On today’s fireworks schedule:
JUST IN: House Intelligence Chair Adam Schiff says House Democrats will release transcripts from Kurt Volker and Gordon Sondland tomorrow. https://t.co/XC4zRoBkGP pic.twitter.com/V5fuBpPa1J
— Evan McMurry (@evanmcmurry) November 4, 2019
"The greatest economy in American history!" says Trump. Yet two thirds of Americans say they're worse off or the same as when Trump took office, says FT Peterson poll. In reality, it's greatest ever for asset owners….. Everyone else is just surviving. https://t.co/ZO5sx9iBvy
— Edward Luce (@EdwardGLuce) November 4, 2019
NEWS: Unemployment is climbing in key swing states, including Michigan and Wisconsin
In more than 1,000 counties, or about 1 in 3, the unemployment rate is up from a year ago. That includes all counties in Wisconsin and most in MI, MN and NChttps://t.co/9p2ZKjYbtd @andrewvandam pic.twitter.com/1ubApwpfZ8
— Heather Long (@byHeatherLong) November 4, 2019
There is no line Trump wouldn’t cross to protect himself from consequences for his actions. We need to operate on that assumption. https://t.co/UPRYhuhquH
— Schooley (@Rschooley) November 4, 2019
54% of Americans blamed Trump for the last government shutdown, it won't be any different if Trump shuts it down again https://t.co/HZOQ3fveZZ
— David Frum (@davidfrum) November 3, 2019
Conservative estimates say Trump owes more than a billion dollars in unpaid taxes. https://t.co/5c0S4Yqw1N
— Scenario (@ScenarioLENS) November 4, 2019
A federal appeals panel said on Monday that President Trump’s accounting firm must turn over eight years of his personal and corporate tax returns to Manhattan prosecutors, a setback for the president’s attempt to keep his financial records private…
In its ruling on Monday, the three-judge appeals panel did not take a position on the president’s biggest argument — that he was immune from all criminal investigations. A lower court had called that argument “repugnant to the nation’s governmental structure and constitutional values.”
Instead, the appeals court said the president’s accounting firm, not Mr. Trump himself, was subpoenaed for the documents, so it did not matter whether presidents had immunity…
“There is no obvious reason why a state could not begin to investigate a president during his term and, with the information secured during that search, ultimately determine to prosecute him after he leaves office,” Judge Katzmann wrote for the panel of the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit.
By keeping the ruling narrowly focused on the subpoena directed at Mr. Trump’s accounting firm, the effect may be to allow the Supreme Court to uphold the decision without having to issue a far broader ruling against the president…
Under a deal reached by Mr. Trump’s lawyers with Mr. Vance’s office, the subpoena will not be enforced while Mr. Trump seeks review of the appellate ruling in the Supreme Court, provided that he asks that the court hear the case in its current term, which ends in June.
IMO, dragging it out until five months before the election really gives it that deep philosophical ‘I might die, or the king might die — or maybe the horse will learn to sing!’ flavor (of desperation).
Nicole
Because if there’s anything we know about Trump, it’s that he upholds his side of a deal. Ugh.
Baud
@Nicole:
Trump isn’t the one who has to comply with the subpoena. It’s his accountants.
OzarkHillbilly
Blech.
The gun murder rate in Sweden has exploded in the last 20 years by a thousand percent. They now have 40 per year.
Gangs in Sweden are now using plastic explosives in their turf wars. They “mostly target empty buildings, offices and cars,” and they are usually small.
Danes** have gotten so concerned about the violent lawlessness of Swedes that they “have reintroduced border controls”
All snark aside it is a serious situation, but it’s hard not to look at what is going on there and not think, “In other words, just another day in America.”
**there have been 2 bombings in Copenhagen they think are connected.
Nicole
@Baud: The deal was reached with Trump’s lawyers, not the lawyers for the accountants. I want to be optimistic, but neither Trump nor Vance have a good record where Trump malfeasance is concerned.
