Why wasn't there a landslide: [theguardian.com]

TomMcGiverin comments on Nov 6, 2020:

The DNC, the corporate media, and establishment Dem pols keep saying that a progressive candidate for prez can't win, but that's a shit-eating lie and they all know it. The facts are that they were scared shitless of Bernie and knew that if they didn't stop him from the nomination he would have won last time and this time in landslides. They know that Biden only won, barely, because a majority of voters were just sick enough of Trump to tolerate Biden. When they say Bernie couldn't have won, I shoot back " Then maybe we should finally just prove it by allowing a progressive to get the nomination and participate in the debates for the general election". How can any of the centrists know that when the Dems have not had a progressive candidate since McGovern in 1972? I would bet my life on it that if allowed to participate in those debates and wipe the floor with the neoliberal policies of any Repub, the voters would respond and we'd have turnout of 80% or more of eligible voters. But my guess is that if a progressive did get the nomination by some miracle, the corporate media would ignore them as much as possible except for smears and the debate commission, run by the heads of both parties, would collude with the Repub candidate to boycott the debates.

In case you were wondering......

TomMcGiverin comments on Nov 6, 2020:

"Newman!!"

Sadly accurate. FUDNC

TomMcGiverin comments on Nov 6, 2020:

Ever since Covid hit, I often feel the same as Fry, the difference being that, unlike me, he has a bunch of cool friends to hang around with. Since Covid, I don't even have that..

While we were counting the record number of votes, America broke another record: 116,000 confirmed ...

TomMcGiverin comments on Nov 6, 2020:

Apparently so, or maybe they just think their God will save them from being infected or from getting sick or dying. Who knows? I just know that a lot of people are acting recklessly, selfishly, and stupidly. Kind of like their voting choices. In case the Tokyo Olympics are canceled, they will still have an opportunity to chant, "We're number one!"

When you're a child you want to be a teenager....

TomMcGiverin comments on Nov 6, 2020:

I don't want to switch places with a cat during this life, tho there are some days I'm tempted to do so. But after one tour thru this life, I'd be glad to be a cat in my next life, if I have one.

Pat Robertson to Pregnant Woman: Give Baby Up for Adoption and Dump Boyfriend | Beth Stoneburner | ...

TomMcGiverin comments on Nov 6, 2020:

I've got an even better idea. If Robertson is so keen on adoption, why doesn't he adopt the baby? I'm sure he has the bucks to spend on it.

Friday morning cuteness

TomMcGiverin comments on Nov 6, 2020:

So big and fluffy. Is this a Maine Coon?

Agnostics

TomMcGiverin comments on Nov 5, 2020:

Your best bet is either a Unitarian church or a local Freethinkers And Atheists group. I warn you tho that the latter place is usually made up largely of men and women who are already coupled with male members of the group. Unitarian churches tend to skew mostly female for the adult members.

Baffled Biden

TomMcGiverin comments on Nov 5, 2020:

I noticed how last night on TV Biden's wife, once again, as always, seemed to be leading him around the stage and which way to go for leaving the stage.I guess she's probably prepping to be the next Nancy Reagan.

Compulsory Voting in the USA?

TomMcGiverin comments on Nov 5, 2020:

Australians are so much more reasonable and societal-minded than Americans. They are truly patriotic, not blindly nationalistic like Americans.

Compulsory Voting in the USA?

TomMcGiverin comments on Nov 5, 2020:

I don't know if I'm for that, but I do know that if it happened the third party candidates would probably do a lot better as the currently non-voting poor would probably be willing to take a chance on those candidates.

So Happy It’s Thursday.

TomMcGiverin comments on Nov 5, 2020:

You are one freckled kid. Where's you grow up, Australia?

It's a big club, and we ain't in it.

TomMcGiverin comments on Nov 4, 2020:

Yup, that says and explains all of it.

20 Close election is still close: I CALLED IT.

TomMcGiverin comments on Nov 4, 2020:

I still wish I had voted for your cat Smudge...

What is going on...

TomMcGiverin comments on Nov 4, 2020:

The ultimate Karen from hell.....

Tweet from Ben Shapiro

TomMcGiverin comments on Nov 4, 2020:

Who is Shapiro?

Everyone take heart - there were some very important progressive victories! [news.yahoo.com]

TomMcGiverin comments on Nov 4, 2020:

So whoop-tee-doo, some progressive candidates won because the voters supported their appeal around identity politics. Let's hold the bubbly until later when we see if they are willing to buck the Dem party leaders and establishment on getting a Green New Deal and an adequate Covid relief package for the working class and small business, instead of settling for the usual lip service from Pelosi and Schumer.

