leh-nerd skin-erd

There is that…and of course, “Ladies and Gentlemen, Joe Biden…..

Red, we don’t grow as a society worshiping false idols and honoring sacred cows. The next pandemic where we don’t get the opportunity to revisit mistakes made by leadership and science will likely be much more devastating if we don’t address the challenges and silliness of the last one. As a science guy, you seem unwilling to address the systemic challenges we faced as a nation as it came to messaging, consistency and delivery. To a certain extent, that makes sense because great technicians don’t always make great leaders. As for me being in charge, I’m not trained in crisis management on a large scale, though I try to be adaptable and forward-thinking where I can in my life. I’d suggest I’m moderately successful in that regard, and most importantly to me, I try to take ownership of things that go wrong in my plan. If your answer is to stomp your feet and pretend everything is fine, all I can say is between you running the show, and me running the show, I’d choose me.

We didn’t get science. We got an exceptionally strange brew of political malfeasance and locks downs for some, but not all….especially and notably the political class. That was layered with a heavy, heavy dose of citizens hysterically screaming at others about their choice to forgo the vax. I had a series of conversations with a poster professed to be a man of science, and he certainly seemed to be. At one point, he waxed philosophically about removing children from their parents, and at another sequestering the unvaxxed on an island with exposure to other virus/disease. At the same time, when asked about protestors lining the streets during the height of the pandemic, he acknowledged (ultimately as a result of my pestering, as I recall) that such activities would lead to death…but absent was the rage that promoted such talk about removing children and placing people on islands. In a nutshell, that was the biggest takeaway for me during the pandemic—-the overlay of science, anxiety, rage, emotion and ultimately politics. Looking back, some of the people who were demonized were on the right side of virus management at least from their personal perspective. Many of our politicians were on the wrong side and should be ashamed by their actions. Some of the leaders of the scientific community were impotent and weak.

That’s never going to happen and as such, I don’t spend much time thinking about it. Truth be told, I don’t have a major problem with a progressive tax. My issues tend to me more the audacity of Congress and people who support continuing to raise the tax rate. Based on a 37% federal income tax rate, a person works Jan 1 through May 15 for the government, and that assumes no state or other tax, of which there are many. It’s absurd. On the other hand, this notion is “fair share” spread by many, including Sanders, is just another bs political talking point. There’s no such thing in a progressive system, there are always people carrying a heavier burden to prop up the system. Thankfully, he’s an old timer and with luck, his time in office will draw to a close soon. Then he can be frank, ernest and gone.

Hmmm. I was thinking of Washingtonian’s higher up on the chain, senatorial/presidential level. That wasn’t meant to be a compliment to those other than Sanders, btw. Santos is pretty high up on the list just based on the limited amount of time he’s been in office, but he’s a minor leaguer at this point. In fact, if you spread his stories out over a few decades he’s basically Joe Biden—making up and embellishing on a regular basis, often leaving people scratching their head as to why a particular embellishment was even necessary. I think Santos will be one and done pretty quickly, if he makes it that far, so l’ll leave him off my list for now. No argument he is f-o-s. If earnest means he’s full of cr a p, then yes.

Oh, then you definitely didn’t cover your fair share, and you’re really comfortable being lied to about who is at a disadvantage, especially given the impetus of the article you enjoyed so much. I respect your right to your opinion, but for all the full of $&@@ people in Washington, he’s probably the most full of it.

Me too. I’m not opposed to paying taxes and think it’s a duty one has to the country and his/her fellow citizen. I don’t think that precludes me from having an opinion on how that system plays out though. As for you, again, following the narrative, the fact that you have paid plenty of taxes doesn’t mean you’ve paid a fair share relative to the less fortunate R voters living in squalor in Okeyhoma. Likely, you should have done much, much more and it probably would not have impacted your lifestyle to any great degree. Beside that, what you’re advocating for is for people to vote for politicians manufacturing a story about who the poor and victimized really are, at least according to the story you linked. I believe if someone will lie for you, they will lie to you. The picture you’re painting isn’t a positive one where trust has been earned.

