Vox Populi – 11-18-2016

Hey Ad, how are you?

glenn

Hey all, can’t stay long, but hi! Everyone starting to recover a little?

funksands

Me, too. I still cannot believe the orange headed one is our president elect. I truly think I’m depressed.

glenn

Hey Funk. Nope, still not recovering. Don’t think I ever will. I am so bummed!

glenn

Glenn, it could be worse, it could have been Ted Cruz

funksands

Funk–if you say so.

glenn

Ad, good idea, but he’s too old. They’ll nominate Barron Trump to make sure the seat stays filled for another 80 years

funksands

So which is worse, Cruz as a SCOTUS judge or prez? Geez, I can’t believe I’m even asking that questin!

glenn

..question!

glenn

President. Can’t bring on armageddon as SCOTUS

funksands

Glenn, my wife is right there with you. Gutted, crushed and wiped

funksands

Funk–once again, if you say so. I still can’t believe the one we have. We are now living in the land of the republicans. They control over 30 states, and all three branches of the federal government. It just bums me out!

glenn

Hey Peeps!

Fuzzy Dunlop

What’s up Ad?

Fuzzy Dunlop

We are through the looking glass, floks!

Fuzzy Dunlop

Funk, that’s a good way to put how I feel–gutted, crushed, and wiped! I still cannot believe my fellow citizens voted for this cretin!

glenn

Hey FD! Yup, through the looking glass we are and we haven’t hit bottom yet, either!

glenn

Yeah, me too. I must find a nice viewing spot. It won’t be pretty! Our American government has been taken over by fascists. I never would have believed it.

Fuzzy Dunlop

Trump is hiring some real fanatics. Not a good sign of things to come.

Fuzzy Dunlop

FD–I think my viewing spot is going to be under the covers of my bed!

glenn

Glenn, you are completely entitled to your bum. I’m giving myself until December 1st to mourn and then its time to get angry and busy

funksands

I think Huckabee was a nice choice to usher in the return of the Lord in Israel

funksands

I couldn’t even come here last Friday. I just had to stay away from politics for a while. I binged watched some good stuff though.

Fuzzy Dunlop

Funk–good plan. I may have to wait until after Dec. 30th; that’s my oldest (step)granddaughter’s wedding day. So, maybe after Jan. 2nd.

glenn

Fuzzy no doubt. We popped on some Broadway musicals and tuned out of the social media cesspool and tv for a while

funksands

Glenn, good new years resolution

funksands

Like Mr. Zimmerman famously sang, “A hard rain’s gonna fall!”

Fuzzy Dunlop

I think this whole election was Hamilton backlash. White America not ready for a black Thomas Jefferson

funksands

FD–me too…regarding last Friday. Except I played scrabble online.

glenn

Yeah funk, I had to. I just couldn’t take it any more. I’m slowly coming back. A lot of bad shit down the road, I fear.

Fuzzy Dunlop

Facing all the hitmakers from the Bush years with an extra dash of total unpredictability is not good for my health

funksands

Jeff Sessions as AG? Holy Jeebus! Himler himself, or not far from it.

Fuzzy Dunlop

Funk–That is the only explanation…eight years of stupid white men being fed hate every day had to have an explosion sooner or later. And the president elect is the explosion.

glenn

Glenn its probably a bit more complicated than that, but certainly you’ve touched on a main theme

funksands

Yeah, an explosive made of shit!

Fuzzy Dunlop

FD–is AG a post that has to be approved of by the Senate?

glenn

Glenn, yep

funksands

I think you might be right, Ad. He’ll get himself in trouble.

Fuzzy Dunlop

I’m not sure glenn. I don’t think so.

Fuzzy Dunlop

FD–yup, the toilets of America definitely overflowed on Nov. 8th.

glenn

A cabinet of unstable pasty, unhinged white men: Oregon standoff or Trump’s cabinet?

funksands

Screwed the wording up lol

funksands

Well, our democracy will be sorely tested. Especially the constitution.

Fuzzy Dunlop

Funk–I truly don’t think it’s more complicated than that, other than the fact that after eight years of being led by a black man, stupid white men couldn’t take being led by a woman. And the women that voted for trump are a mystery to me! I just cannot imagine in a million years voting for him!

glenn

FD, no doubt. I’m hopeful that the Trump administration will be satisfied by enriching themselves at the public trough and won’t have the appetite to truly remake our institutions

funksands

Funk–the answer to your question is yes!

glenn

I hope these assholes don’t start WWIII! It’s not an impossibility.

Fuzzy Dunlop

Trump has already pissed of Saudi Arabia. He said we won’t buy any more of their oil.

Fuzzy Dunlop

Like Jon Stewart said, those guys ARE the swamp.

Fuzzy Dunlop

Funk–trump may not have the appetite to remake our institutions, but don’t forget little boy ryan. He’s chomping at the bit to enact every single piece of right wing legislation to make sure that people are unhappy with government.

glenn

Over / under on days spent in the White House year 2? 24 days

funksands

“Forget the basket, the truly deplorable ones end up in the cabinet” – John Dingell

funksands

Ryan is a real snake in the grass. He’s a frickin Ayn Rand zealot too.

