Juliajms

I dread the arrival of this caravan. Even if no one dies, it's going to be a clusterf*ck of human rights violations and suffering.

Me too. Maybe we can hope this wave of right wing extremism will pass by then. That may not be likely, but it's not impossible either. People being harassed by these white nationalist while doing nothing except living their lives. People being shot at the grocery store, at their schools, at their houses of worship. It's just sad to see it happening on a daily basis while the people running the show are mostly trying to make it worse. Then when they are called on it they act shocked and do their "who me?" act.

I'm really sorry it hit so close to home for you Vee.

It's awful. I don't think this is the kidd of tragedy that people with personal ties to the event really get over. The individual stories of the victims and survivors coming out now are so heartbreaking. One was a doctor who rushed to help. He had been know for treating AIDS patients in the 80's. Remembered for holding their hands without gloves and hugging them when people were still paranoid about how the disease was transmitted. Two were brothers with intellectual disabilities. A 97 year old survivor of the holocaust was killed. To survive that and be killed in a synagogue in the United States nearly 80 years later is unfathomable. Is it in poor taste to say that this didn't even catch me by surprise? This is what happens when leaders play footsie with white nationalists. When the right wing media starts floating conspiracy theories about rich Jews (Soros!) controlling the world behind the scenes. The only thing that surprised me is that it didn't happen sooner. Sadly antisemitism is rising on the left as well. It's not as bad because it's not sanctioned by leaders, but it's become common place for Jews in general to be blamed for the actions of the Israeli government on social media.

The voter suppression this year is pretty disgusting. There was a time when it really would have stunned me that anyone would try to take away the votes of the people who have traditionally been oppressed in our society. How can you try to stop Native Americans from voting after this country was built on their land and their deaths? After everything African Americans have been through you would really dare to take their voice? I'm an atheist and I think I still have more fear of the lord left in me than some of these Republican bible thumpers ever had. Of course now it's not surprising that people are this awful, it's just Monday.

I have to confess I don't know much about it. I'll have to try to read up on it when I get a few mins. It does seem like there is a wave of far right ideology that is making it's mark on the world right now. It's chilling to witness. It didn't start with the U.S., but its really a shame that we've fallen for it.

This is child abuse, imo. One thing I appreciate about Germany is that Holocaust denial is illegal.

Even now they don't stop.

Damn.

No, I think just a few Republican congressmen got shot. Let me see if I can find an article. I take it back, only one got shot. I doubt even a massacre would change their minds though. It's hard to get through to extremists. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2017_Congressional_baseball_shooting

It did and they didn't. Remember when those Congressmen got shot up at a baseball game? I know there are too many shootings to keep up with, but that was a year or two ago.

^ That's about what I would expect from him.

I'm sorry you even have to think like that. I really don't know. The U.S has a gun culture, I'm not sure anything can change it in the short term. The unfortunate thing is now we have an added catalyst for violence in the hate that has become more prevalent in the last couple of years. I think it will get much worse for at least a decade before it can get better. That assumes that young people are less attached to their guns and I'm not entirely sure that's true.

I wonder that too. Maybe when it gets so bad the majority of people decide that gun control is the only way. It's really hard for me to believe it will happen anytime soon. That's always my first guess when we have a violent incident these days. I think most of us see pretty clearly that Trump has riled up the kind of losers who gravitate to these views. I'm not even sure getting rid of him will put the genie back in the bottle, but it sure won't hurt.

I think Nixon probably ended that in modern times, but Trump took it to the next level. I'll never be able to look at the government the same way again. The level of incompetence is off the charts. The man's own people had a plan to tackle him if he tried to nuke North Korea for pity's sake! It's insane. Just a few weeks ago I said I wish he would just raise his fist and yell "blood and soil" and he basically did it a few days ago. In the year of our Lord 2018, the American president said "I am a Nationalist". What!? I think it's particularly jarring to have a regime like this in power during modern times. I suppose it's partially because the internet gives us a 24/7 view of the sideshow.

Really though, did the Obamas or Clintons want Trump to call? He's about the last person I'd want to hear from in times of trouble or ever. I used to think it was so rude when college students would refuse to shake hands with Clinton or Bush at commencement speeches, but I get it now.

🙄

I wonder if he's really part of the Seminole tribe or just delusional.

^ It's not even close to the worst it's ever been, it probably is the worst it's even been in my lifetime though. It's hard not to worry when things feel like they are going backward and we have an evil man in the WH. Maybe the sense of doom some of us feel is out of proportion, but when the President of the United States of America declares himself a Nationalist and is in bed with Russia, I can't feel especially optimistic.

We're going through a terrible time in our history, but I think it's possible things will get better, if we survive. Just remember that Hillary did win the majority of votes and this country did elect Obama twice. I also think we have a better chance of electing another biracial man before a woman, which is why the prospect of Elizabeth Warren as nominee scares me. We have seen over the last couple of years how much this country still scorns women. She is probably the candidate I agree with most on the issues, but even now I think Trump can beat her.

^ I've never seen Avenatti as a serious contender. His comments don't bother me though because we've had that very same discussion on this message board just a few weeks ago. I expressed my dismay that the nominee may have to be someone like Joe Biden or John Kerry and others here said it probably would have to be. We live in a time of renewed racism and sexism , I don't see any reason Avanatti or anyone of us should have to pretend otherwise. What he's saying maybe self serving, but it doesn't make him wrong and he won't be the nominee in any case.

I think they understand perfectly well.

I think he has the natural mental decline that comes with aging. We are just used to having exceptional people in office when they are as old as Trump. Also, people with staff who are better at covering for them and actually want to cover for them. I can think of some truly bright people who start to have serious problems with their short term memory by their early 60's. We all know 45 was never that bright to start with.

That's a very good point. Also, I hope you feel better soon. ❤️ And yet has the know how to build multiple bombs without blowing himself up. Is it really so easy to do? I have to admit I don't know anything about it. I've heard the instructions are on the net, but does that mean any idiot can do it on this scale?