But you’re obviously a rich dude, living your rich life, supporting a narrative that doesn’t make sense given the article you just linked to. It makes sense that you would support the dem platform, demonstrably false according to the writer, because it allows you to avoid paying your fair share while pointing a finger i. The direction of the other guy. You’re doubling down on out of touch, so I’m going to have to go with you Rip Van Winkled through the Trump presidency. That’s cool. Odd, but cool.

Yeah, @redtail hawk oooooof, “no one took it seriously”. Probably the most out of touch statement I’ve read here, bar none, all things considered.

I think Stephen King is a great writer, or was at one time. When I read The Stand in college…man, I couldn’t tear myself away. This guy strikes me as similar to TC, Maddow etc with a different method of delivery. I’d think some of his facts are accurate, some not so much, and at the end of the day, it’s a buyer beware scenario with a healthy dose of make believe mixed in. It is an interesting debate though, that the segment of the population historically represented as financially disenfranchised, and at risk financially and physically is actually thriving and doing quite well. This takes us back to misinformation, lies and manipulation of the American voter, it would seem (again) by dem leadership constantly adopting the rich v poor argument but misrepresenting the players? Perhaps the student loan buyout should be shifted and reimagined for folks in real need, not those really in need of not wanting to pay off their loan, or needing a new iPhone or way to pay off their mortgage. The author uses the term “canard”, and it seems to fit, though not in the manner suggested.

#word B. I appreciate the links.

You said “majority”, Slickster, not many. I’m less concerned about TC (or Cuomo or Lemon) than I am by lies and misinformation spread by politicians. Schiff lied through his teeth, Warren suggested that the election was in peril (and imo, set the stage for the stolen election claim that would have followed by Dems had Trump won), and the entire narrative by Ds that Trump was not a legitimately elected president or committed treason. I think those people—and if you wish, Trump and stolen election claims—-cause more confusion and problems than any TV host could hope to. But…that’s the game. Had more Dems been outraged by the absurd Russia game, pushed back when that was sad saga ended, and realized how they got played, maybe I’d feel differently. @B-Man exists in all his glory!

Well, I reject your declaration that what he has said and/or implied has “…misinformed…a majority of Rs.”. That’s your characterization, not mine. As for his actions specifically, it’s hard for me to get beyond “this is how the game is played” when this sort of thing sets the table for all that follows. In that regard, I’m apathetic. It happens. Politicians do it. Talking heads do it. The world spins. https://www.warren.senate.gov/oversight/letters/warren-klobuchar-wyden-and-pocan-investigate-vulnerabilities-and-shortcomings-of-election-technology-industry-with-ties-to-private-equity

I was taught the adage, and try to live by it. However, I was also taught to apply reasoned analysis to a scenario and make informed decisions on matters important to me. My opinion of Tucker Carlson’s actions is that they are consistent with the type of work he does, the format of his show and in keeping with similar forms of entertainment. There are times he accurately portrays facts, times he tells part of the story but leaves out other factual information, and that he operates on a for-profit model. People like that sort of thing, one side or the other, so it’s popular today. I often feel the very same way about other media outlets, and would love to get to a time when pure news was pure news. Tucker Carlson…Rachel Maddow…Laura Ingram…Chris Cuomo are certainly more flamboyant than a Lester Holt, but that’s the format. I don’t watch TC or any others with any regularity, I find negativity drags me down.

Sure. Chris Cuomo says hey. 🤣

One of my favorite Trump moments was early on in his run to the WH when Savannah Guthrie quizzed him on his poor polling numbers citing XYZ polling data. Trump stopped her and told her that the NBC polling data showed him in the lead, and he called her out for ignoring that poll. She became flustered and as I recall he told her that’s why people don’t trust the news. The only missing element was it was a phone interview, but it was good television. Nikki Haley has an uphill battle, and msm outlets like The Today Show are on the hill.

