The United States(!) of A

factotum's picture
factotum started the topic in Thursday, 27 Aug 2020 at 11:12am

Septic Tanks are going to Septic Tank

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velocityjohnno Monday, 9 Nov 2020 at 1:48pm

US pandemic response has been an absolute mess, that must have contributed. How responding to a pandemic became an ideological divide, weird as f
Anyway, happy to be in Oz for this one, Vic no new cases now 8 days in a row and Melbourne is allowed out to surf.

Most interesting will be to see if US military positioning continues its pivot/shift, or changes. Obama started Pacific pivot, Trump ramped it and really upped military spending/preparedness, and now... probably more of the same. And more relevant to Oz - will US ally continue it's positioning, or flip and what would that mean for Australian defence? The last 4 years have shown less US bombing and invasions/war?

Republicans have senate, Dems lost seats but still have congress, markets think 2 years of gridlock, so rally on as the Fed steps in. If they actually get to pass policy, look to the green new deal and huge sums for clean technology as Americans go into innovation mode, possibly the next bubble as Erik Janszen speculated way back in 2009 in Harpers I think, great article btw... Dems losing congress seats is a lot like Scomo winning election here but with a declining % of vote, but beating the opposition and corralling preferences.

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freeride76 Monday, 9 Nov 2020 at 1:53pm

totally agree VJ

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Pops Monday, 9 Nov 2020 at 1:55pm

Sickaz,
I'm not arguing that Biden was the only way to beat Trump; rather I'm arguing that he wasn't a weak (in terms of electibility) candidate as others have painted him. If he was, he would have underperformed the party rather than overperfoming it, surely. Which isn't to say that a different candidate might not have done likewise.

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Pops Monday, 9 Nov 2020 at 1:59pm

Yeah, interesting times VJ. Unlikely Biden gets a free run at much. Hoping they don't get a repeat of the end of the Obama era gridlock though.
The pandemic response divide is bizzare, but perhaps not unexpected - thinking about the cliched freedom-above-all-else 'murican...

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Vic Local Monday, 9 Nov 2020 at 2:00pm

Sickaz, I will explain to you why Biden was chosen.
There's a yearning in the USA for stability. Biden offered that. Bernie didn't.
In 2008 they wanted change. Obama offered that, the other Dem candidates didn't.
Same again in 2016. Trump offered to shake things up (and he got lucky)
In Australia Howard won in 1996 because the public were sick of Keating's reforms (even though they were necessary). Howard promised boredom.
Rudd promised Change in 2007. Beasley would have made an excellent PM but in 2001 the Australian public wanted stability after the terrorist attacks. Howard got lucky in 2004 with Latham. Abbott got lucky in 2013 with the most cynical campaign ever, but the Australian public wanted change. Any Lib would have won that election.
I don't think we will see another clown candidate in the USA or UK for a generation. In a crisis you need people in government with some gravitas. Marketers, showmen and reality TV stars have been found wanting, especially when they are corrupt as fuck. Scumo is next.

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Vic Local Monday, 9 Nov 2020 at 2:04pm

VJ, Dems still may have a Senate majority with two runoff Senate elections in January. I reckon Trump's hissy fit, and a Covid shit show he created raging in winter, gives the Dems a very good shot at picking up both seats.

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Sickaz Monday, 9 Nov 2020 at 2:27pm

Fair enough pops, I wasn’t talking about you in particular, just heard a lot of talk about Biden being the only way the DNC could get up which irks me because I was hopeful before the DNC primaries that one of their younger candidates might run against Trump with some positive energy.

I like your work on here Pops, keep it coming. I think you are balanced and don’t inject much emotion into your writing, and you are brief too. All three things I need to focus on with the way I communicate it seems ha ha. Good on you.

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Pops Monday, 9 Nov 2020 at 2:11pm

Thanks Sickaz.

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Sickaz Monday, 9 Nov 2020 at 2:26pm

Wow VL! You weren’t aggressive, good stuff. I agree about the citizens longing for stability. I still think his age is actually a big part of the reason he’s there though, a good excuse to abdicate after 2 years. My opinion anyway, and I admit I am currently hyper distrustful of the motives of both parties but probably obvious I am more focused on the DNC as Trump was the incumbent and I feel like the Democratic primaries were rigged. If they weren’t we would probably have Bernie, who I admit would probably not have have made voters feel like his administration in our current context would be able to provide stability. But maybe there would have been a chance for a one of the younger candidates to take the party on a new direction and reconnect the DNC with middle America. All just my opinion on it anyway.

