Comments on: ER speaks. https://habitablezone.com/2024/08/22/er-speaks-5/ Mon, 06 Apr 2026 12:03:37 -0700 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: RobVG https://habitablezone.com/2024/08/22/er-speaks-5/#comment-53450 RobVG Wed, 28 Aug 2024 23:08:56 +0000 https://habitablezone.com/?p=104341#comment-53450 https://www.rollingstone.com/politics/politics-news/supreme-court-biden-student-debt-relief-denied-again-1235090350/ https://www.rollingstone.com/politics/politics-news/supreme-court-biden-student-debt-relief-denied-again-1235090350/

]]> By: RobVG https://habitablezone.com/2024/08/22/er-speaks-5/#comment-53448 RobVG Sun, 25 Aug 2024 19:07:02 +0000 https://habitablezone.com/?p=104341#comment-53448 "Like" n/t “Like” n/t

]]> By: ER https://habitablezone.com/2024/08/22/er-speaks-5/#comment-53447 ER Sun, 25 Aug 2024 14:30:57 +0000 https://habitablezone.com/?p=104341#comment-53447 Excellent analysis, Buck. Excellent analysis, Buck.

]]> By: BuckGalaxy https://habitablezone.com/2024/08/22/er-speaks-5/#comment-53446 BuckGalaxy Sun, 25 Aug 2024 03:21:06 +0000 https://habitablezone.com/?p=104341#comment-53446 One thing that really struck me was just how good a politician she has become. The pressure she was under to deliver at the convention speech was almost unimaginably immense, and she absolutely crushed it with ease. She wears that pressure suit so lightly it's eye popping. Kamala is the real deal: An iron lady who gives a shit about the people. Regarding student debt, I have no problem with forgiveness simply because I think college eduction should be free, like it essentially was in the first couple decades after WW2. It's an investment in our nation's future that pays back many times within a few decades, and most countries in the world understand that. The reason the immigration bill finally came up this election year is two fold: It took months to negotiate, and essentially Democrats caved on every demand they had. No amnesty for dreamers. No asylum guarantees. Nothing. Dems gave repubs everything and all they wanted for it was Ukraine Aid, which they ended up getting anyway after Trump killed the bill. But there was another reason Dems caved: In public they kept their immigration talking points, but in private they realized the border was in fact a real disaster and that something had to be done even if it meant punting on all their demands and giving the GOP everything it wanted. They realized the border needed to be solved first above all else. That bill would have fixed the border and it was ready to pass with huge majorities in both the House and Senate, but the orange shitstain once again put his own needs before the good of the country. Kamala's pledge to bring back the border bill and sign it is brilliant poltics and damn good policy too. One thing that really struck me was just how good a politician she has become. The pressure she was under to deliver at the convention speech was almost unimaginably immense, and she absolutely crushed it with ease. She wears that pressure suit so lightly it’s eye popping. Kamala is the real deal: An iron lady who gives a shit about the people.

Regarding student debt, I have no problem with forgiveness simply because I think college eduction should be free, like it essentially was in the first couple decades after WW2. It’s an investment in our nation’s future that pays back many times within a few decades, and most countries in the world understand that.

The reason the immigration bill finally came up this election year is two fold: It took months to negotiate, and essentially Democrats caved on every demand they had. No amnesty for dreamers. No asylum guarantees. Nothing. Dems gave repubs everything and all they wanted for it was Ukraine Aid, which they ended up getting anyway after Trump killed the bill. But there was another reason Dems caved: In public they kept their immigration talking points, but in private they realized the border was in fact a real disaster and that something had to be done even if it meant punting on all their demands and giving the GOP everything it wanted. They realized the border needed to be solved first above all else. That bill would have fixed the border and it was ready to pass with huge majorities in both the House and Senate, but the orange shitstain once again put his own needs before the good of the country.

Kamala’s pledge to bring back the border bill and sign it is brilliant poltics and damn good policy too.