But will all the non-bigoted Americans ban together to aggressively address the problem?

TomMcGiverin comments on Nov 4, 2020:

No, and the reason is that a large part of the Repub base are not bigots, just greedy selfish people who who want tax cuts and another large part of the base are white evangelicals who want conservative judges who are anti- abortion and pro-theocracy. Both of these groups will not stand in the way of the bigots if their group is getting what they want from the Repubs. It's simple self interest and tribal agendas being more important to them than honor or principles.

Any US constitutional experts out there?

TomMcGiverin comments on Nov 4, 2020:

Good ?. It's possible, but highly unlikely. I won't be surprised if a few months after the inauguration that he steps down for a "personal health emergency", namely his dementia. I really doubt he will serve a full term.

An Overwhelming Number of White Evangelical Christians Still Voted for Trump | Hemant Mehta | ...

TomMcGiverin comments on Nov 4, 2020:

I was shocked to hear secondhand, from another sibling, that my older sister and her hubby, who are evangelicals, were so offended by Trump's speech and behavior that they couldn't stand to vote for him again. So hope springs eternal.

We’re going to the dogs! For everyone that’s been biting their nails watching election results ...

TomMcGiverin comments on Nov 4, 2020:

They're a cute duo.

Robin got it.. [youtube.com]

TomMcGiverin comments on Nov 4, 2020:

I still really miss Robin Williams..

Will you know your sin of feeling like you're winning when you're actually loosing again?

TomMcGiverin comments on Nov 4, 2020:

"Laugh about it, shout about it, when you've got to choose. Every way you look at it, you lose"- Mrs. Robinson by Paul Simon. How fucking timeless.....

Finish the sentence: America is a...

TomMcGiverin comments on Nov 3, 2020:

A plutocracy inhabited by an idiocracy of much of the voting electorate resulting in a system that pretends to be a democracy.

VOTING REPORTS.

TomMcGiverin comments on Nov 3, 2020:

I voted absentee at the beginning of the month. My neighbors voted in person today and said the place was empty and they had no wait.

Today 11/03/2020 I waited in line from 9:25AM to 11:30AM to vote in Paw Paw Township, Michigan.

TomMcGiverin comments on Nov 3, 2020:

At least no election-watching militias fired on you...

Potential Scenarios for the Election How do you think it will go?

TomMcGiverin comments on Nov 3, 2020:

I think you left out what looks like the most likely outcome, which is, Biden wins, the Dems hold the House, the Repubs hold the Senate. In my mind, that would be somewhat of an improvement in that Trump would not be able to do more damage. But it would still result in gridlock and not much getting done except maybe better leadership on Covid. Biden would have to do most things by executive order and I doubt he has the balls to do that. At least we would get fewer conservative nutjob judges. Also, the Repubs will do a 180 right after the election if Trump loses and oppose any Dem spending bills, unless it's giveaways to corporations or the rich, as deficits will suddenly matter again to them and they will become budget hawks on any spending Biden wants to do for the peasants or small business.

A fellow user recently noted a ten year difference between herself and a possible positive ...

TomMcGiverin comments on Nov 3, 2020:

I currently feel that eight years in either direction is the most I will attempt. I am especially concerned about not dating someone who is more than eight years older than me, because my late wife was 15 years older than me and died from dementia she inherited from her mother. That experience with her dementia just about broke me and I don't think I could survive having another partner get a long term illness and die again sometime in the next ten years, so I am trying to hedge my bets against that as much as possible. Maybe ten years from now I would be able to handle going thru something like that again, but in the meantime, I don't want to set myself up by choosing someone who is much older than me. Still, the other person's health and family medical history is just as important, if not more so, than their age difference.

ELECTION 2020: Democracy Calls Us to Fight ‘Lesser of Two Evils’ Argument Yet the truth is ...

TomMcGiverin comments on Nov 2, 2020:

I know I will be voting third party for prez next time if the Dems nominate their usual shitty candidate. In fact, now that I know Biden is likely to lose my state by several points, I already regret having voted a couple weeks ago for Biden.

Communities Preparing for the Threat of Violence Around Election Day With news of the ...

TomMcGiverin comments on Nov 2, 2020:

I bet most of these fat tubs of lard could never pass basic training in the army, so they are truly pretend soldiers..