On stability though, the only thing that I know of about Biden that offers stability is his familiarity, his grandpa like qualities and his moderate position in the party. I think a younger, more energetic and future focused candidate could have made the voters feel secure if the candidate convinced the voters that they had what it takes to bring the change that the voters want.

Stability is great, but voters deserve a little more than that IMO. Even in this chaos, if we are aiming for just stability for the next four years, we are not aiming high enough.

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zenagain Monday, 9 Nov 2020 at 2:22pm

Pops, seriously- a nutless monkey.

(nah, just havin' a larf- no sympathy for Trump)

I really really hope Biden can go someways towards plugging the gap and unite rather than divide which will probably be remembered as Trumps legacy more than anything.

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Vic Local Monday, 9 Nov 2020 at 2:40pm

Election officials in the USA (including the GOP ones) are getting death threats for counting votes.
Looks like some of the Trump fans are working their way through the stages of grief. Somewhere in between denial and anger. Donny is still in denial.

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Pops Monday, 9 Nov 2020 at 2:43pm

Y'know Zen, a nutless monkey might well have got up... novelty factor and all ;)

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zenagain Monday, 9 Nov 2020 at 2:47pm

Upon reflection Pops- if the Dems put up a French Bulldog It'd be a no-brainer.

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Pops Monday, 9 Nov 2020 at 2:51pm

I dunno Zen, are the French back in the good books over there yet after the whole "freedom fries" saga?

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stunet Monday, 9 Nov 2020 at 2:52pm

"The last 4 years have shown less US bombing..."

Not in Afghanistan.

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burzum Monday, 9 Nov 2020 at 2:52pm

Compulsory voting and an independant electoral commission are the keys to the continuity of our form democracy. In the US. the redistricting (boundary changes) is undertaken by the elected governer who can pick and choose the boundaries to suit their party. Just a total nightmare for a democracy.
The first among equals approach of the westminster system is also far superior to the emporer style of the US republican system. We will never be the US, thankfully. Not only that, the majortity of the people in our conountry can accept that social welfare and socialised medicine is essential in a functional first worl country. The US will never get to that stage, I don't think

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shortenism Monday, 9 Nov 2020 at 3:30pm

Rigged 100%. You just have to look at Trump vs Biden followers on platforms like Insta, FB, Twitter. Look at the turnout to rallies... Trump smashes him out the park on all of them. I know its a bit of a 'simple' bow to draw.. But in addition somehow Biden got more votes than golden boy Obama... Statistically speaking according to some of the micro voting trends they are talking an impossibility for a legit Biden win. The DOJ under constitutional law cant get involved until 10 days after the election date, so be interesting what happens from the 13/14th.

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Pops Monday, 9 Nov 2020 at 3:39pm

Righto.

JQ's picture
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JQ Monday, 9 Nov 2020 at 3:39pm

Utter nonsense shortenism. I see you've approached with your usual level of critical thinking.

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stunet Monday, 9 Nov 2020 at 3:40pm

@Shorten,

In the world of a few good men, you're Tom Cruise and Jack Nicholson is rising to the occasion.

Vic Local's picture
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Vic Local Monday, 9 Nov 2020 at 3:46pm

And that's why we will always need strong gun laws in Australia.

garyg1412's picture
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garyg1412 Monday, 9 Nov 2020 at 3:52pm

Hey shortenism I actually thought about you the other night when I came across this absolutely stunning piece of journalism

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thermalben Monday, 9 Nov 2020 at 3:51pm

If the election was rigged - by the Dems, I presume? - then why did they not win the Senate, and also weaken their position in the House of Reps?

My understanding is that Biden is going to have a very tough time getting a lot of things through the (Republican-controlled) Senate. 

Pops's picture
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Pops Monday, 9 Nov 2020 at 3:55pm

*puts on tin foil hat*
Y'see Ben, fellas, the senate being close proves that it was rigged. If you were going to rig an election, the last thing you'd want to do is make it obvious! Wake up!
........
Sorry, I hate to stoop to mocking, but couldn't help myself.

thermalben's picture
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thermalben Monday, 9 Nov 2020 at 3:59pm

Whew! Thanks Pops. Appreciate you putting your life on the line for the intel drop. Makes perfect sense too!

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thermalben Monday, 9 Nov 2020 at 4:01pm

Gary, that video is hilarious. Never watched any Infowars stuff before, but it's stunning to see the level of detail to which they go to. Of course, it's terrifying to think how many people eat it all up. 

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stunet Monday, 9 Nov 2020 at 4:02pm

Stop the press!