]]> By: RobVG https://habitablezone.com/2024/08/22/er-speaks-5/#comment-53444 RobVG Sat, 24 Aug 2024 14:02:35 +0000 https://habitablezone.com/?p=104341#comment-53444 I watched it too Buck, and although I'm sick of the half-truths and issues taken out of context by both conventions, I was encouraged. I realize that Trump played on my distain for "illegal" immigration. It really is a pressing problem and not just a dog whistle. You can't hide the surge in illegal crossings during the Biden era, and the fact that bi-partisan border bill [which Trump crushed] was presented to congress in an election year. I found it reassuring, and actually believe her pledge to work to pass that bill. In a general sense, what I still find discouraging is the left's non-stop promises of "free stuff". For the majority of American people, the thought of paying off of student debt is abhorrent, no less than the striking down of Roe v Wade. I will always have a problem with the mindset that assigns no value to personal responsibility. Although I didn't vote for him, I was proud that the US elected a black man as leader and accepted him as my president. I'll feel the same way about voting for a black woman, but I'm aware of the warm-fuzzy, virtue signaling attraction of another "cult of personality" endorsed by celebrities. The good thing is, Harris has more going for her than that. I want her to succeed. After the big lie, January 6 and the supreme court's overturning of Roe, I can't see the fence sitters voting for Trump. Hopefully that's all it will take. I watched it too Buck, and although I’m sick of the half-truths and issues taken out of context by both conventions, I was encouraged.
I realize that Trump played on my distain for “illegal” immigration. It really is a pressing problem and not just a dog whistle. You can’t hide the surge in illegal crossings during the Biden era, and the fact that bi-partisan border bill [which Trump crushed] was presented to congress in an election year.
I found it reassuring, and actually believe her pledge to work to pass that bill.
In a general sense, what I still find discouraging is the left’s non-stop promises of “free stuff”. For the majority of American people, the thought of paying off of student debt is abhorrent, no less than the striking down of Roe v Wade. I will always have a problem with the mindset that assigns no value to personal responsibility.
Although I didn’t vote for him, I was proud that the US elected a black man as leader and accepted him as my president. I’ll feel the same way about voting for a black woman, but I’m aware of the warm-fuzzy, virtue signaling attraction of another “cult of personality” endorsed by celebrities. The good thing is, Harris has more going for her than that. I want her to succeed. After the big lie, January 6 and the supreme court’s overturning of Roe, I can’t see the fence sitters voting for Trump. Hopefully that’s all it will take.

]]> By: BuckGalaxy https://habitablezone.com/2024/08/22/er-speaks-5/#comment-53443 BuckGalaxy Fri, 23 Aug 2024 16:55:02 +0000 https://habitablezone.com/?p=104341#comment-53443 The Tea Party came before Trump, and it was essentially a junior MAGA movement. Their type is going to always be part of America. But I think what Trump does, and what future imitators will find difficult, is that he brings out the very low information voters in big numbers. People who never voted in their lives suddenly were all fired up to vote for this pos. That's why he way outperformed the polls in both of his elections. (And it's why Dems must never assume they have it in the bag no matter what the polls might say.) I don't think future Trump clones are likely to spark that kind blind loyalty from the poorly educated crowd. JD Vance certainly won't. There will always be MAGAts and their ilk, but not in the numbers Trump has produced once the nation is finally free of this terrible man. The Tea Party came before Trump, and it was essentially a junior MAGA movement. Their type is going to always be part of America. But I think what Trump does, and what future imitators will find difficult, is that he brings out the very low information voters in big numbers. People who never voted in their lives suddenly were all fired up to vote for this pos. That’s why he way outperformed the polls in both of his elections. (And it’s why Dems must never assume they have it in the bag no matter what the polls might say.) I don’t think future Trump clones are likely to spark that kind blind loyalty from the poorly educated crowd. JD Vance certainly won’t. There will always be MAGAts and their ilk, but not in the numbers Trump has produced once the nation is finally free of this terrible man.