I vote for the divorce . . . . how about you . . . [marketwatch.com]

TomMcGiverin comments on Nov 2, 2020:

As long as my state is not part of the same country as the South.

I met someone on Match with promise.

TomMcGiverin comments on Nov 2, 2020:

Ten years is no problem if you two click together and his health is ok. You appear to be in your mid 60s or so and at that age ten years is ok if the older person's health is reasonably ok. Then you shouldn't have to worry that much about him dying soon.

A little from Column A, and a little from Column B.

TomMcGiverin comments on Nov 1, 2020:

Between those two books, I would say the authors pretty much covered what is now wrong with our present, except for climate change, which nobody could have saw coming back then.

Very different markings [youtu.be]

TomMcGiverin comments on Nov 1, 2020:

Very unusual markings. Cute video watching the kitten play with the other kitten and get bathed by the older cat.

Why are you voting for your presidential candidate?

TomMcGiverin comments on Nov 1, 2020:

I held my nose and voted for Biden, when who I really wanted was Bernie. That was over three weeks ago when I dropped off my absentee ballot. Today I saw the results of the final Iowa poll showing that Trump now had a lead of several points in my state, so my vote for Biden is not likely to make any difference in that race. Knowing now that Trump is going to win Iowa anyway, I wish I could have my ballot back and vote Green instead for prez.

ELECTION 2020: Democracy Calls Us to Fight ‘Lesser of Two Evils’ Argument – Consortiumnews

TomMcGiverin comments on Nov 1, 2020:

The article says it all, nothing to add to it.

Man Kills Waitress Who Asked Him to Extinguish His Cigarette A Mississippi man is under arrest ...

TomMcGiverin comments on Oct 31, 2020:

The problem is too much access to guns for assholes.. As to arming all waitresses with handguns, I am not in favor of that, but I would be happy to see the larger tips it would bring..Assholes like this guy tend to be poor tippers unless they think the waitress will reward them with sexual favors..

Pseudo-left apologists for Biden and the bankruptcy of “lesser-evil” politics Joseph ...

TomMcGiverin comments on Oct 31, 2020:

No surprise there. Wall Street is happy they will get the certainty of Biden over the chaos of Trump and more stability for the economy while at the same time they get promise that Joe will not change anything about the status quo of inequality and corporate rule as well as continued American involvement in the Middle East.

Biden vows to pass LGBTQ rights legislation in first 100 days

TomMcGiverin comments on Oct 31, 2020:

I'll first say that gay rights do matter, but ".. a top legislative priority"? How about Covid relief? Climate change legislation? Health care for all? Getting out of Iraq and Afghanistan? Paid sick leave for all? In other words, big whoop, gay rights bills that cost the rich and corporations nothing.... Oh, I forgot Joe said "Nothing will fundamentally change..". Gotta love that good ole corporate neoliberal Dem agenda of identity politics that soothes its base but does nothing to improve the lives of most Americans...

One good part of the arrival of the cool seasons of autumn and winter.

TomMcGiverin comments on Oct 31, 2020:

They only want your body heat..

Many people wonder why Wisconsin is the 3rd highest state with COVID cases.

TomMcGiverin comments on Oct 31, 2020:

Sounds a lot like my state, Iowa. Biggest outbreaks are in the university towns, no mask mandates for the most part in the state. The main diff is that Iowa is pretty much a one party state, Repub, as far as the governor and the legislature. The guv is too arrogant or chickenshit to even hold regular press conferences over Covid since the first couple months of Covid.

In 1989, the minimum wage was around $3.

TomMcGiverin comments on Oct 31, 2020:

Except they aren't philanthropists, they are more like unwilling slaves..

The safety officer can be bribed with high quality chicken of the sea.

TomMcGiverin comments on Oct 30, 2020:

That cat looks like it's hardly missed any meals..

Damaged by some "serious pussy"! [fox5ny.com]

TomMcGiverin comments on Oct 30, 2020:

Sometimes stupidity has its serious consequences. Usually the consequences are small. I hope the animal was not punished with death for this idiot's mistake.

Another case of extreme police brutality.

TomMcGiverin comments on Oct 29, 2020:

That pig needs to be hung by his balls and then sent swinging by them...