Aleta
Fear of retaliation — another one of his toxic spills into our climate. Poisoning those who talk, those who could but stay quiet, and those who worry that they might be unreasonably suspected. Mafia effect. Cult effect. Militarization effect, police state. To protect your co-workers or smaller family or self, you end up protecting the ones on top. Sick stuff going on.
David ??Booooooo?? Koch
That unemployment chart: Nebraska, Iowa, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Michigan, Missouri, North Carolina, Mississippi are getting hammered by the tariff war.
OzarkHillbilly
Iran to begin injecting uranium gas into 1,044 centrifuges
Don’t worry, the Iranians are going to come begging any day now.
Sab
@OzarkHillbilly: Even in America, two bombings in one city is not normal.
Baud
@Nicole:
Trump is in the case separately from the accountants. Vance could renege, but he’d be pretty exposed if he dropped the case now.
Dog Mom
Good Morning, All and especially potential adopters! Just need to put this out here with hopes of making a love connection! Sweet boy, Rocco in Kansas City, Mo needs a home. He has Addison’s disease – chronic, lifelong, but well managed with a bit of prednisone given daily, and a shot of another steroid given monthly. Treated dogs can live full healthy lives. Low dose protocol for the meds make it more affordable than you may have heard. The support group can answer questions about the disease and treatment. (I will be off to work, but can answer questions later today.) edit – not sure if the link will show up – sorry that it is the evil Facebook.
OzarkHillbilly
@David ??Booooooo?? Koch: I would not describe Misery as “getting hammered”, more like struggling some. Washington state on the other hand… And WTF is up with Mississippi?
Gvg
I think the accountants helped Trump do something illegal in those taxes and they aren’t sheilded from prosecution now. I don’t think Trump would have even chosen an honest accountant firm in the first place. He would want one to do whatever he wanted because he is always right in his mind. Now it’s going to come out. That is why they are fighting when I think Nixon’s didn’t.
OzarkHillbilly
@Sab: I hear “bombings” at the gun range down the way 3 or 4 times a year. No telling how many I don’t hear. People play with explosives a lot more than most know. I doubt there is any violent intent behind most of it (as in practicing for the synagogue), just “Let’s blow some shit up.” fun.
Besides, I did say “All snark aside it is a serious situation”.
Matt McIrvin
@OzarkHillbilly: It’s odd that these changes vary so strongly and abruptly across state boundaries. Is that real, maybe something to do with the state regulatory environment, or is it because the numbers are affected by artifacts of how state governments count unemployment?
WereBear
I agree on all counts. Because he’s had them for years and who else would he hire? An honest person who gets stiffed or a crook who is in on the scam?
Aleta
The pup had 12 teeth taken out a few weeks ago and has been acting 3 years younger for it.
With his age or maybe hearing or vision loss, less familiar places seem to confuse him more though.
Betty Cracker
We got some terrible news about a close relative’s health yesterday evening, and I feel helpless and sick about it. I am filled with dread for the hard days ahead. Just waiting for the sun to come up so I can go take a walk and try to clear my head.
David ??Booooooo?? Koch
@WereBear: remember how Manafort’s accountant was crooked. I’m sure it’s the same case here.
Plus, Dump has never hired anyone on the level. For example, long time employees John Bannon, David Dennison and John Miller were complete frauds.
Baud
@Betty Cracker:
Helplessness is the worst. My sympathies.
Aleta
@OzarkHillbilly: That would explain the cannon booms I thought I heard a while ago coming from the home range of the minister’s kid (the believe-in-hell-to-get-saved sect, no joke).
Sab
@OzarkHillbilly:Sorry. Agreed with and noted your “this is a serious situation.” Just trying to deflect a new not normal.
I saw a map of “mass shootings” in the US a while ago. My county had seven. I was “”WTF!” Then I realized that I had actually read about all of them in the newspaper, but the only two I remembered involved people I knew or that my husband knew.
Then I thought: WTF, my husband and I both knew people who were killed in mass shootings in our own not famous hometown. This is the new normal.