Jim Banks has "smoking gun" proof of voter fraud, discovered by SGTReport.com who last month posted an exclusive story titled: 'What drives the left? The ritualistic slaughter of children!'

Fuck man, they're onto us.

Sickaz's picture
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Sickaz Monday, 9 Nov 2020 at 4:05pm

A few of the states that ‘decided’ this election bypassed their state legislature and changed their election laws in the weeks and months prior to the election. Many citing Covid as the reason and there is probably a lot of substance to that. But these late changes were all done by Democratic governors and it seems to be in direct violation of the US constitution. I’m not an expert though.

If these law changes are proved unlawful it could mean that many votes may be deemed illegitimate according to the original state voting laws and might potentially be removed from the count if that’s even possible.

Not saying its voting fraud I think that perhaps laws have been rushed through, maybe even with good intentions, but without checking all the legal requirements, which could result in some potentially crazy scenarios if these laws are overturned, and would almost certainly guarantee some serious violence and backlash.

Burzum you are right that the ability for US governor’s to rearrange the voting districts aka gerrymandering is hugely problematic.

And shortening I think you are right about the probability of legal challenges coming for the alleged constitutional violations made by some states such as Pennsylvania regarding late changes to their electoral laws.

shortenism's picture
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shortenism Monday, 9 Nov 2020 at 4:10pm

Hahaha, GaryG believe it or not I actually cut that one 30seconds into it... The Hawaiian shirt lost me.. Glad to see you hadn't forgotten me fellas:) Time will tell but the mainstream media may not.. At least initially

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garyg1412 Monday, 9 Nov 2020 at 4:13pm

Yep we're all having a positive effect on you shortenism!!!

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adam12 Monday, 9 Nov 2020 at 4:13pm

The fact that the US voting system is divided into 10,000 independent voting systems run by both sides makes it impossible to rig. Trump knows he lost, he is just following the Roy Cohen playbook, 'never admit defeat, sue everyone, claim victory even when you lose, move on to the next scam'.

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velocityjohnno Monday, 9 Nov 2020 at 4:59pm

"Compulsory voting and an independant electoral commission are the keys to the continuity of our form democracy. In the US. the redistricting (boundary changes) is undertaken by the elected governer who can pick and choose the boundaries to suit their party. Just a total nightmare for a democracy.
The first among equals approach of the westminster system is also far superior to the emporer style of the US republican system. "

Agree with this, we have a good system evolved over a long time.

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velocityjohnno Monday, 9 Nov 2020 at 5:01pm

This was a good summation so far I thought:

https://dailyreckoning.com/life-under-biden/

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truebluebasher Monday, 9 Nov 2020 at 5:02pm

Pops...you're right to Question record turnout & there was a US Poll on this...

Q: "What is the #1 thing that leads you to "support" 2020 Presidential candidate.
Poll offered 8 answers...(repeating the Poll asked > "Support not dislike"!)
Answers / Choices were apple pie: ( Party, Leadership, Policy, Values, personality...)

Poll Results
(56%) #1 reason you voted for Biden = "He's not Trump"
(19%) #3 reason you voted for Trump = "He's not Biden" > (#1=23%) Close call!

Record Poll numbers > ( 37.5% ) Voted against the other Presidential Candidate.

Here's what dumb shit the loser nerds voted for..as if the world even cares.
21% Leadership / 15% Policy / 11.5% (Equally) > Personality / Party / US Values.

Vote out the Biggest Loser was USA Top response.
Apple Pie college nerds handed out dunking balls to take out a President!
Candy Vans, Neighbourhood Mobile Booth DJ's...
Even had Drive Thrus - Dump yer turd in a Flaming paper bag'n'Go.
Register as you vote to change Ballot, Colour, Leopard Spots or Donkey Votes!

Trump [ Made in China ]

Chinese overwhelmingly support Trump & Republicans.
Trump alone exempts $millions in Tariff on Chinese made Flags & Fireworks).
He spits on [ Buy USA] for [ Zero Tax -Made in China ] White House extravaganzas.
Trump sells Made in China merch from front lawn onto the World Stage.

Trump argued for removal of all import taxes on Chinese Army Surplus.
Trump's official Duty Free Chinese arsenal of choice for Good ol' USA,
Ammo, Fireworks, Paintballs, Pistols, Rifles, Shot Guns, Flame Throwers, Grenades, Grenade Launchers, Mines, Bombs, Torpedoes, Missiles & WMD.

Chinese Military takeover of USA is all now Tax Free..courtesy of Trump.

