whom he'd dispatched to pick up a shirt for him there in Philadelphia to have delivered to the Jersey Shore... like one normally does *shakes head* when one forgets to pack a shirt.

    Shortly after her death Memorial Day weekend (which occurred three days before her 27th birthday), he posted the following on his Facebook page:

    I never thought I'd post something personal, but I'm just unable to thank each and every one of you individually, for your warm wishes. It's very hard to find someone who really matches you on all eight cylinders.

    I found my soulmate hippy, and can never replace her. We worked and played, and never got enough life. I'm grateful we made every minute count, without a single dispute about anything ever.

    I'm especially sad for her 10 yr old brother, who was her life, along with her loving and close sisters, mother and step-father.

    Earth lost the best one ever. Happy birthday baby.

    *
    Poor girl. Not yet (checks calendar) 8 years later, and it seems Chuck has totally forgotten how much he knew and loved his girlfriend who died in his bathtub, and it doesn't sound strange at all how Chuckles claimed at that time that he and "baby" had never had a "single dispute"... "about anything"... "ever."

  56. [56] 
    Kick wrote:

    Don Harris
    32

    That is not my thinking at all.

    The flaw in your thinking is generally lumping everyone into categories and labelling them and the driveling and spewing of false statements as if they're facts.

    That is what the Deathocrats and Republikillers used to sell sending everyone to college.

    See there! Lies. Sending "everyone" to college... as if all Americans will be forced to attend. Liar. No one forces you to attend high school either. You are also free in America to attend home school or no school.

    If people got a BMI and wanted to go to college for learning how to think and for general knowledge to benefit themselves they would be able to do so.

    What do you have against (oh, I don't know) education and earning a living? Why this insistence that you be given income for doing nothing? Serious question.

    And many that go to college still do not learn how to think. Many can't seem to even understand that free college treats the symptom and not the cause of the student debt problem.

    Many that don't go to college have demonstrably no clue either. Anyway, you needn't worry about anyone forcing you to go to "free college." You're inventing problems that don't actually exist anywhere in America... with the possible exception of your tiny little mind... always "tilting at windmills."

    Everything isn't about you, Don. :)

  57. [57] 
    Kick wrote:

    Don Harris
    34

    There is skills gap for some jobs?

    *laughs* Millions of jobs sit unfilled in America due to a plethora of morons untrained to perform them.

    How did we manage to send so many people to college to get degrees for jobs that don't exist and not take care of the jobs that needed these skilled workers?

    We? Who is this "we" sending "so many" to college?

    Someone didn't think things through on that. :D

    Your every comment reeks with inherent ignorance. :D

  58. [58] 
    Kick wrote:

    C. R. Stucki
    35

    Pre-K is simply glorified daycare.

    As if all pre-K is equal. *laughs*

    You and Don generally exhibit the same affliction we fondly refer to as "terminal false equivalency."

  59. [59] 
    Kick wrote:

    Elizabeth Miller
    40

    I hope you'll play the psychadelic version of Mr. Blue Sky at our Sunday night shindig tomorrow - that was fun!

    I am Groot! :)

  60. [60] 
    Kick wrote:

    ListenWhenYouHear
    44

    The Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag:

    "I pledge allegiance to the Flag of the United States of America, and to the Republic for which it stands, one Nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.”

    Seriously, did no one else realize it wasn’t complete?

    I was pretending not to notice, and here you come along and blow my cover. ;)

    XOXOXO

  61. [61] 
    Kick wrote:

    James T Canuck
    53

    Kick... There's simply no pleasing some people, who knew you'd die on Chocolate Hill... Not I.

    Heh. :)

    Now, the fine print also includes things that really don't appear in any criminal code, and they could be defined as things taken for granted, like wearing too much perfume or farting in a crowded elevator...

    Repetitive whining and trolling.

    I believe we have to update and address the vaccination section of the contract first, I think it's a logical place to start, given our present predicament and the 100% of us who want to get this gone as quickly as we can.

    What could it hurt to give it a shot!? ;)

  62. [62] 
    Kick wrote:

    Don Harris
    59

    I don't see your college education giving you the ability to see through the obvious propaganda. There is no value in learning how to buy into moosepoop.

    Said the Chief of Moosepoop Shoveling from atop his festering heap on Bullshit Mountain. *laughs*

  63. [63] 
    italyrusty wrote:

    Kick [3] - hilarious!

    Do you remember those "pop-up videos" that added snarky, informative, or absurd thought-bubbles to a music video. You should do the same for the Republican speechifiers. I have no doubt it would go viral!