I would just as soon not add bombings to the list of formerly bad but now normal. We have Lebanese and Yugoslavian refugees in my neighborhood who agree with me.
OzarkHillbilly
@Matt McIrvin: I don’t know, but it is really weird when Ala-fucking-bama shows all that deep green and Mississippi is blood red. Politically the states aren’t all that different. I suppose cotton is getting hit hard by retaliatory tarriffs, but they grow cotton all across the south.
Chyron HR
@David ??Booooooo?? Koch:
Hey fuck you.
Dog Mom
@Betty Cracker: Sending wishes of peace and strength – I hope that rough times are short and your relative can find a path back to health and happiness quickly.
rikyrah
Good Morning, Everyone ???
Rusty
You can do something about the deplorables today, go vote!
oatler.
Let’s raise a glass to Marshall Efron, who passed a few days ago. I remember him well from the PBS’ “The Great American Dream Machine”. Check out his olive sketch on Youtube.
Baud
@rikyrah:
Good morning.
OzarkHillbilly
@Aleta: They now sell exploding targets at the local farm stores, tama-something or other. That may be some of what you are hearing, but when my windows get rattled, that’s more than an exploding target.
@Sab: Agreed. This country is just whacko crazy in too many ways. Was sitting in my infamous barber shop waiting my turn when a local shared a video somebody had sent him. It was some guys shooting at a 20# propane cylinder until it exploded. You could hear shrapnel wizzing thru the branches above them just before they began laughing and slapping themselves on the back.
ETA: sorry about your friends, it’s harder to lose them violently.
Aleta
@Betty Cracker: Hope the walk relieves some of anxiety’s grip. Sending sympathy.
Jeffro
Vote vote VOTE today, VA peeps! We can’t let the last decade of progress slip away – keep VA blue!
OzarkHillbilly
@Betty Cracker: Sorry you are going thru this.
eclare
@OzarkHillbilly: Tannerite?
WereBear
@Betty Cracker: I’m so sorry.
Such things brings us close to the edge at the best of times, and these times sure aren’t anywhere near.
OzarkHillbilly
@eclare: Yep, that’s it. I’m not quite up to snuff on gun culture these days.
Central Planning
@OzarkHillbilly: Tannerite? There are youtube videos with all sorts of explosions. When used for fun explosions in an empty field it seems pretty cool. Other uses… not so much.
ETA: Ninja’d by eclare. Doh!
eclare
@OzarkHillbilly: Used to work with a bunch who were one generation off the farm. Fun times back in the Delta involved things like blowing up pumpkins. At least it was in the middle of nowhere.
RAVEN
@Central Planning: I have potter friends who dynamited an entire ridge on their property back in the 70’s. I’ve blown up all kinds of shit, not anymore but once upon a time.
eclare
@Betty Cracker: That sounds awful, I’m so sorry.
Aleta
@OzarkHillbilly: The boom shook the air, no thought needed, just a long lasting animal response in some deep part of the nervous system. The tough unflappable neighbor came over to ask what I thought. Unusual.
JPL
@Betty Cracker: I’m so sorry and sometimes there are no soothing words. hugs
Alien radio
Anyone heard anything about Boris Johnson’s connection to Russians? I believe His name has been amongst those in the Testimony that the house has released. https://www.thecanary.co/uk/analysis/2019/11/04/johnson-hides-security-report-on-russian-meddling-amid-suggestion-hes-compromised
Central Planning
@RAVEN: My dad let us stick firecrackers in all sorts of stuff when we were kids. Ants were the only living creatures we harmed, and I wouldn’t do that again.
JPL
Earlier I put out signs for candidates I support at voting sites and let me tell you if I heard so much as a car backfire, I would have headed home until daylight.
All this talk about bombs and firecrackers doesn’t help my mood.
OzarkHillbilly
@Aleta: That ain’t tannerite.
raven
@Central Planning: We’d go down to TJ and load up on real m/80’s , silver salute’s and cherry bombs and go to town! Don’t get me started on the army.
