After this's all over, I hope the U.S. gov't bills Trump for the damage he's done to our reputation

[Chankgeez]

At their meeting the other day, apparently, Trump asked Pelosi why everybody wants to impeach him.

[nad]

I went out to Joshua Tree today and wanted to swing by the Monument to see if it was as trashed as I've heard, but I did not, just stayed in town for a spell instead. The desert is a big place so I would hope that it's mostly concentrated around the touristy bits, but really, who knows? I normally make a point to go out there during gov't shutdowns to see how things are going, an observation of humanity I suppose. 2013 everything was closed off, couldn't get in. 2018 v1 had a sign that basically said "lol in the dark nobody can hear you scream, good luck fuckers!" but the gates were all open. In my experience of roaming out there for 37 years and counting it has gotten a bit overcrowded anyhow, so I'm not sure what difference that an extra metric tonne of human feces would do on top of the already 3 said tonnes that are heaved upon it each year. Makes me think back to all the times when idiots have done donuts over the Racetrack Playa in Death Valley and how those stains are quickly erased by storm, dust, and time. The desert endures, hopefully forever.

If You Can Read This You're Already Dead

[Chankgeez]

I read this article a little earlier today, does not paint a pretty picture:

https://www.latimes.com/local/californi ... story.html

[Chankgeez]

"We fear a Sanders run risks dividing the well-fractured Democratic Party, and could lead to another split in the 2020 presidential vote. There is too much at stake to take that gamble. If we are going to maintain a two-party system, the mandate needs to be a clear one."

https://www.timesargus.com/opinion/pers ... p7T4n_n0kY

[popvulture]

I keep seeing article after article about how bleak / lacking-in-a-frontrunner the Democratic Party's situation is, but one thing that people seem to have forgotten: remember how the Repubs had like fucking 20 people trying to run and everybody thought "hey look at this shitshow—they're so unorganized!?" They did manage to pull it off, so... I'll withhold judgement for now. That said, the situation does make me anxious as hell.

[Bassist_Diver]

I keep seeing article after article about how bleak / lacking-in-a-frontrunner the Democratic Party's situation is, but one thing that people seem to have forgotten: remember how the Repubs had like fucking 20 people trying to run and everybody thought "hey look at this shitshow—they're so unorganized!?" They did manage to pull it off, so... I'll withhold judgement for now. That said, the situation does make me anxious as hell.

The difference, though, is the GOP is a more homogeneous group than the dems are. Those 20 clowns still had a lot of overlap, whereas the dems are so diverse that you have groups within the party that are at complete odds with the party’s other groups (for example, how much will the progressives and unionists have in common?). And unlike democrat voters, republican voters are much more likely to pinch their nose and vote for their candidate, something that was extremely clear in 2016. The GOP may be a shitshow, but it’s still a cohesive one; the DNC is very fractured and is walking a narrower tightrope in 2020 than they’re letting on.

[dubkitty]

yep. there are entire factions of the Democrats who don't want to take their snouts out of the corporate trough. i'm looking at you, Manchin.

[adamajah]

the real reason Frump will win 2020 is a green one :/

https://www.washingtonpost.com/video/po ... video.html

[Chankgeez]

Most sitting Presidents usually don't really focus on reelection until it's "appropriate".

[adamajah]

Campaigns have been creeping earlier and earlier every cycle... soon it's just going to be a numbingly perennial thing always in the background.

[Chankgeez]

Trump filed for reelection the day he was inaugurated.

[adamajah]

[Bassist_Diver]

Who's ready to groan at Trump's speech begging for us to give him an insecurity blanket via border wall? Here's hoping he calls it a national emergency, which would be all kinds of illegal.

In the meantime, I'm watching the play-by-play of Kim Jong Un's meeting with Xi Jinping. I'm sure the Navy's Pacific fleet isn't doing the same

[Bassist_Diver]

Double post~

For those who missed the zombie speech of zero substance, it was so shit that not even Fox News could defend it:

https://thehill.com/homenews/media/4244 ... mp-address

[Chankgeez]

Yeah, I didn't listen just because I knew it'd make me