Juliajms

As it should in this case. This is the type of thing that just feels so anti American. I hope this attempt to muzzle the players backfires.

There was a time when I would have just seen this as rich people arguing with richer people. Once the blinders are off though, it's impossible to see it as anything other than unjust and oppressive. Especially now that we know the players are damaging their brains. It take some nerve to profit off people's suffering while taking away their right to a peaceful protest.

Even though I don't care a fig about football I'm horrified by what the NFL is doing. https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/nfl/2018/05/23/nfl-national-anthem-policy-kneeling-protest/637050002/

Some people seem to be enjoying it, but I haven't watched in about a month. I just have no motivation to watch and I cut the cable cord, so I can't just let the episodes pile up on my DVD anymore. A DC based soap would be just the thing right now.

How fitting.

That was something that recommended him for office to a chunk of our electorate. Just like there is a chunk that approves of what he is doing to the press. He appealed to the racist in people, but he also appealed to those who crave authoritarian rule. That's real, even though it's become overshadowed.

^^ Yeah, these continued assaults on the press are terrifying to me. I'm not saying the media is perfect, but the way this administration treats the press is such a clear violation of democratic norms.

Coming after the few safety nets this country has is despicable, especially after that tax bill that benefited the rich so much. They R's are so relentless about it too. They are determined to screw the poor.

^ I definitely would have watched the reboot if it came out a few years ago. There is so much good TV right now I doubt I will at this point, unless I hear it's really good.

Another shooting that seems down to a guy not getting the woman he thinks he's entitled to. Our society is so sick right now.

That worries me too.

I thought by the time it was over all of the actresses hated the show? Maybe that was just AM and not HMC.

Right. We are at such a weird crossroads. Years ago when I was living in SF a Mexican American co-worker was teaching me a little Spanish. Our boss's executive assistant came over and yelled at us for not speaking English. We just rolled our eyes and we didn't think much of it other than "what a bitch". Now these incidents seem like terrible portents. And this is really the worst and why I feel like the comparisons to Nazis are not that overblown. This cannot be allowed to continue.

Yeah, I suspect that as well. There are a lot of a*ssholes out there for sure and Trump has emboldened them, but this situation doesn't quite add up. If I did this to someone in Omaha, I would expect to be shut down verbally by a bystander, videoed and shamed. Is an attorney really going to do that in the middle of one of the most diverse cities in the world and not expect consequences? OK, it's midtown, but it's still NYC. Hell, maybe we really are at the point where these folks feel they can get away with anything. After all, 45 did. There are days when I feel like the Nazis really are rising again right in front of us and I just don't know what I can do to help stop it.

Sort of, but he was recorded. It just seems so odd that this guy is running around NYC of all places and ranting at people about speaking Spanish. Did he start doing this when Trump was elected? Did that embolden him or has he been doing it for years and now it's news? I probably shouldn't bother trying to understand.

^ This story is so odd. It's Manhattan! How can you work there and not be very used to people from other cultures? How did he think he was going to get away with this in the age of smart phones? Is he vying for a job with Fox? Anyway, let him pay the price for threatening to call the Gesta...ICE. People need to be shamed for trying to scare people in such an evil way. Ironic, but not accidental. I doubt folks around here will heed the message though. It's all about abortion in these parts.

I wonder what is up with this. Jerry Brown doesn't seem like the type to block DNA evidence. Now I wish I had saved some of my free NYT articles for the month.

^ I think we can hope that some of the Democrats in power will pay attention and hopefully try to stop it from happening again. Another reason the midterms are so important. I don't think Americans on the whole will pay attention. Even many well intentioned people are overwhelmed with information, scandal and corruption.

Yes. Kara Eastman was the progressive. I struggled with my choice, but Eastman came to our door and my husband promised to vote for her. Probably the strategic thing to do was pick Ashford, just like the strategic thing to do in Nebraska is register Republican, so you can vote in their primary. I wasn't able to stomach doing either of those things this time around.

Let's hope this is a national trend.

Yes. I can't imagine the grief of expecting your parents or children to follow and then they can't. For the first 6 months or so of the administration I kept telling myself "we can undo it" every time 45 did something awful. Obviously, that's not really true, especially in the case of refugees. Ivanka and Jared were a disgrace. I didn't watch in any depth, but I saw enough to know that. I don't mind that she is happy about the embassy. A lot of people I know are, but at least be sober and dignified. The complete denial in word and deed of other people's suffering was appalling.

An article about the sad state of our refugee program. The pictures of the unused donations It's sad to see there are a lot of people trying to help, but no one is allowed to come. https://www.nytimes.com/2018/05/16/us/refugee-admissions.html From your lips to God's ears. He has floated the idea of not holding elections though because of Russian interference (the sheer temerity!). Something like 40% of Republicans have been polled as agreeing with that plan. I'll look for the article. ETA: https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/onpolitics/2017/08/10/52-percent-republicans-would-support-postponing-2020-election/555769001/ I have no faith at all the the Republican congress wouldn't go along with this. Democrats need to win back the House.

Thanks Amy. I was young when it happened. I would handle it very differently now.

He's going to try. I'm thankful all the time that he is not a spring chick.

I had at least one very scary experience with a cab driver and a few that made me uncomfortable when I was younger. I think getting in a car with a stranger is always a gamble, not that we always have much choice. Getting my own car (which I only did after I left San Francisco in my 30's) was a huge boost to my personal safety. Even public transportation can led to trouble, but at least then there are other people around and you aren't worried you are going to be driven into the desert (Vegas) and killed. Turned out he just drove me 20 mins out of the way to jack up the fair.