Would be good to see this adjusted for inflation. There are some on this list who have been directing for over 45 years.

Sure it is buddy, sure it is.

I’m not right leaning, but I live in a right leaning area, and I think most all of us could stand a bit of time back in nature. So here’s what I would consider.

• A hunting or fishing license and classes
• A long weekend camping in the woods
• A trip to a national park
• Boat license lessons
• A craft class at a local Uni, like welding or pottery. They’re usually pretty cheap and a lot of fun
• A rafting trip

Not knowing him at all nor what he likes, perhaps a guitar and guitar lessons. That’s something I truly enjoyed in my late teens/early 20s. Or tickets to a music show or comedian he likes.

This the Hudson?! Dude needs to tone down the saturation on his camera a bit.

I'm going to answer your question as if you are being serious and are genuinely curious.

• House Gerrymandering. Over the last few years - the GOP has gotten rid of multiple D-leaning house seats in Florida, Wisconsin, Texas and North Carolina (they tried in Alabama too). Even with that, they are just barely going to win the house on what should have been a decent election year for them.
• Senate - 2018 was a bad year for the GOP and a good year for the Dems. Due to that, them Dems picked up some seats that are less likely (Montana, Ohio, Ruby Red WV). This cycle, there are multiple states that picked an R president but a D senate member, albeit by smallish margins. This time around, the winds were more in the R favor, so Rs recouped those redder states, but didn't so much in the purple states. The exception is Pennsylvania, which often elects one Senator from each party.

Heads up - 2026 Purple NC is also one of those states that often elects a senator from each party, so expect lots of ads during the race there. The beatings will continue until the color improves.

Double heads up - 2030 will be 2 years after the president who is elected after Trump (if that remains a thing). I'd say there's a decent chance that the president will be a Dem unless someone can capture the same energy that DT rouses in certain demographics. That election cycle is usually one where the party in power gets trounced (though there are some exceptions), it also happens to be the year that the census occurs and redistricting takes place thereafter. The Rs won that fight last time. Following the trajectory I outlined, it's likely the R's will win it, again.

Just wait until she learns what they do to male chicken eggs.

Nerds!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kIZH5TKnEeg&t=24s

The article clearly states that voters who prioritized climate doubled this year. It was just not enough to overcome economic headwinds at the presidential level.

Pair this with the article regarding bullet voters who only vote for the President and not down ballot races, and you start to paint a picture of what happened here.

The economy and Trump’s rabid fan base won the presidency, but past that, the electorate still cares about more complex issues like climate change, likely more than ever.

We’re a bit screwed at the national level for now, but this highlights that the states need to take charge until we can get our federal house in order.

Bonesaw’s Ready!

I stand corrected. My memory served me incorrectly.

Nevertheless, they are more prepared now and the MAGA party holds more of the power compared to last time. It’s a bit like putting the foxes in charge of the henhouse - I suppose we’ll have to see where those that remain of the former GOP are willing to push back.

You are giving examples in history and changing the dates to the first Trump presidency, which is somewhat confusing.

Those things certainly didn't happen because the GOP did not have a majority in the legislature. I agree that it is unlikely that these will occur during this term as well, given that the majority in the house will be very small, but I assure you there will be bills passed that will continue to strip away power from the legislature and grant those powers to the executive. There will also be interpretations of the law that will disenfranchise the citizens and/or will have repercussions for years to come.

LegalEagle gives a pretty good rundown: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TG_L3fLLG3c

I used to be a heartthrob like you, but then I took an arrow to the knee.

And now I’m 89.5% sexier!

Or you know, get banned from attending events at the St. Louis Chess Club.

The chest speaks for itself.

He sounds like, looks like, and acts like a character out of Resident Evil.

There are few places where I agree with Rand Paul, but the abolishment of “Homeland Security” is one of them. We got this shit because of 9/11. It greatly expanded the power and control of government over our lives and we weakened our constitutional rights (e.g. illegal search and seizure) because of it.

I completely understand that weak cybersecurity is a threat, but we already have the Department of Defense, Department of National Intelligence and Department of State covering it, so there is already built in redundancy, why do we need DHHS doing it too?

Capitalism has served me well and, I think if you have a particularly strong work ethic, then the American model can serve you well, up to a certain extent.

BUT, I am not a sycophant. I have seen the dark underbelly of the American model, how certain vampires at the top of companies will maximize profits at the expense of literally everything else - contractually locking in customers and then raising rates on them to the point where they can barely afford it (they’d call that “equilibrium “). Firing good long-time employees because new fresh blood is cheaper, damned if it makes everyone else’s life harder, including that person who gave their life to the company. Predating on the meek, desperate, or just those who don’t think like them, in spite of what it may do to the relationship long term (fuck any sort of commitment or customer relationship at all because it can’t accurately be monetized).

These people chase money above all else. They’re loot dragons. The only relationships they have are those that either think like them or those they can manipulate and control.

So no, don’t chase the American model, but perhaps borrow from some of its most useful tenets. There are good motivated people in the flesh, but the structure is rotten at its core.

Bone apple tea!

Hmm, how do I say this without getting downvoted all to hell?

I think this is actually a decent pick. Rubio is fairly moderate for a Republican. His parents emigrated from Cuba, so he likely has at least some respect for the blight of immigrants. He presents well intentioned and intelligent. He’ll probably actually read his briefings.

Secretary of State had formerly been a springboard for higher office. Perhaps he would actually bring a smidge of sanity back to the GOP. This country deserves functional bipartisanship.

Probably not, but one could hope.

It’s true. They’re only as powerful as you let them be. The “First they came” poem comes to mind.