Fuzzy Dunlop

Good one, funk.

Fuzzy Dunlop

Ad, really it couldn’t be clearer that he is really regretting this whole thing. The dog finally caught the car and now doesn’t know what to do.

funksands

Trump can’t handle a real job, especially one as tough as POTUS. I guess that’s what Mike Pence is for. I don’t know whose worse, Pence or Trump.

Fuzzy Dunlop

FD, that’s why his kids are going to run the Executive branch

funksands

A bit of a conflict of interest there. Bigly!

Fuzzy Dunlop

Funk–doesn’t make any difference how much time he spends in the WH. He can still do a lot of damage from his golden throne in his penthouse. And, I know how stupid it is of me to point this out; but how many times have repubs pointed out that President Obama (man, am I going to miss him) doesn’t spend enough time in the WH? Think they’ll complain about trump not being there?

glenn

I thought that as soon as I heard her say it. I thought, while true, bad move, politically.

Fuzzy Dunlop

Today, I had a leader in the African American Community, a Minister, tell me that Dr King would be deeply disturbed by this election. “It seems clear to me,” she told me, “that had we done as Dr. King would have had us do, had we honored the vote that Dr. King fought for, had we been responsible….Hillary Clinton would have won.”

MurphTheSurf3

FD–once again, I have to remind you all that it’s going to be ryan running the government, with a little help from the turtle.

glenn

“You have to believe that your only real power, your only lasting influence lies in your right to vote AND your exercise of that vote each and every time an election comes your way…..and nothing should stand in the way of that…no matter how hard….you must vote. Everyone one of us who is eligible must register and then vote. And so many do not. Not voting gets us…Donald Trump and his administration which is bound to hurt us. Why shouldn’t they? They owe us nothing and they have nothing to fear from us. We do not use each and every vote to make us count. I fear that the clock is turning back and my community share in the responsibility for this happening. “

MurphTheSurf3

turns out, that basket was a lot bigger than she thought. Hell, it was bigger than I thought.

Fuzzy Dunlop

Glenn, Trump doesn’t concern me all that much. Never has. Symbolically its deeply embarrassing, but the GOP continuing their stranglehold over state legislatures, the SC, and Congress is what will really tear things up. Almost unlimited power to roll out complete institutional transformation

funksands

And no more Executive at the wall standing guard to stop it.

funksands

Hey Murph–yes, those who didn’t vote are not allowed to complain about anything trump or his cabinet, or ryan does!

glenn

Who’s guarding the guards?–Abbey Hoffman

Fuzzy Dunlop

Do you all think that schumer will stand up to ryan?

glenn

Two quotes from a woman with 30 years of experience in urban environments…..she and many of her associates believe that unless this battle is won then the future is overwhelmingly bleak.

MurphTheSurf3

Trump did better among AA and Latino voters this election than Romney did

funksands

Glenn, lol

funksands

I think we just went back to the 1960s. And not in the way I’d like to.

Fuzzy Dunlop

Reality IS crashing down on him…BIGLY!

Fuzzy Dunlop

Ad, he’s a one-term president (if that) which sets up perfectly for the mother of all elections. 2020 has been the critical election since the 2010 debacle

funksands

Yes, glenn…..I placed those quotes because the meeting was like ice water splashing down in torrent after torrent. As bad as it looks…..after today I think it is worse.

MurphTheSurf3

Funk, I agree completely. The repubs now have the power to screw up the entire country, and the sad thing is, they’re itching to do it. It probably won’t affect me much, since I’m retired, and already on Medicare (with supplemental insurance), but those younger than me and of a different complexion, will have a rough road to hoe the next four years.

glenn

I think Trump will get in trouble with trying to run his business. I know the kids are supposed to, but he’ll intervene. His ego is too big.

Fuzzy Dunlop

He is only a one term president IF the Dems wake up…..please note the quote…..

MurphTheSurf3

hopefully he won’t even last 4 years. That’s unlikely though. Dems don’t like to impeach presidents. It makes us look dysfunctional (which we are now).

Fuzzy Dunlop

Murph, if the GOP locks down the House, Statehouses and Governhips in 2020. The game is over. They’ll craft a nearly impenetrable set of obstacles to overcome.

funksands

I was a doomsayer here for many months….living where I do I saw the anger, the frustration, the fear and the complete lack of rationality in my backyard. And I saw the lethargy in St. Louis. I drew from that.

MurphTheSurf3

What gets me is, Hillary won the popular vote. Not by much, but still.

Fuzzy Dunlop

Funk…and what is to stop them?

MurphTheSurf3

Murph, that’s good perspective. People here in my town couldn’t have been more surprised.

funksands

I was, as the Brits say…gobsmacked!

Fuzzy Dunlop

Ad…..the group had the maps up and showed that Wi. Mi. Pa. had the AA vote been as was expected she would have won….as one minister put it. “I don’t care that she was not all you wanted her to be….the other guy was nothing you wanted AND our people did not get that.”

