President Trump: Making America Great Again...

[Shaka]

I can't think of a more obvious dodge. Why didn't you just use the classic "Its for me to know and you to find out"? At least it has some cultural cachet.

Nah, I just think I've provided you enough information to know my intent. Use that gargantuan cranium you haul about and parse it.

I believe in you!

[falafel]

Nah, I just think I've provided you enough information to know my intent. Use that gargantuan cranium you haul about and parse it.

I believe in you!

This is always your answer, btw Shaka. You can't even explain your own positions, and then you accuse the other person of being obtuse.

You have asked for civil political discourse on this site, but you never seem to offer any yourself.

[Maximus]

Gotta say these make me smile

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[Shaka]

This is always your answer, btw Shaka. You can't even explain your own positions, and then you accuse the other person of being obtuse.

You have asked for civil political discourse on this site, but you never seem to offer any yourself.

I gave plenty of explanation. Please re-read. Until then yes, you're obtuse.

[SteelBlue]

I had to leave town to attend my grandkids' last soccer games of the season in a little far norcal town that is even more red than my own city. I was bummed I was going to miss No Kings but was pleasantly surprised to see they had a very well attended one and since I had a couple hours between games I went down and joined in. Majority were older than me (I'm 55) and women outnumbered men slightly. Response from passing traffic was largely positive even from the big Dodge Rams passing by. I did get flipped off a few times by men in their 60's or older that all looked exactly alike. Gray hair, circle beard and angry face. It's like they copy and paste them. One instance of whatever that is called when a diesel shoots black smoke on purpose. Hope that dude was proud of himself. But yeah, overall a very positive experience and once again it was very clear that the center was in the streets, not "the left." Just a bunch of citizens who remember better times who are fed up with the bullshit.

It was a bit disheartening to see almost nobody under 30, but I suspect this has more to do with the size of that town and the lack of jobs for young people. Most leave after HS. When our son first took the job there he was 29 and he told us the hardest part was making friends because there was almost nobody his age in town (pop. 7k).

[Jeff Lebowski]

This is always your answer, btw Shaka. You can't even explain your own positions, and then you accuse the other person of being obtuse.

You have asked for civil political discourse on this site, but you never seem to offer any yourself.

He made a comment (not directed at you) that he found something funny and you challenged him on it. You then proceeded to bust his chops on every answer he gave. That is totally fine, but at the end of that exchange, I am not sure you are in a position to give him a lecture about civil political discourse.

[BlueK]

Thus is kind of cool. James Comey's lawyers are citing the words of Justices Alito and Thomas from other cases to argue for dismissal of his case.

https://www.msnbc.com/msnbc/amp/show...log/rcna238864

[falafel]

He made a comment (not directed at you) that he found something funny and you challenged him on it. You then proceeded to bust his chops on every answer he gave. That is totally fine, but at the end of that exchange, I am not sure you are in a position to give him a lecture about civil political discourse.

Thank you for your contribution. I think you have mischaracterized the discussion (which is not unexpected, since you weren't a part of it).

I asked Shaka to explain what the satire was, since he called it satire. He couldn't/wouldn't/didn't, but then proceeded to tell me he had. Shaka had made a point a week or two ago about engaging in sincere political discourse. I agreed with his point and made a note to be more open to others' positions, especially those that I didn't/don't understand.

I disagreed with his characterization of the AI shit video as satire, and asked him (several times, and several ways) to explain the satire. After all that is the point of satire - to make fun of a ridiculous situation. If Shaka thinks that protesting is ridiculous, that's fine. He just seemed very unwilling to actually state his opinion, and instead ducked and dodged. That suggested to me that despite his request for civil political discourse, he wasn't as interested in providing it as receiving it. I found that frustrating, and I expressed that frustration.

I will continue to attempt to engage Shaka, and Brock, and frank, and wally, and JL, and molieddie, and anyone else who has a different opinion than mine in an attempt to understand their positions. Sometimes it is harder to get people to actually discuss their positions. Shaka has seemed particularly reluctant to discuss them with me, and that's fine.