There is no competition...Trump loves China & China loves Trump.
China craves pathetic Right Wing Dr No wannabes that destroy the western block.

USA / UK / OZ Right Govt's hate each other & 'record' MP / Aide sackings continue.
White House even brewed their own pandemic to wipe each other out!
Right Wing Brexit / NATO / 5 eyes > Westworld has never been so pissweak)
Right Wing hatred of each colleague, State, Nation is giving rise to China.
Disenfranchised World queues around the block to sign deals with any enemy.

Right Wing Govts Sold the World to greedy corps that feast on our zombie flesh.

China is banking on Trump's resurrection.
All Hail Dictator Trump...One of Us One of Us One of Us...

https://www.ft.com/content/972092f3-67aa-41db-841f-a890e9d64c4b

bluediamond's picture
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bluediamond Monday, 9 Nov 2020 at 5:09pm

Rigged? Nup.
There's no way this clown would come out and congratulate Biden if it was. Or is that a conspiracy too?
https://edition.cnn.com/2020/11/08/politics/george-w-bush-congratulates-...

indo-dreaming's picture
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indo-dreaming Monday, 9 Nov 2020 at 5:34pm

2016 Democrats It's rigged Trump cheated he only got in because of the help of Russia

2020 Republicans It's rigged Biden only got in because of voter fraud.

Or something like that.

thermalben's picture
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thermalben Monday, 9 Nov 2020 at 5:33pm

GuySmiley's picture
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GuySmiley Monday, 9 Nov 2020 at 5:56pm

Straight to the rePenthouse for Kenneth, the fucking sinner, if you want to see and hear crazy shit tune into any of those televangelists many of whom believe in shit like UFOs - Jebus' angels get around in them

Anyway back to this man baby

Screen-Shot-2020-11-09-at-5-50-16-pm
find duplicate values online

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factotum Monday, 9 Nov 2020 at 11:53pm

Hahahaha! How's some of the scurrying around on here? The 7 stages of grief are as stalled in Swolenutland as in Trumpyworld, it seems.

Anyone for golf?

Anyway, a trigger warning for those swolenut readers. A double dosage of commie agitprop incoming.

1st... the very real last Trumpy hurrah that's threatening.

https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2020/nov/08/donald-trump-lame-duck-d...

And did someone mention a 'Sanderscene conversion*' from within? Corporate Dems beware!

https://www.nytimes.com/2020/11/07/us/politics/aoc-biden-progressives.html

*a play on the biblical 'Damascene conversion'. May the road rise with us, and not be too long and arduous.

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zenagain Tuesday, 10 Nov 2020 at 12:53am

Sorry Facto, I normally enjoy your links but the first article I reckon could have been penned by VicLabor himself.

My prediction? Lots of whinging, no shooting. Investigating Trumps financial position? What will they gain? He hasn't exactly enriched himself in the last four years. He's operated within the system, the same system that's enriched the people that have it in for him. He didn't even draw a presidential salary.

I reckon a month of the media trying to drum up something, anything and then shift to Bidens inauguration and then America inc. going along its sweet, merry way.

Hate to burst your bubble Vic, but time will tell.

Get back to me in the new year and if I'm wrong, I'll buy you a virtual beer.

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zenagain Tuesday, 10 Nov 2020 at 12:56am

btw- I actually thought Trump would get up.

Go figure.

truebluebasher's picture
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truebluebasher Tuesday, 10 Nov 2020 at 4:22am

tbb continues...
Note USA allies dumped Trump the first chance they got...see ya mate!

Trump's closest comrades are crying & digging in & they refuse to concede.

China "We understand the result will be delivered following US laws & procedures."
China reminds all, that they dictate USA election process...not the Media!

Russia " We wait for legal processes to determine (Official Result)."
Russia reminds all, that they dictate USA election process...not the Media!

North Korea: "Biden is a rabid dog that should be beaten to death with a stick!"

Slovenia has already congratulated Trump on Victory days ago.

Turkey : "Relations will continue regardless of who is the President of the US."

Brasil: "Criticised networks cutting Trumps Fraud Speech!" + "Biden is Disastrous!"

Mexico "Will wait for the Legal Challenges over the vote, were resolved."

Removes all doubt who Trump's allies are.

US / Oz Alliance...

17 July 2016 US Vice President Biden - Australia.


2011 / 2015 President Obama -Australia.

