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Edited by Mrph1 on Nov 30th 2023 at 11:03:59 AM

Silasw A procrastination in of itself from A handcart to hell (4 Score & 7 Years Ago) Relationship Status: And they all lived happily ever after <3
A procrastination in of itself
#157876: Nov 22nd 2016 at 3:03:39 PM

Clinton also won New Hampshire I think.

The problem is that she lost several Democrat states, it ended up as if Trump had won the swing states but somehow lost Georgia and South Carolina.

“And the Bunny nails it!” ~ Gabrael “If the UN can get through a day without everyone strangling everyone else so can we.” ~ Cyran
Draghinazzo (4 Score & 7 Years Ago) Relationship Status: I get a feeling so complicated...
#157877: Nov 22nd 2016 at 3:09:40 PM

[up][up]Both of those are things that have been said in this thread.

By the way, if we're talking about frighteningly applicable things, this excerpt from a book called They Thought They Were Free is chilling. The entirety of it is quite frightening, so here's some choice bits:

"Uncertainty is a very important factor, and, instead of decreasing as time goes on, it grows. Outside, in the streets, in the general community, ‘everyone’ is happy. One hears no protest, and certainly sees none. You know, in France or Italy there would be slogans against the government painted on walls and fences; in Germany, outside the great cities, perhaps, there is not even this. In the university community, in your own community, you speak privately to your colleagues, some of whom certainly feel as you do; but what do they say? They say, ‘It’s not so bad’ or ‘You’re seeing things’ or ‘You’re an alarmist.’

"And you are an alarmist. You are saying that this must lead to this, and you can’t prove it. These are the beginnings, yes; but how do you know for sure when you don’t know the end, and how do you know, or even surmise, the end? On the one hand, your enemies, the law, the regime, the Party, intimidate you. On the other, your colleagues pooh-pooh you as pessimistic or even neurotic. You are left with your close friends, who are, naturally, people who have always thought as you have.

"And one day, too late, your principles, if you were ever sensible of them, all rush in upon you. The burden of self-deception has grown too heavy, and some minor incident, in my case my little boy, hardly more than a baby, saying ‘Jewish swine,’ collapses it all at once, and you see that everything, everything, has changed and changed completely under your nose. The world you live in—your nation, your people—is not the world you were born in at all. The forms are all there, all untouched, all reassuring, the houses, the shops, the jobs, the mealtimes, the visits, the concerts, the cinema, the holidays. But the spirit, which you never noticed because you made the lifelong mistake of identifying it with the forms, is changed. Now you live in a world of hate and fear, and the people who hate and fear do not even know it themselves; when everyone is transformed, no one is transformed. Now you live in a system which rules without responsibility even to God. The system itself could not have intended this in the beginning, but in order to sustain itself it was compelled to go all the way.

"Suddenly it all comes down, all at once. You see what you are, what you have done, or, more accurately, what you haven’t done (for that was all that was required of most of us: that we do nothing). You remember those early meetings of your department in the university when, if one had stood, others would have stood, perhaps, but no one stood. A small matter, a matter of hiring this man or that, and you hired this one rather than that. You remember everything now, and your heart breaks. Too late. You are compromised beyond repair.

I apologize if I'm inspiring defeatism or panic, but I thought these were too salient not to share all the same.

edited 22nd Nov '16 3:10:21 PM by Draghinazzo

henry42 [REDACTED] from Western Hemisphere Since: Mar, 2012 Relationship Status: It's not my fault I'm not popular!
[REDACTED]
#157878: Nov 22nd 2016 at 3:10:09 PM

Ironically, Donald Trump appears to be exactly what Fox and the rest of the right-wing media constantly called Obama - simultaneously a harsh dictatator with no respect for the rule of law AND a spineless flip flopping coward.
Interesting — I hadn't made that connection before. Although, TBF, I think the "spineless" part kinda applies to Obama as well.

One does not shake the box containing the sticky notes of doom!
Rationalinsanity from Halifax, Canada Since: Aug, 2010 Relationship Status: It's complicated
#157879: Nov 22nd 2016 at 3:11:00 PM

Had she held the Midwest, Florida and NC wouldn't have mattered. But alas, turnout collapsed and you know the rest.

And honestly, if Trump puts the US on the path to green energy/climate change action because he sees money in it....that's awesome. I only care about the results and to be perfectly fair, that's one of the main reasons India and China are moving towards green power as well.

