leh-nerd skin-erd

I see that Governor Cuomo has acknowledged making people uncomfortable, that he spends time at work and these are his personal friends. He also acknowledged they may have misunderstood his intent, the strip poker thing, the he is open to relationships with 25 year olds thing, the touching, making girls feel he wants to sleep with them and he feels badly about that. So, he has taken ownership as they say, and that’s about it. It worked for Biden—he may well be the next nominee for the Dems.

Agreed. While I personally think Ford was a political opportunist of the highest order- attempting to derail a nominee and making a small fortune in the process, I’d even go so far as to say “Who knows?”. Kavanaugh could be a serial killer with bodies in the basement for all I know. The likelihood is quite small, and given the accusations levied and the manner in which they came, it seems highly unlikely. Given the abhorrent behavior of the dem Senators leading the inquisition through innuendo and stupidity, it seems even more remote. Finally, the March to disembowel Kavanaugh dropped off the face of the earth literally after he was confirmed. As for Cuomo, his simple out is to take the polygraph test he lobbied for Kavanaugh to submit to. Hell, he could do it at the next Emmy awards while collecting his trophy for destroying the lives of NY families. He would be in front of a friendly crowd.

These allegations follow the Ballsy Ford model. “Sometime, somewhere nearly 40 years ago...”. It’s impossible for anyone to know the true nature of the allegation—truth, lie, mental illness, celebrity, money, derail a SC justice with an impeccable reputation who will surely be confirmed absent a last minute Hail Mary and a hostile populace looking to destroy the white male conservative. Here’s a clip from a pro-Ramirez article in the New Yorker: Though Ramirez admits that her memory of the incident is fuzzy, she says she can “still see [Kavanaugh’s] face, and his hips coming forward, like when you pull up your pants,” she said. Ramirez also told The New Yorker that after the alleged incident, a male student “yelled down the hall, ‘Brett Kavanaugh just put his penis in Debbie’s face.’” (While The New Yorker did not confirm that Kavanaugh was at the party, and some of Ramirez’s former classmates disputed her allegation, one former classmate said that he’s “one-hundred-per-cent sure” that another former classmate at the time told him that Kavanaugh exposed himself to Ramirez.) By the way— how did Ramirez and How did Maxy perform under oath? For that matter, how did Ramirez? As a republican, I wouldn’t wish the Kavanaugh debacle on anyone, including Cuomo. It’s a stain on whatever semblance of pride we might have left in our political system.

I don’t think this is the full story at all, though it certainly was part of the reason Biden was elected. The hatred of Trump is a powerful aphrodisiac. Still, I think a large percentage of the voting public had little to no idea of the extent that Biden’s mental acuity is impacted. If you’re raising a family, not particularly interested in politics and get your news from the mainstream sources— radio on the way home, news channel on in the background while you’re chasing your dreams and your kids, traditional newspapers or their online version, I think you’d be hard-pressed to find ANY coverage of Biden’s mental health. In addition, I think it’s reasonable to assume a substantial number of Biden voters who might otherwise take issue with his mental health were intrigued by his platform. That college debt buy off plan is a game changer for many folks, and people tend to make ethical compromises when it comes to policies that directly benefit them.

This is silly. The original allegation against Cuomo came nearly 3 years ago and was largely ignored by the administration and the media. They were certainly ignored by major dem players. The most recent accuser has stated that she complained to the appropriate parties within the government and was transferred/reassigned. That took place in the spring of 2020. That, too seems to have been of little interest to the media and other members of NYS government. Contrast that with an allegation lacking details and specifics, out of the blue as a well-known and respected jurist was about to be confirmed to the highest court in the land. The treatment in that case involved the character assassination of a man with the sole purpose being to destroy him and to send a message to anyone else who might come after. The reward for the chief inquisitor in the treatment of Brett Kavanaugh was the Vice Presidency. Interestingly, the chief inquisitor of Kavanaugh also believed the individual who accused her future boss of a violent sexual assault. She supported him for president in spite of her stated belief, as did many other dem leaders. By the way—whats the deal with the law and order Dems in NY? Cuomo is the 3rd AG/former AG out of 3 to end up in hot water. Spitzer trafficks in prostitution and walks free, Schneiderman gets heavy handed with the ladies and reportedly has a cocaine problem, nothing comes up it. Now Cuomo during the height of #metoo is accused of sexual predation. You’d think after dodging the corruption bullet with SUNY Poly and his right hand man, he’d lay low.