]]> By: ER https://habitablezone.com/2024/08/22/er-speaks-5/#comment-53442 ER Fri, 23 Aug 2024 14:25:28 +0000 https://habitablezone.com/?p=104341#comment-53442 he will be replaced by others, and some of them will be more capable and far more wicked than he is. Trump was able to mobilize the Deplorables, and now that everyone knows how many they are, and how easily they are controlled, it will only be a matter of time before someone exploits that resource. As bad as Trump is, he is just a man. The tragedy of this whole episode in our history is not how America can give birth to him, but how America already has that constituency in place, ready to be awakened again. The rebellion of 1860 was not caused by Jefferson Davis, or Robert E Lee. It had been bubbling furiously beneath the surface for decades. And when the Civil War ended, the Rebels were still there, simmering, a superheated vapor ready to flash into a furious boil as soon as the pressure was released. The MAGA Nation is not the same as the Reconstruction South; but the link between the two can be traced through history, a straight line from the 19th century through the 21st. Between a quarter and a third of American adults WANT to be led by a Donald Trump, or someone like him. THAT is what fills me with dread and despair. The Democrats may win this election, they may even succeed in eventually turning the country around to a more gentle and progressive future. But this new Civil War is not over yet. he will be replaced by others, and some of them will be more capable and far more wicked than he is. Trump was able to mobilize the Deplorables, and now that everyone knows how many they are, and how easily they are controlled, it will only be a matter of time before someone exploits that resource.

As bad as Trump is, he is just a man. The tragedy of this whole episode in our history is not how America can give birth to him, but how America already has that constituency in place, ready to be awakened again.

The rebellion of 1860 was not caused by Jefferson Davis, or Robert E Lee. It had been bubbling furiously beneath the surface for decades. And when the Civil War ended, the Rebels were still there, simmering, a superheated vapor ready to flash into a furious boil as soon as the pressure was released.

The MAGA Nation is not the same as the Reconstruction South; but the link between the two can be traced through history, a straight line from the 19th century through the 21st. Between a quarter and a third of American adults WANT to be led by a Donald Trump, or someone like him. THAT is what fills me with dread and despair. The Democrats may win this election, they may even succeed in eventually turning the country around to a more gentle and progressive future. But this new Civil War is not over yet.

]]> By: BuckGalaxy https://habitablezone.com/2024/08/22/er-speaks-5/#comment-53441 BuckGalaxy Fri, 23 Aug 2024 04:02:16 +0000 https://habitablezone.com/?p=104341#comment-53441 This was the first Democratic Convention I have ever watch from begining to end. The era of Youtube helps without having comentators cutting in over speeches constantly. But it was also a reflection of the energy and enthusiasm I have felt since Biden stepped aside. Before that I was withdrawing from political news and was feeling the doom. Now I consume politics every day, feel pumped up, and I loved this convention. Kamala absolutely crushed it in her speech tonight! She has become such a good politician in the last few years. I agree with you that she will beat Trump. I disagree we will lose the House. I think it is much more likely we take the House than keep the Senate. I am confident about the House and hopeful about the Senate. Agree MAGAts will cause post election problems but since Trump is not in power that won't be as bad this time. Not sure about Trump's demise but one can only hope. If not, watch the orange asswipe run again in four years at the age of 82, and probably get the nomination again. Someday he will be gone and the world will be a vastly better place. This was the first Democratic Convention I have ever watch from begining to end. The era of Youtube helps without having comentators cutting in over speeches constantly. But it was also a reflection of the energy and enthusiasm I have felt since Biden stepped aside. Before that I was withdrawing from political news and was feeling the doom. Now I consume politics every day, feel pumped up, and I loved this convention.

Kamala absolutely crushed it in her speech tonight! She has become such a good politician in the last few years. I agree with you that she will beat Trump. I disagree we will lose the House. I think it is much more likely we take the House than keep the Senate. I am confident about the House and hopeful about the Senate.

Agree MAGAts will cause post election problems but since Trump is not in power that won’t be as bad this time. Not sure about Trump’s demise but one can only hope. If not, watch the orange asswipe run again in four years at the age of 82, and probably get the nomination again.

Someday he will be gone and the world will be a vastly better place.

]]>