What's the difference between republicans and democrats? Lip Service

TomMcGiverin comments on Oct 29, 2020:

I always say that the diff between the major parties, in how they treat the average American peasant, is the Repubs tell you straight up that they are going to fuck you in the ass, while the Dems smile in your face and say they are on your side right before they fuck you in the ass. Also, the Dems will sometimes use a lubricant while the Repubs never do...

They've voted, have you?

TomMcGiverin comments on Oct 29, 2020:

If it weren't for Covid, I would be voting in person like usual. Since Iowa is not an open carry state, I don't need to worry about armed idiots like these showing up in public trying to intimidate people. But if it were different here and there wasn't Covid, I would not be afraid of them showing up outside my polling place. In fact, because I love to confront assholes in public, I would probably mouth off to them about their needing to carry guns to make up for their insecurity about their manhood, as long as there were witnesses around. My attitude would be " I don't think you've got the balls to shoot me in front of witnesses while I'm unarmed". I think it would be good if more people called their bluff openly in front of others. Because I know that even in my town that, as a white man, they would not be able to get away scot free for shooting an unarmed white man, even if there was an argument. In the south, it would probably be different, but here they should be called out for their empty threat.

The socialism debate...

TomMcGiverin comments on Oct 29, 2020:

Confuse not the minds of the ignorant, they'll only hate you for it. In other words, you won't reach or be able to change their minds any more than you could a simple dog or cat. All you'll get for it is grief and possibly assault. I also agree with prometheus below, the political thinking of most people, as well as their musical tastes, are usually just a matter of what environment or system they are born into and raised in. Rural and southern Americans end up liking country music. Urban and coastal white Americans end up liking rock and other more urban genres. With music or politics, most people never change from their origins unless they leave their original environment or get a lot of exposure to new thinking or music thru personal relationships later on in their lives that influence them.

This is sickening, I had no idea that Harrison Arkansas was this bad. [youtu.be]

TomMcGiverin comments on Oct 29, 2020:

What do you expect from a region that is mostly made up of inbred, dumb, ignorant hillbillies? Nice to see the abundance of Christian love on display, since I'm sure the vast majority of these assholes attend church regularly. Makes me appreciate Iowa, tho I'm sure if I held up a BLM sign in my town, the response wouldn't be that much better.

I turned off the fireplace. Malbec is not pleased.

TomMcGiverin comments on Oct 28, 2020:

Let the shivering and teeth chattering begin...

Watch before claims of foreign interference in USA elections see this video removed from ...

TomMcGiverin comments on Oct 28, 2020:

I love hearing that new term, ratfuckery....

Breonna Taylor grand jurors say police actions were 'negligent' and 'criminal' but were NOT given ...

TomMcGiverin comments on Oct 28, 2020:

Glad the grand jury members were able to speak out. It shows that the fix was in from the beginning, which is what I suspected was going on there after there was no action on the case even long after the shooting.

My mother was a devout catholic.

TomMcGiverin comments on Oct 28, 2020:

Sounds like she was smart enough to know that donating would be throwing good money after bad..

84-year-old Ohio man assaulted for having Biden campaign sign in yard

TomMcGiverin comments on Oct 28, 2020:

He should have just shot the guy for tresspassing before he could beat him up. Maybe next time that's what he'll do.

How to repackage a cat:

TomMcGiverin comments on Oct 27, 2020:

The way they are able to bend and contort, you'd swear that cats have no bones, at least not spines..

This is the future, and little can be done to change it.

TomMcGiverin comments on Oct 27, 2020:

I already found the same thing in Andrew Yang's book, The War On Normal People. Looks like about two thirds of Americans will become useless, in the terms of heartless economics, by the next decade or so. After that, we will either have to have a UBI or we will have riots and maybe revolution, most likely violent. He talks about so many things that our corporate media and politicians, with the exception of Yang's prez run, refuse to discuss.

We all like the couch by the fireplace.

TomMcGiverin comments on Oct 27, 2020:

Cats are like heat-seeking missiles.

This article serves as a good example of what non-bigoted people living in rural America have to ...

TomMcGiverin comments on Oct 26, 2020:

Nothing new here. Back in the Sixties a teacher in Iowa did a lesson in her elementary school class called Brown Eyes/Blue Eyes, in which she divided the class into two groups to teach about prejudice. She encountered the same kind of treatment in her rural area, but decades later she was honored as a hero.

Hitchhiker cat that went missing more than two years ago is finally reunited with its owner | Daily ...

TomMcGiverin comments on Oct 26, 2020:

Cats like adventures..

