HariSeldon
HariSeldon's JournalHas anyone had a colonoscopy at UC Irvine lately?
I read a Forbes article from a few years ago (an interview with Dr. Samarasena) that they were researching doing a less restrictive preparatory diet and I'm wondering what that's like and whether it would be worth the additional inconvenience to go there for mine?
Trump's campaign dilemma
Trump bills himself as "smart" in business because he cheats (i.e. refuses to pay the agreed amount, lies -- or at least inconsistently represents -- property values and financial transactions) and leverages loopholes. But his explanation for why Biden won in 2020 is that Biden cheated which, if there were any way it were true, means Trump was beaten at his own game.
I think Biden's campaign can leverage this, especially via the Dark Bandon meme: Joe Biden didn't cheat, but (Dark Brandon) if he did, he cheated better than Trump -- and didn't get caught!
Democrats' messaging failure on inflation
Inflation was the perfect topic for Republicans to run on; it's a gift from the universe to the opposition party, especially when it occurs world-wide. There is little to nothing the party in power can do to eliminate it once it ramps up because A) Congress is responsible for fiscal policy and rarely gets contentious things done quickly, and B) even if Congress broke records in getting legislation passed, it still takes time to go into effect and impact the economy. When inflation is world-wide, the situation is even worse: any effective measures to reduce inflation would strengthen the dollar (since other currencies are weakening with their own inflation) and negatively impact American exports.
Fighting inflation when it is world-wide as now is a political loser. Ignoring inflation -- a forefront, daily issue for many voters -- is also a political loser. When this situation occurs, Democrats need to respond with measures to support Americans most negatively impacted and simple explanations that cutting inflation will mean fewer jobs, and that's not the answer our country needs.
Where is 2022's "Daisy" spot?
The DNC needs to be blaring a short, emotionally powerful spot about several situations in which a woman might want an abortion and now not be able to get it in many states, like:
* discovering her partner cheating
* domestic violence
* treatment for cancer
* risky pregnancy with other kids to support
I imagine it ending with a pregnacy test and timer counting down, and the words "Republicans have already taken this choice from many American women. Take it back: choose Democrats."
No quieren nuestra cultura aqui en los Estados Unidos
This is based on a poll showing 59% of Republicans feel that increased diversity in America would "weaken American customs and values."
I envision a Democratic Party-aligned ad showing a crowd of Latino Americans at a meal or family gathering, when an ad for a Republican comes on the TV, perhaps during a soccer game. Someone says "Él sabe cómo debe ser," to which someone else replies, reprovingly, "No quieren nuestra cultura aquí en los Estados Unidos," followed up by an explanation of the poll results and impacts, and how Democrats are including Latino people and priorities.
Now, my Spanish may be rusty or non-idiomatic -- I certainly don't insist on this exact phrasing -- but we Democrats need to be present in Latino-consumed media, meeting Latino-Americans in the language they speak as the full American citizen they are. Actions to support Latino individuals and communities are important, but we must not forget to share our message of inclusion in the language of their culture.
If Thomas wants to overturn Obergefell
California, New York, Oregon, and Washington (and any others that are willing -- Illinois, maybe?) should pass a change to their marriage laws so they don't recognize any marriages from states that don't recognize same-sex marriages.
Can Pres. Biden play hardball on Roe?
As Commander in Chief of the US armed forces, can President Biden declare that state laws criminalizing or penalizing abortions are contrary to the needs of the US military and, therefore, all military bases located in such states must be immediately relocated to states supporting full rights for military members? Ditto with other federal agencies like NASA?
Gloves off: Rs want to literally burn women at the stake
I mean, why is Alito citing Matthew Hale who -- historical fact! -- ordered women to be burned for witchcraft unless he wants America headed down the same road. Republicans aren't even saying "I agree with the conclusion but, gee, that English guy was a bit extreme"...no, the Republican response is "I can't believe someone violated the sacred confidentiality of the SCOTUS! Unbelievable!"
California should pass a "vigilante" anti-gun law
Roe vs. Wade is the right-wing's Constitutional obstacle; the closest equivalent I can find on the left is liability for gun violence. If California passes a law in the same template as Texas, except targeting those who "aid and abet" gun-wielding murderers, it will put the Supreme Court under a lot more pressure, or at least make the hypocrisy more blatant.
My poor son :'(
He's too young for vaccine yet and already lost two days of baseball camp (he'd been looking forward to all summer) to wildfire smoke. Just had his first day yesterday, then this morning we get the notice from his daycare: another child in his group tested positive for SARS-CoV-2. Now he has 14 days of quarantine, and he has to miss the rest. The reason he was at daycare? Mental health: he only got in-person classes for the last 5 weeks of the school year (and only 2 days per week at that) and on psychological advice we wanted to get him into physical proximity with other kids through the summer. The kids do wear masks indoors, and it seems to me that the daycare takes all available precautions, but we're losers in the numbers game now.
I'm feeling awful, vasillating between blaming myself for not keeping him home and rage at being so unable to help my child. (My wife and I both vaccinated at the earliest opportunity.) I am in tears for the danger he's in now and the isolation he'll feel over the next two weeks, danger that exists mainly because my wife and I were trying to address other danger we couldn't prevent.
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Gender: MaleHome country: United States
Member since: Thu Jul 23, 2020, 11:02 AM
Number of posts: 455
