Republican National Convention

[oldr_n_wsr]

Even 'tool and die' man is an obsolete job.

My father was a tool and die man. He saw it coming and partially retired in 1995 at 53 1/2yo.

I Never thought those types of skills would become obsolete. Sure there are still T&D jobs around, but not like they used to be.
CnC machines did away with much of the need of the old school (aka highly skilled) machinist and T&D people.

[Crackpot]

There are a lot of "technical" out there (at least aroun there). Problem of s there is no one to fill them since they are too skilled to be non-skilled and not skilled enough to pay college grad rates (at least not at the start). We need trade schools and apprentice programs to return.

[BoSoxGal]

When I was 9 years old, I was so inspired by Ronald Reagan's convention speech that I wrote him a letter congratulating him when he was elected President. Somewhere I still have the letter he sent back to me, thanking me for mine.

I already had the heart of a liberal at that age, but I was inspired by 'morning again in America' and by the positive attitude and uplifting (if ultimately fake) message that Reagan shared in asking his fellow citizens to elect him to the highest office in the world. I'm sure there were criticisms of the other party at that convention, but I don't recall hate or vitriol being spewed endlessly. I'm pretty sure I would have remembered that.

These things are weighing heavily on my mind because I live now with my adored/adoring 7 year old niece, who loves to come down to my room and hang out with me, where I am often watching MSNBC/CNN/FOX coverage of politics (yes, I sometimes watch FOX - it's important to get a fair and balanced view, after all).

She recently asked me why he shouts so much and says so many mean things. She's cheering for the girl to be President, only because she thinks it's cool that a girl can be President. (I try very hard not to say anything that might influence her attitudes because her father, sadly, is probably going to vote for Trump. Thank goddesses he isn't very political and doesn't talk politics; if he did or was obnoxious like some Trump supporters I know, I probably couldn't bear to live here.)

Anyway the point I'm making is that THIS is what it's really about, this excellent, excellent Hillary ad:

[Lord Jim]

I've been meaning to post that ad myself...

If she wants to have an ad about children, that one is 100 times more impactful then the one she had with laundry list of things she's done and the 25 year old video footage of her...

It's a good example of the type of ads she needs to run; ads where Trump speaks for himself...

Another one I like is the one where he's talking about how his "knowledge" on foreign policy has come from watching television...

The ad quoting the numerous derogatory things he's said about women is also a good one...

One other kind of anti-Trump ad I'd really like to start seeing (I've been saying this since last August) are ads featuring ordinary people who have been screwed over by his business practices...

There need to be some ads that take his phony claims of caring about average people head on in ways average people can relate to and identify with...

[Long Run]

I agree. In contrast, the silly long listing of the legal cases involving Trump can easily back fire for two reasons: 1) it highlights that Trump really has had a lot of business experience since businesses sue and get sued on a regular basis for all types of reasons; and 2) Clinton has myriad legal problems of her own, most which lead many to distrust her. Much better to humanize key incidents where Trump has harmed regular people.

[Bicycle Bill]

I agree. In contrast, the silly long listing of the legal cases involving Trump can easily back fire for two reasons: 1) it highlights that Trump really has had a lot of business experience since businesses sue and get sued on a regular basis for all types of reasons; and 2) Clinton has myriad legal problems of her own, most which lead many to distrust her. Much better to humanize key incidents where Trump has harmed regular people.

I'm not saying that it won't work, but when Snottie Wanker was facing recall in Wisconsin there were any number of articles and stories about the detrimental effect his cuts had on state workers, the university system, public unions, and other projects such as a high-speed rail expansion that he killed even before he took his inaugural oath.  Trouble is that most of the people who were supporting him were getting paid even less than the lowest-paid state employee (like custodial staff or DMV clerks) and their general consensus was "Fuck them anyway" ... like reducing *EVERYBODY* to the lowest common denominator would suddenly make their lives better when all it really meant is that everybody would be up Shit Creek without the proverbial paddle.

And I see the same thing occurring with the Trump supporters.  It's not so much a case of "Make my life better"; it's more a case of "My life sucks, so EVERYBODY ELSE'S life should suck too".

-"BB"-

[Joe Guy]

Here's another Trumpism I just now heard from him on the radio: "Pence is going to make an unbelievable vice president!"

I bet that gave Pence a lot of confidence...

[Lord Jim]

When Trump promises something that he calls "unbelievable" that's about the only time I believe him....

[oldr_n_wsr]

There are a lot of "technical" out there (at least aroun there). Problem of s there is no one to fill them since they are too skilled to be non-skilled and not skilled enough to pay college grad rates (at least not at the start). We need trade schools and apprentice programs to return.

I agree 100%.

I go to a young peoples meeting on sunday nights. It's sponsored by a rehab center "Hope House Ministries". Mostly young(ish) addicts and alcoholics go there for sometimes 2 years or more.
When asked, I tell them, work on your recovery, and unless you are really hell bent on going to college, learn a trade. HVAC, plumbing, electrician... all are in demand. You may not make millions, but you will make a fairly comfortable living.