Dammit Jasper!!!! Someone found the halloween decorations in the basement.

TomMcGiverin comments on Oct 26, 2020:

Jasper must have been bored. Glad he found something to play with.

The side that gets violent is the side that loses. What Can You Do If Trump Stages a Coup?

TomMcGiverin comments on Oct 25, 2020:

We on the left have been losing every prez election since 1964, but the radicals on our side soon gave up armed struggle in the late Seventies. On the other hand, the violent radicals on the right have been active most of the time ever since the left gave up violence.

Well, I guess my seat in Hell, IF there is even such a place, is most definitely booked after ...

TomMcGiverin comments on Oct 25, 2020:

You are way naughtier and ambitious than I am. When I want to screw with people's heads, I just say something puzzling off the cuff and watch the reaction. I wouldn't concoct a whole ruse like you did to send them on a snipe hunt. I'm too lazy and happy to settle for giving them a moment of discomfort at most. Well played, sir..

If Amy Barrett were an honorable woman and fit to be a Supreme Court justice, she would decline the ...

TomMcGiverin comments on Oct 25, 2020:

How many years did it take you to realize that the Repubs in congress quit acting honorably as a party decades ago? That's like expecting snakes to not bite..

Some of the best songs to sing along with everybody else in the bar... RIP Jerry Jeff Walker !

TomMcGiverin comments on Oct 24, 2020:

Sorry, but I hate all country music. He was probably a good guy, in spite of being a country singer.

Happy Caturday, fellow fanatics! My son is visiting for a stint and brought the cat that he took ...

TomMcGiverin comments on Oct 24, 2020:

No surprise that they're both napping. What else would indoor cats be doing if not eating or using the litter box?

Arlo Guthrie is retiring due to health reasons.

TomMcGiverin comments on Oct 23, 2020:

I was always wondering if he would develop Huntington's like his father. Glad he didn't and glad to hear he is putting his health and self care above his career.

Make the Human Clean Again

TomMcGiverin comments on Oct 21, 2020:

Naughty, bad kitty. No treats for you!

For reasons unknown, Trump says Biden 'should be in jail'

TomMcGiverin comments on Oct 20, 2020:

Simply more of Trump's own projecting of his own behavior onto others.

[rockfans.net] Janis Joplin singing Bobby Mcgee-written by Kris Kristofferson?

TomMcGiverin comments on Oct 20, 2020:

Even tho I have always been big on Joplin, I have always loathed that song and Mercedes Benz, her two worst songs. The latter because it's merely a trite a capella ditty that she composed herself, little that there was to it. The former song because it was not at all like the rest of her songs, which were soul style. It's sad and ironic that Bobby McGee was really a country song, even with her version, and that's probably why it was by far her most popular song, tho to me it's not really a Janis song. I groan and cringe whenever it's sung at karaoke shows, because it's the only song of hers I ever hear sung and it's always sung by people who really aren't fans of hers as they never know any of her other songs when I ask them if they could sing any of the several other, much better songs of hers that are in the karaoke songbook. Slop for the swine, as far I'm concerned, as these people have no appreciation of what made Janis great and the unique artist she was. Most likely Bobby McGee is the only song of hers they've ever heard or like, so to me they are really not fans of hers at all, just mainstream music rubes who have no good taste in music at all. The kind of people who are probably happy listening to about any top 40 mainstream radio station.

Here’s a good question for the group: (my answer is yes and it was one of the most difficult ...

TomMcGiverin comments on Oct 19, 2020:

Nope. But I've been dumped by someone I was in love with.

Newsweek: Every Major Republican to Speak Out Against Trump Just Days Before Election

TomMcGiverin comments on Oct 19, 2020:

The rats are beginning to flee the sinking ship.

WAIT, WHAT?

TomMcGiverin comments on Oct 19, 2020:

I won't be surprised if Trump is let off the hook by Biden and the Dem leaders in congress, the same way Nixon was pardoned and both Cheney and W. were left alone by Obama. Expect the usual BS excuse if Biden wins that, " We have to look forward, etc..." That's why I hate the Dem party, they are never up for revenge the way the Repubs are, and that's why so much of the voters scorn and have no respect for them. Because at least the Repubs are not pussies when it comes to playing hardball and they can always be counted on to be vindictive...

Being single can be so boring 😉 nobody sends me goodmorning texts anymore lol

TomMcGiverin comments on Oct 19, 2020:

Join the fucking club... I rarely even get phone calls these days.