  64. [64] 
    italyrusty wrote:

    We all know that 'the stock market isn't the economy'. But isn't delicious to imagine how Trump is digesting this news?
    'From Election Day through Thursday, the Dow rose about 26 percent, compared with 14 percent for the same period four years ago.
    ...
    Over all, the market under President Biden ranks third for all presidents during a comparable time in office since 1901, according to a tally through Thursday (the Biden administration’s 109th day) by Paul Hickey, co-founder of Bespoke Investment Group.

    These are the top performers:

    Franklin D. Roosevelt, inaugurated March 4, 1933: 78.1 percent.

    Johnson, inaugurated Nov. 22, 1963: 13.8 percent.

    Mr. Biden, inaugurated Jan. 20, 2021: 10.8 percent.

    William H. Taft, inaugurated March 4, 1909: 9.6 percent.'
    https://www.nytimes.com/2021/05/07/business/stocks-biden.html

  65. [65] 
    Elizabeth Miller wrote:

    italyrusty,

    So, maybe the message coming out of the Republican cult of economic failure is finally entering its last days and time is up for Republican administrations leaving economic messes on the order of magnitude of the Augean Stables for Democratic administrations to clean-up.

    One can hope.

  66. [66] 
    TheStig wrote:

    Good People. Do not feed this angry little sweat bee who goes by the handle Don Harris. By his own admission he holds no degrees and has no experience in running a business or running a campaign. His half baked political theory fully supports his lack of education and relevant job experience. He cites his deficits as virtues, but that is one of the oldest, if not the oldest, grifts in the long history of intellectual grifting. His one demonstrated skill is psychological manipulation. The boy can troll. He repeats and repeats and repeats his limited patter....and the community responds. Do we really need another online museum of logical fallacies? Enough!

  67. [67] 
    Elizabeth Miller wrote:

    TS,

    Why can't you just ignore stuff around here that you don't like?

  68. [68] 
    Elizabeth Miller wrote:

    If we all did that, then there would be fewer comments to go through. Which would automatically increase the quality of the CW comments sections. Make sense?

  69. [69] 
    Elizabeth Miller wrote:

    That last bit was a little joke. :)

  70. [70] 
    John From Censornati wrote:
  71. [71] 
    John From Censornati wrote:

    Two degrees in be-bop
    A PHD in swing
    He's the master of rhythm
    He's a rock and roll king

    Rock and Roll Doctor

  72. [72] 
    Kick wrote:

    BY REQUEST

    Mr. Blue Sky

    Psychedelic version

    Mr. Blue Sky

    "I am Groot" version... also massively psychedelic,
    fireworks at the finish

  73. [73] 
    MyVoice wrote:

    I'm offering up a 10-minute version of Dire Straits, who are The Sultans of Swing.

    And for a double, how about Gene Chandler, The Duke of Earl?

    Um, not one of the Beatle's best, but from the wayback machine, here's The Sheik of Araby.

    Jim Croce singing about his Roller Derby Queen.

  74. [74] 
    Kick wrote:

    TWO-FERS

    Killer Queen

    This one is my personal theme song.
    Hard to believe the song is almost 50 years old.

    Princes of the Universe

    "There can be only one." - Highlander

  75. [75] 
    Kick wrote:

    MyVoice
    85

    Nice picks.

    George Harrison singing, age 18!

  76. [76] 
    nypoet22 wrote:
  77. [77] 
    nypoet22 wrote:

    well anyhow, i'm here as promised...

    https://youtu.be/dj3hWVP9RgA

  78. [78] 
    Elizabeth Miller wrote:

    Well, alright! The CW Sunday Night Music Festival and Dance Party is underway!

    And, may I say that this the best start ever to our Sunday Night shindig ...

    As promised, a Jackson Browne favourite, Doctor My Eyes

  79. [79] 
    Elizabeth Miller wrote:

    yikes!

  80. [80] 
    Elizabeth Miller wrote:

    I'm so excited! The gang's all here ...

    Dr Hook - Sharing the Night Together

  81. [81] 
    Elizabeth Miller wrote:

    Sorry, no honourifics here but recently came across this beautiful shot, with Bryan Adams singing his beautiful tribute to Canada's cover girl, Dorothy Stratten - such a sad story ...

    The Best Was Yet To Come

  82. [82] 
    nypoet22 wrote:

    and for those in need of excellent pizza, i give you:

    the king of spain

  83. [83] 
    Elizabeth Miller wrote:

    Let's party with Dr Hook at the Midnight Special ...

