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Nora Skinker (Morton)

In considering Arendt’s position, I agree! Today, however, we could interchange Trump’s name with the media, & everything expressed in the article applies as well. If we agree that both are totalitarian, could both be “enemies of the people”? Seeing Trump as a scrapper - one who punches back when punched - is interpreted on the Right as his natural style (& always has been)  to move forward his agenda. As for what you “would like to think”, good luck with that. Trump IS the standard. ‘I would like to think’ that this rough & yes, even bullying personae will actually help get things done, particularly internationally. That, while the stuffed shirts in DC look at the daily polls & not much else. The world isn’t refined or demure. Khashoggi examples that & today, that “big stick” has never been more needed. Our big stick of an economy makes us a player. A demanding deal-making leader makes us a player. A leader who doesn’t let politics take his eye off the ball. It’s kinda like Tom Wilson: a Cap who elbows his way around, keeps every opponent on his toes, rallies the team/the crowd & doesn’t give a flying F if he has to sit in the penalty box once in awhile. A scrapper. Not a cherry-picker. Fans understand & respect that. Anyway, that’s what I would like to think. 

Joanie, Bill Clinton was quoted as saying that, even when Al Gore won the popular vote. I, too believe the American voters get it right & that’s why there had better be a damned good reason to overturn our elections.

Glen. Quite a blip on the radar screen last night. Got cocky, I guess. That said, 7 out of the last 8 ain’t nothin’ to sniff at! 

Jack Mallory

NH is a pretty ethnically homogeneous state, but the Saigon Asia Market in Manchester is one of the best, most diverse markets I’ve ever seen, CA included. Foods from Asia, Africa, the Middle East, and Latin America. Not one, but TWO brands of instant jellyfish! Is this a great country, or what?

I might even have Trump to dinner if I could force him to eat instant jellyfish.

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The ability to  “think that everything was possible and that nothing was true . . . “

Nora Skinker (Morton)

Ha! Good one, Jack! Kinda like Dems refusing to admit bad people are among the thousands seeking refuge. What a laugh. Yeah,  I get it! 

And with regulations for climate change, demeaning Republicans & hating Trump, free college, free healthcare, open borders & higher taxes, sounds, to me, like a winning platform for 2020! But, we can all relax, knowing that Biden will be a softspoken, value oriented, really good guy. No more investigations either. That would be nice. Ah, the good ole days. 

Jack Mallory

Help me out, Nora. Could you name a single Democract, with source and link, of course, who refused/refuses to admit that there are any "bad people among the thousands seeking refuge." I remember unevidenced characterizations of caravan members as national security threats, stone cold criminals, MIddle Easterners, MS-13 members, etc. but I recall no one claiming that there were no bad people among them. Evidence for your claim, or do we just let it go by as more BS? Sorry, I'm not cynical enough to just let every lie go by. 

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George H.W. Bush just appeared for the first time in Lepore's history of the U.S. In 1969 he was a Congressman from Texas. At the time "family planning" was as much or more a Republican issue than a Democratic one. Bush was so well-known as an advocate for the availability of contraception that he was known as "Rubbers" Bush among his House colleagues!

Got to love the minutiae of history. 

Glen Hirose

Jack,

Well at least it's decent of you to offer him a choice of "Natural or un-Natural instance jellyfish?" I would guess the Natural jellyfish retains more of the fresh caught flavor profiles and aromas so many have grown accustom to.

Nori,

5 goals in 26 minutes, what the *%&$ happened?!  OK, so the “Tide” is undefeated and will likely be the National Champs… I’ll still watch the bowl games anyway. It'll be an opportunity to research and try out some new Nacho Recipes. 

Joanie Bender (Grosfeld)

Hi Nori, sometimes investigations are warrented when there is possibly wrong doing like violations of the emoliaments clause (financial conflicts of interest) etc..the fact that the last congress didn't do their duty re: oversight is not commendable. Love, Joanie

Nora Skinker (Morton)

Glen, I think Ovie encapsulated it well when he admitted the team relaxed midway through the second period when they led 5-1. In hockey, you just can’t do that. Ever. Since the last time they allowed that to happen was in the ‘80’s, it was perhaps time to relearn & remember that hard lesson for another 35 years. One can only hope. Btw, tonight is huge for the Skins. Hail! 

Jack, I’m sorry. Of course no group is monolithic in their beliefs whether it be Dems believing that there are so few, so negligible a number of “bad people” within a huge influx of migrants so as not to enforce tough immigration laws nor (gawd forbid) build a wall to deter illegal entry OR Reps believing that there is nothing substantial in reports of climate change. Ya think the MSM has influenced both of our beliefs? Ya think!? If so, is it still a laughing matter? 😎

Footnote to my previous Tom Wilson/Donald Trump metaphor: they both have targets on their backs! Targets that arguably impede their success. 