I keep running across people who are strangely under the impression that the Nazis were socialists.

TomMcGiverin comments on Oct 19, 2020:

What did you expect, that the Nazis would be truthful instead and call themselves fascists?

[youtube.com] Saturday night live

TomMcGiverin comments on Oct 18, 2020:

I was hoping they would have a sketch about the Barret hearings, but I suppose we may not get one of that. Next Sat. the political sketch will probably be about the final debate, if it happens. If it doesn't then we will get a Barret sketch.

Gov. Whitmer Responds To 'Lock Her Up' Chants At Trump Rally : NPR

TomMcGiverin comments on Oct 18, 2020:

I wonder how Trump will feel if Biden wins and crowds at Biden rallies and BLM protests chart chanting "Lock him up" regarding the criminal charges he has coming for his financial dealings? Probably won't consider that to be "fun"... In fact, being the hypocrite that he is, he will undoubtedly call that behavior treasonous, call the chanters "traitors to America" and urge Barr to have them prosecuted.

Cat Lovers are special people

TomMcGiverin comments on Oct 18, 2020:

There is already a Feline Fanatics group here on Agnostic. That would seem to be enough.

As an atheist, i've been thinking about this for a while now.

TomMcGiverin comments on Oct 18, 2020:

I can only guess about the motives of black people that are members of Christian churches, but it's important to remember that black churches have historically functioned as much or more as institutions of mutual aid and organization for black communities than as religious centers. As far back as in slavery days, the black churches were the one situation where slaves could gather together in the absence of white people and in their church gatherings would often communicate with each other about news of the country, the Civil War, escape from slavery, etc. They would communicate in code much of the time because the slave owners would usually make sure the black preacher they brought in for services was loyal to the slave owners. To this day, many black churches are more about being centers of mutual aid, political organizing, and such than about religion for their communities.

Donald Trump says he might leave US if he loses to Joe Biden | The Independent

TomMcGiverin comments on Oct 17, 2020:

That would be rich and just if he ended up living in exile. Better would be him having to face trial, conviction, and imprisonment (even in Club Fed) for his white collar crimes.

Just a reminder.

TomMcGiverin comments on Oct 17, 2020:

Yes, it does, Precious....

It's almost midnight here in Oklahoma and the police just left my house because my mysterious and ...

TomMcGiverin comments on Oct 17, 2020:

You probably should stay away from watching any of the horror films in the series The Strangers. In those films the killers first approach their victims by one of them showing up at the door and asking for someone who doesn't live there. Later on they arrive wearing masks before torturing and killing the people at the house. Your experience describes part of why I would never want to live out in the country. I wouldn't blame you for wanting to buy a gun. If it takes 15 min. for the cops to arrive, you would already be dead before they could help.

We were talking about nonalcoholic beer and wine last night in zoom chat.

TomMcGiverin comments on Oct 17, 2020:

NA beers are also for people like me who can't drink alcohol due to medical conditions or the meds we're taking, but still want to hang around friends who do drink at bars. Same thing for when we go to hear live music at bars or concert venues, or go to karaoke shows. We want to have an alternative to drinking soda pop or water. The former has too much sugar and gives us gas at our age. The latter doesn't make any money for the bar or venue and the wait staff hates how nobody tips for water. But it's amazing how many places I've gone to in my area that still don't sell any NA beers.

[bbc.

TomMcGiverin comments on Oct 16, 2020:

But, but, why would Trump say otherwise???

Is covid bringing us back to the great depression and the health care system killing us more than ...

TomMcGiverin comments on Oct 16, 2020:

Fair ?s and right now I honestly don't know the answers to them.

Sadly, a coordinated effort by third parties could topple the duopoly in a single election cycle.

TomMcGiverin comments on Oct 16, 2020:

That's only what I've been telling people for decades. We have a secret ballot and there's nothing to stop people (besides their own despair and laziness) from checking out the third party candidates and voting for them instead of the lesser evils. Of course, the corporate media and the major parties will always scare and bully people into thinking they don't have that choice, but they still do. It would be great if all the minor parties on the left would unite behind one third party candidate that was socialist, but they don't. The worst that could happen if a third party candidate won is that the ruling class would have to finally rip off the mask of democracy and declare martial law, throw out the result of the election, and install a dictator.... In other words, not that much different than the worst case scenario we face now. Maybe it's time to proceed to forcing their endgame right now, with a third party win and revolution or civil war in the streets...