    When You're In Love With A Beautiful Woman

  84. [84] 
    MyVoice wrote:

    Kick [87]

    Hey, thanks. I used to love making mix tapes on a theme.

    Just in case you were hankering for a little more cowbell, here's The Police with King Of Pain.

  85. [85] 
    Elizabeth Miller wrote:

    Styx with the incomparable Lawrence Gowan, lead vocals and spinning keyboards since 1999 ... entertainer extraordinaire!!! Styx was never the same after he joined...

    I Don't Need No Doctor

  86. [86] 
    Elizabeth Miller wrote:

    Kick,

    My Queen: It's A Kinda Magic concert has now been postponed to May 18 ... 2022. We'll see ...

    Speaking of which, here's a tribute to Freddie Mercury by Guns and Roses, at Wembley Stadium ...

    Knockin' On Heaven's Door

  87. [87] 
    Elizabeth Miller wrote:

    Kick[84].

    Thank-you for taking my request! :)

  88. [88] 
    Elizabeth Miller wrote:

    Just because ...

    Sweet Child 'O Mine

  89. [89] 
    Elizabeth Miller wrote:

    Tawny Kitaen, famous for her provocative music videos for Whitesnake and for marrying the frontman, died this week at age of 59. I know her as Hercules's wife from Hercules: The Legenday Journeys,

    Here I Go Again - Whitesnake

  90. [90] 
    Elizabeth Miller wrote:

    "Bob Dylan wrote 'Mr. Tambourine Man', which was originally released on his fifth album Bringing It All Back Home on March 22, 1965. His version wasn't released as a single, but when The Byrds released their cover later in 1965, it was a transatlantic hit, topping the charts in both the US and UK. It's the only song Dylan ever wrote that went to #1 in America."

    Kinda hard to believe, eh?

    Here's Mr Tambourine Man

  91. [91] 
    TheStig wrote:

    EM-79

    Do you like noise on your stereo equipment? Harris is noise...a cranky droning noise. Interaction with him just perpetuates the problem. We don’t have the luxury of pages...we have to scroll through his droppings. Interaction with him just generates more droppings.

    I can and do filter him on some platforms....but I can’t on my tablets or phone.

  92. [92] 
    Elizabeth Miller wrote:

    Do you have a tune to go along with that!?

  93. [93] 
    Elizabeth Miller wrote:

    TS,

    Here's one just for you ...

    Bring Out The Violins

  94. [94] 
    Elizabeth Miller wrote:

    Well, I got problems. But, none of them have anything to do with noise in my bose stereo system. Thank the gods for that!

    While the night is still young, I'm going to have to call it a night.

    Unless Caddy shows up, of course!

  95. [95] 
    Kick wrote:
  96. [96] 
    Elizabeth Miller wrote:

    Joshua,

    It was so nice to see you here tonight. It's not the same without you.

  97. [97] 
    Elizabeth Miller wrote:

    Kick[107],

    Nice one!

  98. [98] 
    Elizabeth Miller wrote:

    And, speaking of current personal theme songs, here's mine...

    Bang On The Drum

  99. [99] 
    Kick wrote:

    Elizabeth Miller
    98

    My Queen: It's A Kinda Magic concert has now been postponed to May 18 ... 2022.

    The waiting seems eternity
    The day will dawn of sanity
    Ooh ooh ooh ooh
    Is this a kind of magic?

    *

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ASw32qKppMw

  100. [100] 
    Kick wrote:

    Last but certainly not least... I see your cowbell, and I brought some more COWBELL!

    I met a gin-soaked barroom queen in Memphis...

    The Rolling Stones

    ... and that's a wrap for me. :)

  101. [101] 
    nypoet22 wrote:

    just another day.

    https://youtu.be/YkGY5EzA-h4

  102. [102] 
    Elizabeth Miller wrote:

    Chris, this one's for you.

    Though, I thought for sure you were going to make an appearance this time around ...

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fvPpAPIIZyo

    Now, THAT is a wrap!

    :-)

  103. [103] 
    Kick wrote:

    Just another day, living in the hood
    Just another day around the way
    Feeling good today, feeling lovely-yay
    Just another day, living in the hood
    Just another day around the way
    Feeling good today
    I hear the - but I'm here to stay.
    Well it's a beautiful day in the neighborhood
    A beautiful day in the neighborhood

    Mister Rogers' Neighborhood

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