Nora Skinker (Morton)

Joanie, so now that the narrative of Russian collusion (the supposed reason for Mueller’s probe in the first place) looks unpromising, the investigation has shifted to financial conflicts of interest. The ever-changing, shifting, lasting sands of politics. Sometimes I think I’ve lived too long. 🙄

Jack Mallory

Nora, I don’t think the MSM has any necessary effect on whether we think critically about the news. It's a personal decision, or attitude, whether or not to look at claims made by the media, or the president, or anybody else and ask, “How do we know that's true?  What's the evidence—how good is it, how SURE are we?” Anybody our age who hasn't adopted this perspective hasn’t paid much attention over their 7 decades.

The media, reliable media, detail their evidence enough to make answering those questions feasible. The PIC, not so much. Some individuals on the forum do, others not so much. Hence the no evidence, no links, no credence policy some of us have. The PIC's track record is so poor that when he opens his mouth, or hits send, my initial presumption is that it's bullshit. 

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Joanie, when Nora says that Russian collusion was “the supposed reason” for the Mueller investigation, she elides the fact that the probe was aimed at both Russian interference in the 2016 election and possible collusion on the part of the Trump campaign. An overwhelming amount of evidence demonstrates the former, and evidence of lying and other obfuscations certainly suggests the possibility of the latter. That's why the investigation continues.

https://www.foxnews.com/politics/trump-and-the-russia-investigation-what-to-know

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Glen, the “natural” jellyfish must be gluten free. They may also be part of a keto diet, but since I have no idea what that means I’m not sure. Do you suppose that preparing instant jellyfish just    involves adding salt water? 

Glen Hirose

Hmmm Jack,

Here's a thought; what if some group of Eco-terrorists used these instant jellyfish to reek havoc in the swimming pools of the "Rich & Famous"?

My casual internet search turned up no evidence of any group that uses Instant Jellyfish as a weapon of terror.

Joanie Bender (Grosfeld)

No Nori, I never said that Russian collusion was out of the picture. I actually think that there will be found Russian collusion...I just mentioned one other area that should be looked at which could explain why Trump chooses Putin's word over our intelligence agencies and why Trump choses the Prince from Saudi ARabia over our CIA who said that the Prince ordered the killing.  It could be that Trump has business dealings that he doesn't want jepardized by his taking a stand against Putin attacking our elections or the Crown Prince ordering the killing or a resident of the US who was a journalist....Love, Joanie

Glen Hirose

  I think Washington's season is done...

   We're toast.   

Jay Shackford

Dec. 4, 2018

Hey Nori, comparing Donald Trump to Washington Cap Tom Wilson is like comparing Charlie Manson to Mother Teresa.  While being one of the toughest and hardest hitting forwards in the NHL, Wilson is a modern-day tough guy who is also highly skilled.  He can skate, move the puck and score with the best of them. Moreover, he’s a complete team player with great vision on the ice.  His biggest test, of course, was last year’s playoffs where Wilson had 5 goals and 11 assists.  Not bad for a 24-year-old.  I love the way this guy plays.  

In sharp contrast, Trump can’t skate or move the puck and he’s anything but a team player.  He has zero skills and lacks the experience, character and temperament needed to skate with world leaders and serve as president of the USA. 

If you think Trump is a tough guy who is working in the best interests of the USA, think again.  Trump is a guy who dodged the draft, having his daddy get his personal physician to write a letter to the draft board claiming that poor little Donald had bone spurs.  That, along with a nice cash gift to the Draft Board’s annual Christmas party, gave Donald Trump another exemption from the draft.  

Years later, when asked about Vietnam and the draft in an interview with Howard Stern, Trump bragged that he fought his “own personal Vietnam War” along the streets of Manhattan where he dodged VD while sleeping with dozens of the most beautiful women in New York City.  Tough guy, right? 

Yeah, real tough guy. Consider the times Trump called Jeff Sessions, Tillerson and dozens other White House staff and cabinet members into the Oval Office, looked them straight in the eye, and said, “Jeff, you’re fired!”   Just like he did it on TV years ago.  Oh, I forgot, General Kelly did all that dirty work for him.  

Let’s face it.  Trump is a wimp, coward and mentally unstable. His days are numbered,   

Jack Mallory

“King Salman and Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman vigorously deny any knowledge of the planning or execution of the murder of Mr. Khashoggi.” Donald Trump.

There's not a smoking gun, there's a smoking saw," Lindsay Graham (R, SC)

"Zero question.” Bob Corker (R, TN)

Jack Mallory

Instead of visiting troops in a combat zone . . .

Jerry Morgan

Just wondering if any of you folks have heard of Les McCann and Eddie Harris.  My future wife, two year old daughter and I went to an outdoor jazz festival in Anacostia SE back in the late 60s and he did this song "Compared To What" and if you listen to the lyrics closely it's still appropriate today.  If my memory doesn't fail me I believe this show was around the time of the RFK/MLK assasinations.  So that summer was filled with tensions and the promoters hoped the festival would chill things out a bit.  Unfortunately, later in the show tempers flared and rocks were thrown and the people sitting around us felt we were in danger.  They formed a protective wedge around my family and safely got us out of there.  Anyway sad but true to the best of my recollection  We did however get to see Les McCann and Eddie Harris perform this piece.  This link is not to the festival we attended but same song.