I’m a centrist on many issues, libertarian on many issues, liberal on a few. I wouldn’t expect you to understand—I see things as much more complex than you do with your 1960/R/white supremacy declaration. I suppose it would be easier to adopt a one size fits all model, but that’s incredibly limiting and stunts your intellectual growth. I included a reference to oldmanfan in my note to Bob because it seemed clear to me that given his statements about supporting some conservative principles, it pointed out the challenge to your way of thinking. You made the declaration about the R party, you referenced 1960 as the starting point for its foray into extremism, and it seemed obvious that he would go on your personal naughty list. That’s the challenge with taking the extreme, rigid views you espouse. As I told him directly, I see him as a reasonable enough fellow who is a good poster. I try to understand where folks are coming from even when I disagree. But, maybe you worked through some of the things you would disagree with him on. As for the old whataboutism play, if that’s your safe space, I understand. It’s perfectly understandable when you take an extreme position, are confronted with facts that are irrefutable that you cross your arms, stomp your feet and say “I don’t want to talk about that”. It’s hard, but trust me that with a willingness to confront your own support of misogyny, bigotry and the like, growth surely follows. Have a nice day.

I didn't call you a liar. I think you have some limitations when it comes to your view of the world, science and COVID, but I've complimented you multiple times for your approach here. I think you're a good poster trying to make his way through all of this madness. I was referencing you with respect to So Tier's comments about people who 'lie to themselves', the R party since 1960, and your prior commentary that you're an independent with some conservative principles. The comment was about the other poster, and in reading what I wrote that seems clear to me. Here's what he wrote: The GOP has had the welcome mat out for white supremacists since the 1960s when they welcomed arch-segregationists who had defected from the Democrats over civil rights. Trump openly courted the support of white supremacists in both his presidential campaigns. Feel free to lie to yourself about this if it makes you feel better. Apologies if I offended you. That said, you seem to be awfully sensitive for a guy ripping off one liners about the slavish tendencies of those who you disagree with politically.

@Bob in Mich in my initial post, this is exactly what I'm talking about. Brother So is a zealot, a fighter in the great war, with lots to say about the bigotry dating all the way back to 1960. He's got, by extension, @oldmanfan in the 'lie to himself' category as he's acknowledged supporting certain conservative principles and pines for the R party of old. Brother So has absolved our current president---one who proudly ran with the old white bigoted democrats, who has spoken quite loudly in racially provocative terms, supported legislation that targeted and destroyed communities and people of color, even bragged about it. Coincidentally, he treated women as his own personal playground for decades before gettin' woked up---just in time--- for Brother So and his crowd to look the other way in pursuit/reward of their loyalty.

Impeachment is a political spectacle, nothing more, nothing less. Perhaps there was a time when it meant more to the American people, but it's basically like watching the inner workings of a super secret collegiate fraternity mock trial where no real rules of decency and honor need apply, and there are no ramifications for making %$#@ up, lying, or cutting and pasting "evidence" to steer the outcome in a specific direction. The fact that so many bought into that process after seeing Clinton skate, and Trump skate twice makes one wonder about the incredible capacity for people to be fooled. In fact, it's really quite amazing that the dems had control of the house and senate, the proceedings as a whole, they arguably bypassed the US constitution and had a number of anti-Trump rhinos in their corner, the media feeding the frenzy that they still failed spectacularly. The Muller investigation wasn't an impeachment attempt, it was an effort to eviscerate Trump through lies, leaks and false innuendos. It was a coordinated attack on a presidency, the intent and design to remove the president elected by the people. I have no way of knowing what was coming for Pence had the dems been able to manufacture evidence that would unseat Trump--and they certainly tried, but something was coming one way or the other.

"Personal pet issues" like some of the major issues of our time? I think the people that stormed the Capitol should be dealt with harshly, imprisoned where appropriate and not given a slap on the wrist with this new fangled catch and release dealio thats all the rage. I think that the failure to treat rioters and looters over the past year in non-Capitol siege events directly contributed to emboldening some fringe crazies to attack the Capitol. When anarchy is the order of the day, expect anarchy on any given day. I think criminal prosecution of anyone from Trump on down is 100% percent appropriate if the facts dictate charges be filed. I'm 100% opposed to litigating this matter in the court of public opinion having witnessed how easily said court was manipulated the last 5 years. I agree some element of the 70,000,000+ supporters of Trump are racist individuals. That's a simple numbers game. I think some percentage dislikes fat people, short people, bankers, red headed girls with freckles, victimize people, and otherwise engage in criminal activity. That, too is a numbers game. I think some elements of the 80,000,000+ supporters of Biden are racist individuals. That's a simple numbers game. I think some percentage dislikes fat people, short people, bankers, red headed girls with freckles, victimize people, and otherwise engage in criminal activity. That, too is a numbers game. Some people won't recognize themselves as described here, but that's the fact, jack. I think the Russia investigation was an attempt at a coup based on your criteria noted above. I think the relative success of dem leadership screaming that Trump's election was illegitimate and treasonous, morphing then to 'well we can't prove any of that but my God he didn't submit as we commanded' directly contributed to the politicization of the election results. In fact, it was inevitable. Why? Because there is plenty to complain about.