Politics is the skilled use of blunt objects.
Draghinazzo (4 Score & 7 Years Ago) Relationship Status: I get a feeling so complicated...
#157880: Nov 22nd 2016 at 3:13:16 PM

Systems that are built to accommodate or benefit from human nature (in this case, greed) have a lot more staying power.

blkwhtrbbt The Dragon of the Eastern Sea from Doesn't take orders from Vladimir Putin Since: Aug, 2010 Relationship Status: I'm just a poor boy, nobody loves me
The Dragon of the Eastern Sea
#157881: Nov 22nd 2016 at 3:13:36 PM

@ Shinji's dad: Yes, I changed my forum avatar and signature in light of the recent tragedies. That being, Trump's inevitable presidency and the rise of the Nazi Right.

Say to the others who did not follow through You're still our brothers, and we will fight for you
MadSkillz Destroyer of Worlds Since: Mar, 2013 Relationship Status: I only want you gone
Destroyer of Worlds
#157882: Nov 22nd 2016 at 3:35:20 PM

This was a pretty good summary of Trump's broken promises on my Facebook.

He's going to MAGA by prosecuting Crooked Hillary! ... Oh he already said he's not? Well... He'll do it by building the wall! ... Oh, they already said that they're not doing that now? Well... He's going to bring back all the coal and manufacturing jobs! ... Oh, that's impossible due to automation and economic realities? Well... He's going to immediately repeal Obama Care!... Oh, he already said he's not going to do that and is keeping major parts of it? Well... He's going to drain the swamp!... Oh, he's already bringing in Republican insiders and payoff positions for not prosecuting him... Well, at least he's not using it for personal gain like Hillary would!... Oh, he's already using it for personal gain for his businesses. Well... At least he's a great business man and will help us be rich!... Oh, he made 1/3rd less money than if he'd just invested the money his dad gave him. Well... What was I saying again?

Rationalinsanity from Halifax, Canada Since: Aug, 2010 Relationship Status: It's complicated
#157883: Nov 22nd 2016 at 3:41:43 PM

Hopefully for his next trick, he'll start listening to his officers when it ISIS.

Politics is the skilled use of blunt objects.
Draghinazzo (4 Score & 7 Years Ago) Relationship Status: I get a feeling so complicated...
#157884: Nov 22nd 2016 at 3:41:51 PM

That's what gets me about Trump.

All of this is so unnecessary.

The guy could just be coasting off the money his dad gave him and living a nice quiet life where he doesn't have to exert any effort.

Instead, FASCISM

the greed is unreal

Gaon Smoking Snake from Grim Up North Since: Jun, 2012 Relationship Status: Above such petty unnecessities
#157885: Nov 22nd 2016 at 3:48:20 PM

@Henry 42: Blk's signature is also composed of one quote from "Revenge of the Sith", Episode III of the Star Wars saga ("This is how liberty dies...with thunderous applause") and the other one is a quote from felllow troper Crimson Zephyr a few hundred pages ago ("We weren't crying wolf - we were simply surrounded by wolves")

"All you Fascists bound to lose."
PotatoesRock Since: Oct, 2012
#157886: Nov 22nd 2016 at 3:49:30 PM

This is what we get with a family that made their fortune off of prostitution during the Gold Rush, I guess.

henry42 [REDACTED] from Western Hemisphere Since: Mar, 2012 Relationship Status: It's not my fault I'm not popular!
[REDACTED]
#157887: Nov 22nd 2016 at 4:06:57 PM

[up] Really? Is that where their family fortune came from?

One does not shake the box containing the sticky notes of doom!
PotatoesRock Since: Oct, 2012
#157888: Nov 22nd 2016 at 4:19:29 PM

Yup. West Coast Gold Rush. He basically ran Bars and Brothels and made mad cash in the era for it.

"At his death his net holdings included a 2-story, 7-room home in Queens; 5 vacant lots; $4,000 in savings; $3600 in stocks; and 14 mortgages. Altogether his net value was $31,359 ($494,700 today).118 Elizabeth Sr. and Fred continued his real estate projects under the Elizabeth Trump & Son moniker."

Not filthy rich as his Grandson but the man managed several times to do well and it was the seed of the family business as they moved to New York.

edited 22nd Nov '16 4:22:06 PM by PotatoesRock

MadSkillz Destroyer of Worlds Since: Mar, 2013 Relationship Status: I only want you gone
Destroyer of Worlds
#157889: Nov 22nd 2016 at 4:32:49 PM

President-elect Donald Trump says he is “seriously considering” retired neurosurgeon Ben Carson to head the Department of Housing and Urban Development.