Anne Laurie
@Aleta:
True story: I’m pretty dental-phobic, but I finally started getting regular cleanings when I saw how older dogs would ‘turn back the clock’ like this.
Aging eyes & ears there isn’t a similar ‘miracle’ cure for, unfortunately. Just as elderly people tend to get ‘set in their ways’ as negotiating change gets harder, it seems like old dogs (& cats) lose confidence sometimes even faster than the physical deterioration requires.
Dog Mom
I voted on Saturday at the local mall under NY state’s new early voting law! For the few minutes that I was there, it looked like a steady turnout of voters. I thanked the enthusiastic volunteers working the site. Many fresh names on my local ballot and most positions were contested. This was a big and welcome change from years past – I am optimistic!
Anne Laurie
@Betty Cracker: Will keep you in my thoughts, Betty.
Take care of yourself, and share as (& if) you feel comfortable.
OzarkHillbilly
911 supervisor playing Netflix movie didn’t flag call as a shooting Floriduuuuhhhh:
Just Chuck
Either the Republican Party dies, or this country does.
debbie
@David ??Booooooo?? Koch:
That is what the candidates should be focusing on instead of M4A: How Trump has only helped the 1% at the expense of his own supporters. They have all been suckered.
Baud
@debbie:
They haven’t been suckered. They are willing co-conspirators.
JMG
@Betty Cracker: I am so sorry. My best wishes and hopes for you and your family.
debbie
@Baud:
You mean the farmers chose to screw themselves over?
Baud
@debbie:
I mean almost all of them.
Patricia Kayden
satby
@debbie: @Baud: they did choose, but they thought they were choosing to screw over other people. Karma.
Cheryl Rofer
Keep those transcripts coming!
Drip…drip…drip…
debbie
@satby:
And the other people aren’t even the right people! It’s not the arugula eaters who have screwed them over; it’s the corporate world which is now getting all of the benefits of the Trump Disaster.
Baud
@satby:
I think most of them would make the same choice even knowing how they would be affected personally.
Baud
@debbie:
They’ve bought into the idea that rich people give them jobs. Better for them to focus on lettuce.
OzarkHillbilly
FTFNYT but Lev Parnas, Giuliani Associate, Opens Talks With Impeachment Investigators
Rats. Ships.
JMG
I agree with Baud. As long as Trump stands for the idea that no matter what, white people deserve to rule due to their inherent superiority, his voters will never leave him even if there was to be a depression. They’re not a majority, however.
satby
@Betty Cracker: I’m so sorry.
JPL
@Patricia Kayden: If only our current democratic candidates would run on the same message. Make America proud again.
satby
@rikyrah: Good morning ?
TS (the original)
@Betty Cracker: Best thoughts
?BillinGlendaleCA
Back from my trip to the dark, my skytracker ran out of juice at the end of my first set, so I couldn’t shoot the pic of the Triangelium Galaxy like I’d planned. It’ll have to wait until after the next new moon. It was much quieter up there than when Madame and I were up there a week and a half ago(that was a Friday night and apparently the local yutes like to hang out there on weekends).
?BillinGlendaleCA
@Betty Cracker: Sending good thoughts.
Baud
Don’t usually get to say positive things about Oklahoma, but good for them on the drug commutations.
gene108
@Baud:
He ran unopposed last election. I don’t know, if someone has the resources or interest to run against him.
Even city wide races in NYC probably are pretty pricey, which may give him an above average level of job security for an elected official
satby
I took advantage of the (probably last) two days of mild weather to pull out the summer bulbs, plant the spring ones, add more dirt to the hugelkultur bed, and get the summer bulbs into storage. And go help some friends in Goshen plan and plant some tulips and daffodils as well as heel in some roses and plant some stuff they just didn’t get around to. I have muscles aching that I forgot I even had. But for the first time ever I finished the gardening chores I wanted to. Even planted the bonus lilies of the valley that were displaced at my friends’ house when we were digging holes for the bulbs. I’m temporarily awash in a glow of achy accomplishment ?