2007 Was when the last Republican Leader Bush visited

Trump : Who's the new guy in Austria // Oztraya // ( Australia )
About that US Ambassador Dumb Deal...
March 2019 Trump posts Austrian / Ozzie Ambassador (2 & half years late!)
Culvahouse Jr takes up office at Lake Burley Campbell // (Griffin) [ Tricky US Name]

Rock Solid Coalition...with who & where doesn't matter!

*(Q: Has Trump ever visited Australia?)

1993 Trump NZ Casino bid [ Vidz ]
Insider Steve says Trump's Plane had a Sydney Stop over!
https://www.quora.com/Has-Donald-Trump-ever-been-to-Australia
Trump has visited Australia! (Sydney Airport!)

Steve also says...
1993 Trump 'left' NZ the next day for being an improper person to bid for Casino.
https://www.tvnz.co.nz/one-news/new-zealand/video-donald-trump-says-he-s...
Quote on Political Office + (Womanising vid)
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3829924/Donald-Trump-admits-isn...
+
https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/74901084/when-trump-touched-down-in-new...

factotum's picture
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factotum Tuesday, 10 Nov 2020 at 8:42am

“If Trump loses power he’ll spend his last 90 days wrecking the United States like a malicious child with a sledgehammer in a china shop...”

“We’re likely to see the greatest political temper tantrum in history. He may decide he wants to go out with a bang, he may decide he will not accept the election result. Who knows what a cornered autocrat will do?”

“Trump will likely spend his last months in a flurry of self-dealing, tossing out pardons and trying to discredit his opponents and the system itself...”

Not gonna happen, Zen?

Um...

A tale of 2 presidents getting busy...

https://thenewdaily.com.au/news/coronavirus/2020/11/10/donald-trump-sack...

zenagain's picture
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zenagain Tuesday, 10 Nov 2020 at 10:19am

I guess it's a wait and see then Mr. Facto.

Sacking a bloke you didn't get on particularly well with and 'planned' rallies supporting legal challenges that more than likely won't get past the first step hardly constitute taking a wrecking ball to the USA. Big dummy spit imo.

Anyway, hope we're both wrong and Biden is left free to govern.

stunet's picture
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stunet Tuesday, 10 Nov 2020 at 10:06am

Recent Facebook reading is:

a) entertaining,
b) puzzling,
c) despairing,
d) straight up frightening,

depending on the mood you're in when you sit down.

Few people I'm friends with became politicised over the last 12 - 24 months. Really energetically politicised. At times they'd discover...or rather, their fellow travellers had shared, various pieces of lazy or underhanded journalism, and it was more proof of the universal campaign against Trump.

To one of these recently politicised fellows I suggested reading 'Manufacturing Consent'. As far as I know its pages went unturned but he was getting a rushed education in critical thinking; he'd vindictively post quotes from Voltaire that 'proved' he had the mortgage on truth and anyone who deviated from his position didn't.

He's defiantly holding onto that position as the cause slips away, building ever more incredulous fabrications that show he's right and everyone, the whole world, including prominent Republicans, is wrong. And he's getting lots of likes.

I recall watching 'Wild Wild Country' last year and wondering how the Bhagwan Shree Rajneesh could fill such a large compound with brainwashed people, but now I realise that he could've filled the whole state of Oregon if he went into politics. Trump's followers - not those who see Trump as the lesser of two evils, but the Trump-is-our-only-hope cult - are operating a long way from cultural norms and its freaky when I open Facebook and see how close it's come to home.

shortenism's picture
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shortenism Tuesday, 10 Nov 2020 at 10:07am

Biden left free to govern.. shit I spilt my coffee.. That is a genuine scary predicament zen. Just look on stage at his rallies to see what he really stands for... notice all the muzzled / mask wearing individuals around him. Coming to a suburb near you quicker than you can say HARRIS. Ps who's onto the fact that Harris is a bloke? As is Michelle Obama (AKA 'Big Mike')?

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stunet Tuesday, 10 Nov 2020 at 10:09am

Sometimes I open Swellnet and they're here too.

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Hiccups Tuesday, 10 Nov 2020 at 10:18am

Damn Biden and his muzzled minions!

Vic Local's picture
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Vic Local Tuesday, 10 Nov 2020 at 11:19am

"Harris is a bloke? As is Michelle Obama (AKA 'Big Mike')?"
Do you reckon they are child molesters who keep kids in disused subway tunnels and under the streets of Melbourne too shortenism?
And what's your advice re hats to deal with the new Chinese 5G technology? Is it three sheets of aluminium foil or four?

shortenism's picture
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shortenism Tuesday, 10 Nov 2020 at 11:24am

Not entirely sure about any of it VIC. And you shouldn't be either.