Guilty of not posting the links at first:  So here they are....

https://www.bing.com/videos/search?speech=1&input=2&cc=US&setlang=en-US&ru=%2fsearch%3fspeech%3d1%26input%3d2%26form%3dWNSBOX%26cc%3dUS%26setlang%3den-US&view=detail&mmscn=vwrc&mid=4F918C67E6B696C07C834F918C67E6B696C07C83&FORM=WRVORC&ts=1544095235461&nclid=A7150BA04B44536C0B88772887160855

Don't know why I have to put in all that gigantic link but it works...

And after you listen carefully to Les and Eddie you might feel like this from Solomon Burke:

https://www.bing.com/videos/search?q=&view=detail&mmscn=vwll&mid=761F98E3D3B600F714BA761F98E3D3B600F714BA&FORM=VRRTAP

Nora Skinker (Morton)

Am still basking in the beauty of yesterday’s send-off to George Bush. Twixt the beautiful pageantry & ritual, enhanced by the highly personal expressions of love & the coming together of leaders, it was just what the doctor ordered. Kudos to everyone who cordially composed themselves & fed us a dose of the decency for which we hunger. 

Yes, Glen. Done & done. Will save the ruminating for another day. Meanwhile, go Caps! 

Speaking of draft-dodging, you must have REALLY hated Clinton for two whole terms, Jay. Particularly when you found out that not only did he lie under oath, but he is a rapist. 

Thanks to a secret classmate (& you know who you are) for the recommendation of the Netflix series, The Kominsky Method. After 6 episodes we are hooked. 

Stay toasty, everyone! ❤️

Jerry Morgan

As for thug and finesse hockey.  Thug hockey was not played historically until the USA started getting into the NHL seriously.  The type of player on a typical USA team was thugish.  The USA couldn't compete internationally because the Russians and Canadians would skate circles around the USA players.  So the USA started importing the Russian players. Compare the two styles like Lakers and Boston.  East coast basketball was all about tough defense while west coast was the Showtime Lakers.  In hockey Canada and Russia was all about the speed and USA hockey was tough take them out style of hockey.  Thuggery was the name of the game until fans found it boring, losing and wanted more scoring.  So they have now found for the most part a working combination of thug and hug hockey in my as Nora would say in MHO. 

Jay Shackford

Nori, we finally agree on something.  Yesterday's farewell to President George Bush was indeed majestic.  Still watching today's ceremonies in Houston.  

Jack Mallory

Kavanaugh, and all others accused of sexual harassment/assault, are “innocent until proven guilty.” 

But Clinton “is a rapist.”

Did I miss a trial and conviction?

Jerry Morgan

Jack as far as I recall not even Monica accused Bill Clinton of rape and Congress certainly didn't

Jack Mallory

There was a rape accusation, against Clinton, Jerry (https://www.vox.com/2016/1/6/10722580/bill-clinton-juanita-broaddrick.). But all allegation, no witnesses, no trial, no conviction—like Dr. Ford's charges against Kavanaugh who Nora reminds us is innocent until proven guilty.

Perhaps Nora is aware of a Clinton trial and conviction that has fallen through my memory sieve—she has been so adamant about innocence until proven guilty for others that it would seem hypocritical to make an exception for Clinton. 

Jack Mallory

https://slate.com/briefing/2018/12/slates-mistakes-for-the-week-of-dec-3.html

Many MSM sources do this weekly, or even daily. If only the White House did the same for its “misstatements.”. 

“Oops! North Korea STILL a nuclear threat!”

”Oops! Millions of illegals did NOT vote in the 2016 elections!”

But I don't think they have the staffing to keep up with it. 

William Stromsem

Juanita Broaddrick claims that when Clinton was attorney general, he raped her. According to her, he proposed that they have a business meeting about her nursing home in her hotel room instead of the hotel coffee shop so it would be quieter. She claims he forced her down on the bed, held her down and raped her.  She didn’t report it because he was attorney general and then moved up, and for the reasons given by Cavanaugh’s accuser. She kept quiet until the press dug her out many years later. When asked about it in a news conference Clinton refused to answer, referring the question to his attorney. We didn’t hear about it because he hadn’t lied about it under oath, so it wasn’t relevant to the obstruction of justice investigation for which he was impeached. There are similarities with the Cavanaugh allegation, but Clinton was an powerful adult and the allegation was actual rape. 

Jack Mallory

Winter. Hours of picture taking time lost to shorter days and Standard Time. But caught this bit of the Contoocook frozen to the tip of a twig, hanging inches above the river.