O. Felix Culpa
@Betty Cracker: Oh dear, that’s hard. Sending you thoughts of comfort and strength for the times ahead.
gene108
@OzarkHillbilly:
Seems like the Republican Party* took a page out of Bush, Jr.’s “successful” North Korea playbook.
Democrats negotiate a deal, in order to keep a less than upstanding country to shelve their nuke program, then the succeeding Republican Administration scraps the deal.
In North Korea’s case, they relaunched their nuke program, in 2002, and detonated a nuke in 2006.
* Every Republican running for President said they would scrap Obama’s nuke deal. So much malfeasance is broader than just Trump
Professor BIgfoot
@JMG:
They’re not a majority of Americans, true. But they ARE a majority of white Americans.
OzarkHillbilly
I read Matriarch of the glen: walking the Highlands’ hidden pilgrim trail , a short interesting read. The author, Sharon Blackie, seems like an interesting person and has written several books. Two of them have really caught my eye: Foxfire, Wolfskin and Other Stories of Shape-Shifting Women and If Women Rose Rooted: The Power of the Celtic Woman .
Anybody know of her writings?
Immanentize
@Betty Cracker:
Not good. Bad in fact. But you have a ton of strength. If there is anything I/we can do to lighten the load, let me/us know.
PPCLI
@Nicole: This is one of the moments when you remember that 2012 Vance’s prosecutors had Ivanka and Don Jr. dead to rights on felony fraud for systematically lying to investors in connection with NYC condos they were selling. (Emails indicating they were knowingly presenting the investors with inflated figures concerning how fast the condos were selling etc.) Probably you all know this, but it never hurts to remind ourselves.
But then Trump’s attorney/fixer Kassowitz paid Vance a visit, and he overruled his attorneys, giving no reason except an empty (paraphrase:) “Well, they thought there was a case there but I didn’t”.
So is there any other relevant information to note? Funny you should ask:
(From Propublica, which has more info than the earlier NYT article that broke the story.)
https://www.propublica.org/article/ivanka-donald-trump-jr-close-to-being-charged-felony-fraud
So let’s just say that we shouldn’t assume Vance is doing anything except trying to appear as if he is doing something (to cover his ass) while slow-playing things as much as possible to keep the Trumps from revealing embarrassing info about their dealings. When you dance with the devil, he owns you.
Maybe not, maybe Vance really is doing the right thing, but I won’t believe that until we see concrete, finished results.
Ben Cisco
Ugh – just found out that Trumplethinskin is coming to my town this weekend. Glad I’ll be elsewhere.
rikyrah
@David ??Booooooo?? Koch:
Just as designed by the Chinese.
MAGA Bytches ?? ?
OzarkHillbilly
@satby: I’ve decided to build a couple hugelkultur beds in my veggie garden. Lord knows, I have plenty of downed limbs for the base in my woods.
rikyrah
@Betty Cracker:
So sorry, BC??
BC in Illinois
@Just Chuck:
I saw a variation on this somewhere, along the lines of:
OzarkHillbilly
@gene108:
trump is the symptom, “conservatism” is the disease. (in quotes because there is very little that is conservative in today’s GOP)
And yeah, the old “Axis of Evil”. That’s really working out well for us.
Immanentize
@satby:
Well done, Satby! I need your steady hand at my place. But I did manage to pull in the potted plants that would have died in our frost. A small win. Yet, a win
rikyrah
Mia Brett (@QueenMab87) Tweeted:
[email protected] said he believed that trump was going to pass a major infrastructure bill, uses “heartland” dog whistles, and has said positive things about working with Pence. There are good reasons he’s not doing well with black voters https://twitter.com/QueenMab87/status/1191180766522335233?s=17
JPL
@OzarkHillbilly: Destroy the world to own the libs.