Of course they did. There is a mountain of evidence detailing exactly what happened, but in spite of that, the election denier-deniers are perfectly comfortable ignoring it. The "Stolen election" claims followed the previous election model formulated by democrats and their "Illegitimate Election" strategy. We can look back farther various and sundry ways dems pitched stolen elections, sought to use the electors to derail a vote, spoke of widespread voter disenfranchisement that resulted in illegitimate elections, and on and on. *See @redtail hawkabove for "...but I don't want to talk about that..'

You’re going to have to do it. As BillSy said, people are trying to distant themselves.

Yeah, I’d agree with that. I suppose it was possible he was on the tail end of his problems and this turn of events just knocked the $&$@s off his family and handlers, but that seems highly unlikely. As unlikely I’d say, as classified documents being found in Joe Biden’s possession after the Swat raid on the Trump home. As unlikely, I’d suggest, as Putin waiting until Biden was in office to launch his invasion into Ukraine. Then again, maybe the doctor’s treating him suggested the best therapy for post-massive-stroke-and-subsequent-inability-to-understand-words was running headlong into a race for one of the most demanding and high stress jobs in the world.

Sad, but not all that surprising.

I followed you, and you were correct. I can’t say if Alf didn’t correctly make his point or not. He’s always struck me as a good guy. That said, the “sounds fair” part makes a lot more sense when the minimum wage guy is heroically set upon at 6.2%, while the greedy bastard pays 0% because he makes $160k or more. That the greedy dude was relieved of nearly $10,000 of his hard earned money (plus another $10k from his employer) muddies the point a bit.

What I am thinking: I feel like I walked into a co-ed poindexter convention. Lots of hugs, coffee, gluten free muffins and blah blah blah. What I am saying: Gosh, it sounds like so much fun and the synergy is off the charts! 🤣 I’ve never been in Rotary, but know it’s a fine organization and accomplishes many, many great things. I have friends involved in local clubs, and it’s a natural for my business, can’t recall why I never joined. One thought though….inspiring the Hawk to follow the core values outside the club may result in only sporadic success. Mup, I meet and interact with those on the other end of the political spectrum with regularity, and agree with your sentiment, though we manage to get through some political talk as well. I’ve changed perspective or my own thought process as a result of some of these discussions. Respect is a two way street, it helps when there is a free flow of traffic. Thanks for hopping in Mup! @redtail hawk

Flirting wasn’t the issue, it was lack of focus on the mission statement and one potential reason that might have occurred. Then again, on the one hand you’re suggesting civility but on the other, you’re advocating for in-kind responses to people who might not ascribe to that ideal. The picture referenced won’t load for me, but that’s of little interest to me. I don’t assume when I order a Big Mac that every other person who visits McD’s orders one too, or that I have some particular political alliance with others that do. I just want a Big Mac. I’d think the most I can glean from a guy in an Auschwitz shirt is that the guy wore an Auschwitz shirt, which seems in incredibly poor taste and he would be a person I would steer clear of. On the other hand, people who hold a different political position than I do are often the type of people I enjoy speaking with. Beyond that, he could be an extremist on either spectrum, could be mentally ill, could be politically agnostic and just a rabble rousing sh&t stirrer looking for confrontation. If, just before the photo was snapped, he stopped and ordered a Big Mac, what can a person do? Hey, maybe the thing to do is ask one of those lady friends of yours for a perspective on Rotarian civility v When in Rome (which, btw wasn’t all cats in. comfy pajamas when that phrase what coined). I look to my friend @muppy for feedback from time to time. It helps.

You advocate a Rotarian approach to fairness, decency and goodwill right after you loaded up the Rs in hoods comments? I suggest less coffee and sweet-talking the ladies with your doctor talk, more focus on the value proposition once the meeting ends. The other board is a good one. I lurk there now and again, and have a general affection for many of the folks over there. That said, I’m a creature of habit and my habits die hard. Plus, I’m a screenwriter working on a story about a molecular biologist who wants to pretend to be an architect.

My word, how early do you hit the bottle, Red….or should I call you…DR?!