MurphTheSurf3

Murph, an extra 3-4% turnout nationally that vote Democrat. That’s a big number, but it’s in the realm of reality. Schumer, Pelosi, Clinton et al aren’t going to move the needle enough.

funksands

Funk, we don’t have to wait for 2020 for the gop to lock down the house, etc. They’ve already done it. I’m so mad that Dems kept telling us they had this great ground game compared to trump’s ground game. Yet, although Hillary won the popular vote, because of the electoral college, trump won the election. Plus, the Dem’s ground game wasn’t so great if they couldn’t turn out AA and independent voters, IMO.

glenn

Funk…that’s if the elections are honest and I fear that we may have seen the last one for a long time.

MurphTheSurf3

Welcome to America……The worlds newest Banana Republic!

Fuzzy Dunlop

Note that Obama has publicly said that he’ll be working on the National Redistricting Campaign with Eric Holder post-presidency. He understands the scale of the problem

funksands

I’ m sorry guys, but I’m getting pissed off all over again, so I’m going to call it a night. Plus I do have to get up early for a fitting for my dress tomorrow. So, take care, and hope to “see” you all next week.

glenn

Un fucking believable.

Fuzzy Dunlop

Glenn, have a nice cup of tea and a good night’s sleep

funksands

Trump, per those who have known him for many years, is someone who listens best to that last person in the room with him….Bannon, Flynn…..frightening at the highest level.

MurphTheSurf3

Take care glenn. It’s still good to tune out for a while. Necessary, even

Fuzzy Dunlop

Ad, having Hillary in an uncrowded field with only Bernie as her opposition didn’t do her any favors either

funksands

Thanks, fun, that’s good advice! G’night all.

glenn

Ad….I the white vote is not comparable to the black vote here.

MurphTheSurf3

Murph, I agree. A disengaged President with those guys really running things is not optimal

funksands

Good night Glenn…..sorry to be so glum.

MurphTheSurf3

Murph, right now, we can’t talk politics without a little darkness.

Fuzzy Dunlop

Funk….disengaged, uninformed, but invincibly arrogant….all the opposite of Obama….the American system continues to fail us. Now it has given us a monster for president.

MurphTheSurf3

FD….yes…..dark now, darker to come.

MurphTheSurf3

Ad, yes I do.

funksands

I have to say, I’m out too. I did want to check in with everybody though. As the Hitchhiker’s Guide strongly advises…DON’T PANIC! Night all.

Fuzzy Dunlop

Night Fuzzy….I am out soon as well. Today was god-awful.

MurphTheSurf3

Murph, I think the 3-4% that we’ll need is to overcome that voting process thumb on the scale. Demcrats nationally are already getting more votes, they simply need even more to overcome their redistricting, supression and Voting Rights states

funksands

Right behind you. Gotta clean my mess up in the kitchen. Have a good weekend and Thanksgiving everyone! Ad, you live the Friday after Thanksgiving?

funksands

Cool, take care

funksands

Funk…we have failed the test across the board with the two Obama elections and the brief wave of 2008 the only exceptions. At the local and state levels year after year, in 2010 and 2014 in Congress, and now in the general in 2016….wipe out

MurphTheSurf3

Murph, yep you are right. My totally unscientific math thinks it will take 1.5 – 2 million more votes for Dems to stem the tide and start to turn it in 2020.

funksands

The black vote has overwhelming been “cached” by the Dems…it is a foundation block….the Dems have been losing the white vote for 30 years….

MurphTheSurf3

Funk….I hope this can be done.

MurphTheSurf3

Ad….Obama did that, yes. But, you know what, as my friends said today, the black vote HAD to vote with Hillary and it did not. As one of the attendants said…..why would anyone listen to us now….

MurphTheSurf3

Ad…I believe or constitution is a ready instrument for this kind of takeover and I do not believe that electoral politics are going to right the ship of state. We are floundering because of structural issues so profound I do not see how they can be fixed. Only a militant, zealous, anti Trump anti GOP movement as strong as Trump’s was this time around that follows the leader of their cause, whoever that else and however mediocre they are, has a chance of winning.

MurphTheSurf3

Ad…..you often try to tamp down my pessimism but our electoral history has favored my view more and more.

MurphTheSurf3

All that can be done against such an array is create a zealous front….

MurphTheSurf3

The darkness is growing, Ad. I can feel its power. Perhaps you are right but I am not at all hopeful. The coalition that put Obama into office in 2008 has failed him ever since, even in 2012.

MurphTheSurf3

Ad..they will not realize it…did you see the story today about Trump claiming he stopped Ford from moving a plant from Ky to Mx. It was never on the books but he tweeted it and the adulation followed. Control of media, control of the truth….dictators rewrite the rules.

MurphTheSurf3

I include 2010 in my list.

MurphTheSurf3

But the days of Bush and the Repubs were different….the wars did that…..if Trump gets us into a war…but then it could be the last one.

MurphTheSurf3

Well I am exhausted. I bid you good night.

MurphTheSurf3

Ad….we will see……we will see…

MurphTheSurf3