Sloane Ranger
So, fun and games on the last day of Parliament. Dominic Grieve, Chair of the Intelligence and Security Committee asked an Urgent Question about why the government is sitting on his committee’s report on Russian meddling in our elections/Brexit referendum. Apparently the Intelligence community has already cleared the report for publication but dear old Boris sent out a junior Minister to argue that more time was needed to ensure security wasn’t compromised.
The Opposition went there and accused Number 10 of a cover up. The junior Minister described this as a “paranoid fantasy “. At least there was some push back from the Government backbenchers.
Betty
@Betty Cracker: So sorry to hear that. Sending love.
chopper
@Baud:
trump’s best option is to delay all this somehow through the election. june seems a long way away, but if the decision is bad for trump the tax returns would come out right in summer time which would be terrible for him.
sdhays
@Cheryl Rofer: “Transcript” has become a triggering word for me. I see that word now and I want to scream “IT’S NOT A TRANSCRIPT, IT’S A ‘MEMO’!!11!”.
But this time, I thought “IT’S NOT A TRANS….oh! You’re talking about real transcripts. Carry on.”
I hate this timeline.
Professor BIgfoot
@OzarkHillbilly: I’ve been railing about that for quite a while now.
As far as I can see, “conservatism” is little more than white supremacy and fealty to the wealthiest.
That is, “conservatism” is “Confederatism.”
Immanentize
I’m working on my panel presentation on impeachment this afternoon. Sound like anyone we know?
–Cato IV (Antifederalist, presumed to be New York’s George Clinton, on the dangers of the Constitutional structures of the President)
Chief Oshkosh
@Betty Cracker: I am sorry that your family is going through this. Good luck.
chopper
@raven:
man, the Trader Joe’s in the south are waaaay better.
CarolDuhart2
sdhays
@gene108: As I recall, he was lucky that the Weinstein revelations happened just before his last election, so no one had time to file to oppose him. I think next time around, there will be people willing to open their checkbooks for a challenger, so I think he won’t be unopposed next time.
CarolDuhart2
Remember that poll that said 72% of people were excited to vote next year? Forget next yea, what about now? People want NO republicans even downballot.
CarolDuhart2
manhattan-district-attorney-gets-primary-challenger-2-years-early Several more have filed since.
Nicole
@PPCLI: yep, I agree with all of this. Vance is garbage. I appreciate Baud’s optimism, and I guess that’s why he’s running for President. That’s why I wanna be his VP. He can be all positive and I’ll be the one screaming “We’re all doomed!” It’s a good combo, I think.
Baud
@chopper:
I don’t think Vance can release the tax returns unless he files a case against someone.
laura
@Betty Cracker: I wish you strength and love as you bear witness to suffering. Your very presence will be a blessing and a comfort.
Gin & Tonic
@Immanentize:
Boy, that guy seems to be a real Renaissance man.
Kay
@Baud:
It’s a real problem for the legal system if people believe they don’t or won’t prosecute white collar crime though, and people seem to believe that. There’s no reason for the masses to voluntarily comply with these laws if wealthy people are held harmless. They’re going to see more and more noncompliance. It was always 99% voluntary. The fact is they can’t police everyone and check everything. Maybe it’ll get their attention when they start seeing real numbers- tens of millions of the not-so-wealthy also dodging these laws.
Baud
@Kay:
Win-win for the other side. Non-compliance by the masses is a justification for a larger police state.
Ceci n est pas mon nym
@CarolDuhart2: Down ticket races: We have some judge retention votes and the local Dem party was not making a recommendation on them for some reason. So I researched the party affiliations (not listed on the ballot) and anybody who was Republican got a big NO.
Tony Jay
@Sloane Ranger:
It’s just blatant, isn’t it? The slovenly coward just hides away in his protective bubble and avoids any scrutiny, all the while spewing out the same discredited talking points to the same friendly journos.