[Shaka]

Thank you for your contribution. I think you have mischaracterized the discussion (which is not unexpected, since you weren't a part of it).

I asked Shaka to explain what the satire was, since he called it satire. He couldn't/wouldn't/didn't, but then proceeded to tell me he had. Shaka had made a point a week or two ago about engaging in sincere political discourse. I agreed with his point and made a note to be more open to others' positions, especially those that I didn't/don't understand.

I disagreed with his characterization of the AI shit video as satire, and asked him (several times, and several ways) to explain the satire. After all that is the point of satire - to make fun of a ridiculous situation. If Shaka thinks that protesting is ridiculous, that's fine. He just seemed very unwilling to actually state his opinion, and instead ducked and dodged. That suggested to me that despite his request for civil political discourse, he wasn't as interested in providing it as receiving it. I found that frustrating, and I expressed that frustration.

I will continue to attempt to engage Shaka, and Brock, and frank, and wally, and JL, and molieddie, and anyone else who has a different opinion than mine in an attempt to understand their positions. Sometimes it is harder to get people to actually discuss their positions. Shaka has seemed particularly reluctant to discuss them with me, and that's fine.

I'm reluctant because:

A. A brief explanation is often provided. If it's not fleshed out enough for you, and the poster doesn't want to provide a lengthy explanation that satisfies you, then that's your problem.
B. You spend very little time trying to understand the point, preferring instead to ask questions. Your satire question is a good example. It should have been easy for you to figure out who was satirizing whom. Instead, you posted a definition and wanted me to drill down. Figure it out yourself.
C. I mostly view your requests for clarification as trolling.

[falafel]

I'm reluctant because:

A. A brief explanation is often provided. If it's not fleshed out enough for you, and the poster doesn't want to provide a lengthy explanation that satisfies you, then that's your problem.
B. You spend very little time trying to understand the point, preferring instead to ask questions. Your satire question is a good example. It should have been easy for you to figure out who was satirizing whom. Instead, you posted a definition and wanted me to drill down. Figure it out yourself.
C. I mostly view your requests for clarification as trolling.

I sincerely (sincerely!) appreciate this response. Here are my responses, again, meant sincerely.

A. I do ask follow-up questions. I am sorry if that bothers you. It is not because any particular response doesn't satisfy me (my satisfaction is clearly not anyone's priority around here!). But that leads me to the next point.
B. My questions are designed to help me understand the point. If I don't understand, how else am I supposed to understand if I can't ask questions? I am only seeking information. As for the satire example, sure I could make a guess as to what you found funny or what your thought was being satirized. If you would prefer me to assume your thoughts and positions, I can do that. Although I thought that was sort of the problem here - too many people assuming others' opinions or meanings. If you would like me to assume your position on political issues, I can. Just say the word.
C. I may be an asshole, but I don't think I engage in much trolling around here. I apologize if I have come off that way. I know that I can be sarcastic, demanding, obtuse (heh), and devilishly handsome. But I am not trying to troll anyone when I ask for more information to try and understand their position. I am in fact trying to do the opposite.

[BlueK]

ICE is hiring some real winners.

https://www.nbcnews.com/news/amp/rcna238739

[falafel]

Trump's new ballroom clocks in at approximately 90,000 sq. ft.

The entire rest of the White House complex is 99,000 sq. ft.

[dabrockster]

Trump's new ballroom clocks in at approximately 90,000 sq. ft.

The entire rest of the White House complex is 99,000 sq. ft.

People losing their minds over a ballroom that is fully funded outside of govt. funding is some petty bullshit.. Seriously...

[Bo Diddley]

People losing their minds over a ballroom that is fully funded outside of govt. funding is some petty bullshit.. Seriously...

I'm not convinced it's been fully funded yet. The way he was talking about using money the govt owes makes me wonder if he's planning some funding shenanigans.

That said, this is near the bottom of my list of concerns in the world we live today.

[Northwestcoug]

People losing their minds over a ballroom that is fully funded outside of govt. funding is some petty bullshit.. Seriously...

Would you feel the same about tearing down the Washington monument or the Jefferson memorial? And doing it without any oversight?