Amy Coney Barrett

[Benzgirl]

Originally Posted by What?

I do not know if I am one of the new members to whom the last sentence was directed, but I will take the bait to say that I am sure that everyone has policies that are more important to them than others and I encourage them to vote in their self interest. I have a first cousin-in-law who may be getting a divorce because she cannot get over the fact that her wife is voting for Trump. Her PhD wife is doing so because she has weighed the pros and cons and realizes that her LGBTQ rights are not in real danger but the fears of street crime and socialism (the thing that resulted in the death of her great grandparents) are the key issues for her.

On the other hand, I know several Republicans in my super blue state who are just simply not voting because the options are so bad. I was almost among their ranks 4 years ago. I find both of our options terrible, it is just a matter of choosing the one that YOU consider less terrible.

No but while your "high fives" were annoying, the posts right out of Russian propaganda from another were bat shit crazy.
BTW...socialism in the United States is a scare tactic I would expect anyone with a college degree to see through.

[What?]

Originally Posted by Benzgirl

No but while your "high fives" were annoying, the posts right out of Russian propaganda from another were bat shit crazy.
BTW...socialism in the United States is a scare tactic I would expect anyone with a college degree to see through.

Agree to disagree. I am, if I do say so myself, a pretty well educated and informed person with a T-14 diploma on my wall and a bar card parked in my wallet. Wow, I even kinda hate myself for writing that.

Anywhoo, I share her concerns about socialism. I agree that reasonable minds may disagree about the urgency of this concern. However, the Democratic primary results (pre South Carolina) and nightly news are evidence that lots of Americans are very unhappy with their place in society and looking for immediate, radical change.

Moreover, reasonable minds can also agree that this really isn’t going to be a Biden presidency given all evidence pointing to cognitive decline. This unknown in who is running the show leaves me little idea of what to expect during a Biden presidency. Even a remote possibility is too great for me. Again, this is not among my primary concerns, but it is upsetting to me that this word is being thrown about in conversations with any frequency, especially by many who have no idea what actual socialism looks like and who are just looking for the next cult of personality* to worship.

*And yes, I get it that the same can be said for many Trump supporters. There are total morons on both sides of the aisle.

Lastly, I look forward to the day that I can throw a high five your way. I believe people who make well reasoned, yet unpopular, points deserve them. It takes guts (even from behind a keyboard) to stand up for opposing points of view. While I disagree with some of Ronaldo’s previous statements, the Titchou related posts and his reverence for Trump (sorry, Ronaldo, Titchou is a greekchat icon who deserves better and Trump ain’t great) his knowledge level is beyond impressive. Even though you have blocked him, I hope you read his exchange with Kevin because it is what was previously lacking in this thread.

[bevinpiphi]

Originally Posted by What?

Moreover, reasonable minds can also agree that this really isn’t going to be a Biden presidency given all evidence pointing to cognitive decline. This unknown in who is running the show leaves me little idea of what to expect during a Biden presidency. Even a remote possibility is too great for me. Again, this is not among my primary concerns, but it is upsetting to me that this word is being thrown about in conversations with any frequency, especially by many who have no idea what actual socialism looks like and who are just looking for the next cult of personality* to worship.

I've seen this comment from many of my moderate to conservative friends about Biden, and from my liberal to progressive friends about Trump, and I'll give the gentle warning here like I did to them - playing at "someone else is pulling the strings" is, unknowingly, playing into long standing anti-Semitic tropes, and such accusations should be levied with great caution.

[What?]

Originally Posted by bevinpiphi

I've seen this comment from many of my moderate to conservative friends about Biden, and from my liberal to progressive friends about Trump, and I'll give the gentle warning here like I did to them - playing at "someone else is pulling the strings" is, unknowingly, playing into long standing anti-Semitic tropes, and such accusations should be levied with great caution.

Shabbat shalom.

Not at all my intention, I am nothing if not direct and have demonstrated a willingness to be vilified for speaking my mind. Moreover, my mom would disown me.

This is not the case of a typical presidential candidate. This guy has demonstrated clear signs of cognitive decline. He does not present the way he did just 4 years ago when there were rumblings that he did not run due to Obama’s absolute lack of confidence in his ability to do so/ refusal to endorse. I have never made comments akin to who is pulling the strings prior to Biden, a guy who has had his minders and wife literally pull him away to stop his belligerent outbursts on multiple occasions.

[ForrestGrump]

Originally Posted by Ronaldo9

You are correct that this can be a sort-of dog whistle for "ze Jews!", however, in the way What? presented it, it does not strike me that way at all. The concern generally originates when a healthy person is alleged to be controlled by "unknown masters."

In this case, What? was saying that she would want to know which of Biden's known advisors is assisting him given observations of mental impairment. That would not be unlike saying "who was running the show when Woodrow Wilson was incapacitated?" which is a reasonable question. If I were a 9th grade social studies teacher and my student asked me I would just tell him we believe he relied heavily on Ellen Wilson. I wouldn't send him to the guidance counsellor to discipline him for his subliminal propagation of anti-Semitism in the class.

Anyway, just my perspective.

Um, no competent 9th grade social studies teacher who actually knew what they were talking about would tell a student that he or she believed ELLEN Wilson was "running the show when Woodrow Wilson was incapacitated."

[33girl]

Originally Posted by ForrestGrump

Um, no competent 9th grade social studies teacher who actually knew what they were talking about would tell a student that he or she believed ELLEN Wilson was "running the show when Woodrow Wilson was incapacitated."

T’would have been a mite hard, considering she was dead.

Re the British spellings...decadence/Pip, ITY???

[Titchou]

Originally Posted by Ronaldo9

. I wouldn't send him to the guidance counsellor to discipline him for his subliminal propagation of anti-Semitism in the class.

Anyway, just my perspective.

Bingo! British spelling of the word.