There’s no “Karen effect”. Some people are reasonable. Some people are not. Some people are intelligent. Some people are less so. Most people go about their daily life peacefully, trusting some while being distrustful of others, liking some but disliking others. What changed is the advent of the ability to record a person in high def and broadcast it to the world as if there is some grand societal message to be learned. The Karen illusion is simply the application of selective bigotry in play—it’s become fashionable to target white women just as it has been historically fashionable to target other groups. Same boogeyman, different booger. That you fall for it while agonizing over unaffordable higher education (also false) reveals the limitation of your ability to think reasonably. As for the reasonableness of Rosie/née Roscoe hammering Cynthia in the skull because of the Second Science, well, uh, ok. I suppose every night is ladies night somewhere.

40 years? Is it true, Deek, that IN FACT, 22 of those years came as you were repeating grades 6-11?!!

He’s lost his way to be sure. Even in spite of the obvious eternal love between Jack and Rose in Titanic—when Jack froze solid like a popsicle, she cut him loose, shoved his carcass on its way to Dave’s Jones locker and blew that whistle. It’s time for him to blow that whistle but he doesn’t seem to know how. I suppose BillStime’s heart is just a deep ocean.

I don’t know on this one, there seems to be some moving parts that we don’t have the answer to. Also seems to me the guy with the MMA experience should have walked, as they are typically taught in those situations. Things can get very ugly in those situations very quickly, and that before the police get involved. To his credit—he is, however, a very good closer.

I don’t think we could ever ask for more than we’ve gotten from those “in charge”—confusion, misdirection, overt politicization, encouraging mass gatherings and transmissions on a catastrophic scale, absolutely horrid behavior modeling, constantly evolving messages on flattening curves, and running the gamut from no mask to mask to double mask on our way to triple masking. Heck in one case the team in charge of nearly 20,000,000 is apparently responsible for the deaths of thousands and then lying to cover it up. When people ask questions, those in charge are often held accountable. It was often the job of the media to ask those questions, but, you know. Blind faith in those in charge can get you killed.

One of the great fallacies of American life is the “teacher are heroes”. The reality are is some teachers are exceptional, most average and a precious few suck quite badly. It’s a label they can’t possibly live up to when the sh$t hits the fan. What they are is reasonably well-compensated employees in an “only game in town” gambit protected by an incredibly powerful lobbying group. Of course there is a day care element to the game—-the state dictates the rules and Regis of the game, people work hard to get to a “good school district” and anticipate that the perceived value will be there on the other side.

it’s true —Iran is basically the Cali of the Middle East. Saudi Arabia is more like the Ozarks.

If we’re going to see this through to it’s natural conclusion—which we won’t because the Olympics are big business—the Chinese should be disinvited and the venue moved. Lots of people make lots of money in these endeavors, and nothing better than a little payola to temporarily suspend faux indignation for a while.

I don’t necessarily disagree, but your prediction doesn’t necessarily make you Nostradomous. The former pres has allegations of wrongdoing, he beat a candidate in 2016 who carried more baggage than Southwest Airlines, the current president has spent his career making inflammatory racial comments and fondling women...and just about every major political leader has allegations of financial impropriety/gaming the system for their own benefit/warehousing the Uber-sick in close proximity to the Uber-vulnerable (disclaimer—I acknowledge that you have personally vouched for Cuomo with respect to wrongdoing as you feel governors are the equivalent of low level clerks at DMV when it comes the health and welfare decisions for the people in their state). If an overnight jaunt to Mexico brings down a politician most all of them should resign in disgrace.

Classic Frenks.

Stock market “timing”. Geesh. That’s less Gene Frenkle, more...

Proof positive of what I said—Cuomo is only a governor directly in charge of pandemic management for a state of nearly 20,000,000 and you’ll bend over backwards to minimize his role in this pandemic. As for your link posting an opinion piece (they include the disclaimer “..,the opinions expressed are not necessarily those..” for a reason) on February 17, nearly a year after the governor commenced his dance of death in the elderly, and a solid 8-9 months after he started cooking the books for purely self-serving purposes is hardly indicative of anything resembling hard hitting and neutral journalism. But you keep on keepin on...nothing to see here.

Absolutely—that’s the way our system works. The question isn’t whether or not it CAN be done, the question is what is the appropriate means of resolving questions involving allegations of criminality. The civil justice system is impressive and incredible when it works, a quagmire of foolishness, stupidity and greed when it does not. As for anything of value being gained from politicians being political, we all know how that plays out, but typically only complain about it when the other side does it.

Reasonable take. One of the people that was instrumental in my growth as a professional and I were speaking about this many years ago, and I surprised when he said it offended him when someone referred to him as African-American. When I asked why, he said because his family ties went through the Caribbean. “I’m not African.”.

Tibs referenced lawsuits being filed in the post you replied to. He linked to a WaPo article referencing a short time later. There seems to be a voracious appetite to hash this out through the civil justice system. The commission will push forward because that’s what politicians do—give them the opportunity to grandstand, showboat and destroy the opposition through innuendo, leaks, unsubstantiated accusations and they’ll run with it. This should be dealt with in the criminal justice system where at least in theory, justice is blind.