August 26, 2021

AP now confirming 11 US soldiers and medic killed

https://apnews.com/article/europe-france-evacuations-kabul-9e457201e5bbe75a4eb1901fedeee7a1

August 23, 2021

Biden's job ratings decline amid Covid surge, Afghanistan withdrawal in NBC News poll

https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/meet-the-press/biden-s-job-ratings-decline-amid-covid-surge-afghanistan-withdrawal-n1277368

So stupid. Biden's approval in handling Covid went from 69% to 53%. Only 25% support his handling of Afghanistan.

How is the Covid surge Biden's fault? It's not his fault that so many Americans are anti-vax idiots. I knew DeSantis' strategy of killing off Floridians and blaming it on Biden would actually work in this stupid country.

Meanwhile you literally have CNN/ABC pulling "But her emails" part II to blame Biden for the chaotic Afghanistan withdrawal. You have Republicans literally using Taliban propaganda to lie about what's happening over there. They're obviously refusing to talk about how much Trump and Pompeo contributed to this mess.

I'm so fed up with Republicans getting away with everything and Democrats being held to such a stupidly high standard.

August 13, 2021

Redistricting Issues

Chuck Todd was just talking to Dave Wasserman about upcoming redistricting. Republicans have 164 districts they get to draw the maps for. Democrats only have 46. The rest are independent commissions or mixed.

Wasserman was saying Texas is likely to gain 2 seats, but due to the huge growth around Austin, San Antonio, and Houston, Republicans may have difficulty drawing districts in a way that completely screws over Dems, while protecting their incumbents. But they're going to try.

Colorado will likely gain 1 seat. Wasserman says it will likely be swingy. It's in the Denver area. He said it probably would have gone TFG in 2016, but Biden in 2020.

The big thing they talked about is the power New York has. Dems control New York, and while they're expected to lose 1 seat overall, they have the ability to eliminate 5 Republican districts.

I realize gerrymandering is bad, but as long as the Supreme Court and Congress refuse to stop it, I don't see how it's worth us shooting ourselves in the foot to not gerrymander blue states, while letting Republicans gerrymander red states.

I'm really worried that redistricting alone will give Republicans the House majority.

Any thoughts on how we can keep our majority? What are the chances you think New York will gerrymander out the Republicans to give us 5 more seats?

August 9, 2021

People's view of Biden and Covid.

What are your thoughts on whether the new outbreak of Delta will hurt Biden among voters?

Obviously Biden has done a pretty good job with what he has to work with to get 70% of Americans with at least 1 dose, and half the country fully vaccinated.

But of course, Republican Governors like DeathSantis and Abbott are causing the virus to be out of control in Red States.

Obviously we're not dumb enough to hold Biden responsible for their failures, but a lot of Americans are dumb.

I've actually wondered if DeSantis and Abbott are letting Covid ravage their states so they can blame it on Biden to help them in 2022 and 2024.

But do you think most voters see through that nonsense, and realize it's Republicans failing to handle Covid responsibly?

August 5, 2021

We may have an issue in California

New polls showing Newsom recall succeeding. Turnout is looking like it's going to be high for the GOP, low for Dems/Ind.

That could lead to a Republican Governor. Feinstein is almost 90. If she dies or resigns under a Republican Governor, he could appoint a GOP replacement, costing us the Senate majority.

I will never understand why we have such low turnout in off-year elections.

August 4, 2021

Time Is Running Out to Stop Gerrymandering

https://www.brennancenter.org/our-work/analysis-opinion/time-running-out-stop-gerrymandering

Am I being a debbie downer for feeling like the US is already past the point of no return? Gerrymandering alone is enough to give Republicans the House majority.

August 2, 2021

Remember Phil Valentine, Conservative Radio Host in Nashville?

He's spent months downplaying Covid and telling his listeners not to get the vaccine. He got Covid and was put on a ventilator last week.

His brother tweeted that they're now trying to find a hospital with an ECMO machine to transfer him to.

For those not aware, ECMO is Extra-Corporeal Membrane Oxygenation machine. It's basically dialysis for the heart and lungs. It's a last-ditch hail Mary, typically used to allow someone to live long enough to get a heart or lung transplant.

For Phil Valentine, that means his lungs are so badly damaged by Covid, they can't process enough oxygen for even a ventilator to help him, so his blood has to be oxygenated outside the body.

It's extremely expensive to operate (typically millions of dollars), requires a team of specialists, completely wrecks the body even if you survive, and has a fairly low survival rate.

It's crazy how many idiots are downplaying this virus. They never learn until they're dying in the hospital.

https://www.thedailybeast.com/nashville-radio-host-phil-valentine-needs-ecmo-machine-to-fight-covid-brother-says