Trump’s announcement on Twitter comes a week after Carson let it be known that he is not interested in being considered for any position in the Trump administration.

In Tuesday’s tweet, Trump says: “I am seriously considering Dr. Ben Carson as the head of HUD. I’ve gotten to know him well — he’s a greatly talented person who loves people!”

Last week, Carson business manager Armstrong Williams said Carson had opted out of being considered for any position, including as head of the Department of Health and Human Services or the Education Department.

Williams also said Trump had made clear he wanted his rival-turned-adviser in some role.

edited 22nd Nov '16 4:33:12 PM by MadSkillz

PotatoesRock Since: Oct, 2012
#157890: Nov 22nd 2016 at 4:40:05 PM

So who replaces Pence as Governor.

And how crackpot insane are they.

Rationalinsanity from Halifax, Canada Since: Aug, 2010 Relationship Status: It's complicated
#157891: Nov 22nd 2016 at 4:50:42 PM

Whoever the Lt.Governor of Indiana is I would assume.

Politics is the skilled use of blunt objects.
henry42 [REDACTED] from Western Hemisphere Since: Mar, 2012 Relationship Status: It's not my fault I'm not popular!
[REDACTED]
#157892: Nov 22nd 2016 at 5:15:17 PM

@Draghinazzo

Systems that are built to accommodate or benefit from human nature (in this case, greed) have a lot more staying power.
Many people seem to have this attitude towards protectingt the environment, and it bothers me. It may help to make it profitable, but we have to protect the environment immediately, whether it's profitable or not. I don't think we should restrict ourselves to solutions based on such a cynical view of "human nature".

One does not shake the box containing the sticky notes of doom!
Draghinazzo (4 Score & 7 Years Ago) Relationship Status: I get a feeling so complicated...
#157893: Nov 22nd 2016 at 5:17:55 PM

[up] I don't disagree with you, I was just making the point that a system that runs in tandem with human self-interest has an extra layer of insurance in terms of staying power.

I should also note that such a system can be used for good (like helping ameliorate climate change), or bad (kleptocracies which keep people in power based on greed and fear).

edited 22nd Nov '16 5:18:29 PM by Draghinazzo

KarkatTheDalek Not as angry as the name would suggest. from Somwhere in Time/Space Since: Mar, 2012 Relationship Status: You're a beautiful woman, probably
Not as angry as the name would suggest.
#157894: Nov 22nd 2016 at 5:24:22 PM

[up][up][up] They actually held an election this year as well.

I was hoping the Democrat candidate would win, but alas, it was not to be.

Oh God! Natural light!
M84 Oh, bother. from Our little blue planet Since: Jun, 2010 Relationship Status: Chocolate!
Oh, bother.
#157895: Nov 22nd 2016 at 5:25:15 PM

@ 157856 Draghinazzo

Trump doesn't seem solely motivated by money. He wants recognition. He wants to be seen as a savvy brilliant elite godlike man. Instead of what he really is: a loser who was born with a silver spoon in his mouth.

@ 157854 Mad Skillz

Trump's a shameless Opportunistic Bastard. He'll say or do whatever it takes to get what he wants.

edited 22nd Nov '16 5:32:37 PM by M84

Disgusted, but not surprised
Iaculus Pronounced YAK-you-luss from England Since: May, 2010
Pronounced YAK-you-luss
#157896: Nov 22nd 2016 at 5:35:08 PM

...gnaaah?

What's precedent ever done for us?
M84 Oh, bother. from Our little blue planet Since: Jun, 2010 Relationship Status: Chocolate!
Oh, bother.
#157897: Nov 22nd 2016 at 5:37:46 PM

[up] Well, there's an argument for atheism if there ever was one.

Disgusted, but not surprised
Zendervai Since: Oct, 2009
#157899: Nov 22nd 2016 at 5:46:02 PM

One thing about Jerry Falwell Jr. He's the president of Liberty University, a university which officially backed Trump...but most of the students and faculty despise Trump. Falwell was forced off the board because he kept trying to change the curriculum to focus on his own beliefs so narrowly that the resulting degrees would be totally worthless. He is significantly more conservative than the rest of Liberty, and Liberty is pretty conservative to start with.

So Falwell's claim to being an educator is that he is so bad at it that his own university, that he owns, locked him entirely out of anything to do with the actual education part.

PotatoesRock Since: Oct, 2012
#157900: Nov 22nd 2016 at 5:46:57 PM

This seems a recurring trend.

People so bad at their jobs they got bounced from doing them.


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