It’s not sustainable. I know I’m biased so take this with as much salt as you like on your chips but I see this election taking the same hard, leftward swing as 2017, only further and faster. Johnson is a different bag of neurosis than May but he’s got the same problem, only worse His record is pants, he’s got no achievements, and he’s clearly no good at actually campaigning when there are more important issues on the table than “Isn’t he funny? Wouldn’t he be a laugh running the place?”
Labour (and the smaller Opposition parties) should take the kind offer and hammer on this issue all the way up to election day. It’s obviously a weakness or they wouldn’t be hiding it. Ask the same questions every day. What are they hiding? Who are they protecting? Why won’t they defend our democracy? Who benefits? They either keep shielding it or they get forced to release it, either works for me.
Offhand I can’t think of a single ‘win’ the Tories have picked up since the election was announced. On this, the NHS, drug prices, the Environment, Grenfell, etc etc, it’s just been one rake-to-the-face after another. Anyone would think that apart from their love-affair with the Media they’re just not very good at this politics malarky.
Sebastian
@Baud:
Won’t work because you don’t need burly beat cops (good!) but government bureaucrats (bad!).
Tony Jay
@Betty Cracker:
That’s rough, Betty. You know where we are if you feel the need to let off some steam.
Ben Cisco
@Betty Cracker: Just scrolled back up and saw this, I’m so sorry.
Betty Cracker
Y’all are the best — thanks for the positive thoughts. We muddle through as best we can, right? No choice! But caring friends make the muddling through a little easier. Thanks again.
Gin & Tonic
Some more on our old friend and current Federal inmate (thankfully) Paul Fucking Manafort.
matryoshka
@OzarkHillbilly: If Women Rose Rooted is wonderful, in that it shows how she grew spiritually through her connection to Celtic land and culture she came from. Sharon Blackie also wrote a novel based on her life called The Long Delirious Burning Blue. She has a website and does online studies on dreams, myths, etc.
CaseyL
@Betty Cracker: I am so sorry. I hope whatever it is can be treated successfully, and that your family finds the strength and love to make it through.
StringOnAStick
@Betty Cracker: Best wishes Betty. I have recently dealt with this road, it’s hard. Lean on those who can lift you up.
Sebastian
@Betty Cracker:
My heart goes out to you.
For what it’s worth, counterintuitively, it helps to breathe deep and dive into the negative emotion (helplessness, despair, anguish, …). Best done while laying down and being alone because you might cry and scream. You have to acknowledge and accept it or it will persist and take over everything else in your life.
All the best dear.
Barbara
@Betty Cracker: So sorry to hear this. Wishing you strength to deal with a tough situation.
Miss Bianca
@Betty Cracker: So sorry to hear it, Betty. Hope the walk helps. : (
Miss Bianca
@OzarkHillbilly: No, I haven’t, but she will go on my list of authors to check out!
Elizabelle
@Betty Cracker: You’re in my thoughts, Betty. Wishing you and your family strength and peace.
Kattails
@Betty Cracker: Heartfelt healing thoughts to you and your family.
Uncle Cosmo
The major problem with “conservatism” is that it’s become a stalking horse for the Global Oligarchy Project. It’s (far) right there in the initials – G O P. It’s why there’s never been any putsch-back from spozedly-Murkkan bazillionaires on Vlad the Paler: He’s doing the Lord’s work – since their Lord is named Mammon. The idea is to holllow out democratic governments across the globe until they function solely as an ATM for the bazillionaires – squeeze taxes from “the little people” & hand them to the oligarchs. Capital moves unrestricted between nations at the speed of light while ordinary human beings can’t make a decent living except by either (i) hiring themselves out to the oligarcy, or (ii) taking it away from others as bad (or worse) off than they are. Bigotry, misogyny, homophobia – indeed any form of “hatetheotherism” – is heavensent for them (since their heaven looks very much like Scrooge McDuck’s Money Bin): Keep the masses fighting each “other” for the few scraps you leave them & the plutocrats are home scot-free with the vast majority of the loot.
Bastards.
Dev Null
@Uncle Cosmo: Preach it, bro!