Get rid of lockdown?

TomMcGiverin comments on Oct 16, 2020:

I fully agree with that last line and that's what I've been doing since March, self-imposed lockdown. I'm 62 with a heart condition and have no intention of resuming social risks of being around crowds until most people, including me, have been vaccinated safely and effectively.

If anyone was on the fence about voting for Trump, last nights horrible performance by Trump should ...

TomMcGiverin comments on Oct 16, 2020:

Trump really is starting to seem like a sick dog that needs to be put down. Everyone but his followers are starting to see that. It will be a relief when he finally leaves.

Good evening everyone. Im Kris. Residing in Houston TX born and raised. New here in the group.

TomMcGiverin comments on Oct 16, 2020:

As the title character sang in the rock opera Tommy, " Welcome to the camp, I guess you all know why we're here.."

Makes a lot of sense to me...? [youtu.be]

TomMcGiverin comments on Oct 16, 2020:

With the exception of widowed people, those on the market are either the discarded, the survivors of failed relationships, and finally, those who are either so terminally neurotic or commitment phobic that they are still never-married after 40. So, you would think that the most attractive items in the thrift store of dating after 40 would be the widowed singles. I am here to tell you, that's certainly not the case, at least for this widowed survivor of a long and positive marriage. Also, I am totally with the guy here on free meals for women who are just beginning to know you. I wonder if some of them are just on dating sites to get the meals, well, I'm only half serious about that last remark.... BTW, this video was posted a while back on Agnostic.

abortion and women and religion

TomMcGiverin comments on Oct 16, 2020:

The practical effect of abortion bans is that they only affect poor women. All other women are still able to travel and get abortions, same as they did before Roe, but Repubs have never cared about poor women and those women seldom vote for Repubs, if they even vote at all. They're too busy trying to survive and care for their kids.

Time to congratulate a religious organization! While many churches are holding 'in person" ...

TomMcGiverin comments on Oct 16, 2020:

AME is pretty much made up of black people in the US, so I doubt they give Trump or other Repubs much credibility. I also hear that Unitarian churches and United Church Of Christ, both liberal denominations, are not having in person services, at least not indoors.

I iz studdeein hawrd furr tuh git my edjikayshunz.

TomMcGiverin comments on Oct 15, 2020:

The most enjoyable cats are those that are smart and have lots of personality. They are never boring to be around when awake.

Watson's not all that fond of Imports

TomMcGiverin comments on Oct 15, 2020:

He does look quite sauve and interesting.

Thursday morning cuteness

TomMcGiverin comments on Oct 15, 2020:

Such huge, furry tails. I assume it's a family portrait.

I realize it’s been a while since I’ve dusted my bookshelf but that much fur is kinda ...

TomMcGiverin comments on Oct 15, 2020:

The shelf is a cat bench.

Why did covid19 spike so high in October in France, is it because the weather is cooler and more ...

TomMcGiverin comments on Oct 15, 2020:

Not to sound callous, but the spikes in cases where I live really won't affect me unless they result in lockdowns of things like barbers, massage therapists and dentists from being open for business. I remain in my isolated state either way, rarely going out to shop, see my investment advisor or attend medical appointments. I hope I can continue to get a massage once a month and get a head shave every two months, but if I can't I'll get by. Just need to get my teeth cleaned next month without the dental offices being closed again for Covid and then I'll be ok on that until summer. By then Covid should no longer be an issue keeping dental offices closed or elective medical proceedures delayed.

[understandingcompassion.

TomMcGiverin comments on Oct 15, 2020:

Obviously Trump and his followers have never had lessons in empathy and generosity like this.

White House Promotion of Herd Immunity Appalls Top Scientists With more than 20 states setting ...

TomMcGiverin comments on Oct 14, 2020:

I don't think it makes me paranoid to say that both Trump and Biden are hoping this will kill off enough older people that whoever wins won't have as much of a Social Security expense for the feds to pay out in the next decade, since their rich donors don't need SS and don't want the income cap lifted so they would have to pay more.

Should CV-19 be tested for possible homosexuality in certain men ?

TomMcGiverin comments on Oct 14, 2020:

Trump's quote sounds like the steroids talking after they zonked him with them to treat his Covid.

Good article on assessing the safety of small indoor gatherings.

TomMcGiverin comments on Oct 14, 2020:

Pretty sure I'll be spending the holiday season's special days by my lonesome. No Covid risk there.