[Scooter]

Third Repulican lawmaker in five days to call for the murder of Hillary Clinton

But that's, you know, generic, not personal.

That's the sort of rhetoric one would expect to hear from ayatollahs in Iran, not U.S. politicians. For all their talk about wanting to defeat Islamic extremists, Republicans are doing a pretty good job of taking pages right out of their playbook.

[MajGenl.Meade]

Awful. Also rather nonsense... "Put in the firing line" means to place a soldier at the pointy end, rather than in reserve or support. It does not at all go along with being "shot for treason". They are two unconnected notions. I think the man is ga-ga.

Stupid as the comments are, he clearly did not advocate "murder" as someone hyperbollixed.

[BoSoxGal]

I've always been an emotive person, from the time I was a little kid. I remember crying over Lee Greenwood's God Bless America when it was Reagan's signature song at the 1984 convention.

(LJ, are you sensing a pattern here? I was raised by a staunchly Republican father. Turned into a tree and thug-hugging liberal. So don't take Tati's liberal leanings too hard, the values you instill will be there always, even if her politics aren't the same. Just don't do as my father did, and revile her for them. My father, I'm sure, is having orgasms over Trump's ascension to power. Because you aren't, I know you're a better man. )

Anyway, I've been crying a lot this week while watching the Republican convention - but not from patriotism or pride. This GOP hatefest has me terribly, terribly worried for the future of my country.

[Scooter]

I'm sure that more imaginative people than me could come up with any number of punchlines for "How do gay Republicans have sex?", but that is something I do not even want to ponder. But apparently a lot of gay Republicans are looking to do it in Cleveland this week:

The acronym “RNC” technically refers to the Republican National Convention taking place in Cleveland, Ohio this week. But if the city’s current influx of RNC-themed “casual encounters” Craigslist advertisements is any indication, it could just as well stand for, like, Raunchy Nut Cock (or something).

The Daily Dot reports that the classifieds site has become a veritable treasure trove of NSFW hookup ads in recent days.

Here is just a sampling:



There are many stunning uses of the English language here. "RNC bitch boy" is a particularly potent combination of words. So too is "beefy hairy RNC visitors."

[Long Run]

Anyway, I've been crying a lot this week while watching the Republican convention

Two words: un plug

[BoSoxGal]

Anyway, I've been crying a lot this week while watching the Republican convention

Two words: un plug

I know you are right, I probably should.

I've been feeling very stressed out and between that and the extreme heat we've had recently, my MS is flaring badly. (So please forgive the occasional typos from grammar bitch; my eyes and brain aren't working great in recent days.)

But I guess I've always felt, because of how I was raised, that watching the conventions was a civic duty, part of my obligation to be an informed citizen.

I will admit that I have had to turn it off on occasion, it was just too ugly, too hateful. I had to shut off Giuliani and Christie, both were so disgusting. I then missed Ryan, who was probably one of the few I would have liked to hear from - but the seriously ugly attacks on Hillary, the whipping the crowd into a frenzy of "Lock her up, lock her up!" are just sickening. And I don't even love Hillary, it's not because I'm a huge Hillary supporter - you all know I was feeling the Bern! It's just that I am so upset to realize how many mainstream Republicans believe like Trump does; I have hoped all these past 12 months that he was appealing to the fringe and/or the ignorant.

[Gob]

The very fact that I can post this should have you Americans questioning your political system!

[rubato]

The very fact that I can post this should have you Americans questioning your political system!

Over here, we're all having a good hearty laugh about Boris Johnson actually being your foreign secretary at a moment when you most need the forbearance and forgiveness of your former trading partners while Trump is just a candidate, with rather dim prospects.

Do you think Theresa May already knows who she will name in his stead?


yrs,
rubato

[Gob]

The very fact that I can post this should have you Americans questioning your political system!

Over here, we're all having a good hearty laugh about Boris Johnson actually being your foreign secretary at a moment when you most need the forbearance and forgiveness of your former trading partners while Trump is just a candidate, with rather dim prospects.

Do you think Theresa May already knows who she will name in his stead?


yrs,
rubato

Boris Johnson will make a good, if not great Foreign secretary as he is a very knowledgeable and worldly chap.

Now then, are we discussing Boris, or your next president Donald Trump?

[Econoline]

Over here, we're all having a good hearty laugh about Boris Johnson actually being your foreign secretary at a moment when you most need the forbearance and forgiveness of your former trading partners while Trump is just a candidate, with rather dim prospects.

OFFS..."over here" most of us wouldn't know Boris Johnson from Boris Badenov. (Look! A squirrel! And a moose!)

[Guinevere]

Even in the surreal world that is the 2016 presidential campaign I can't believe I'm writing this: "props to Ted Cruz." While what he did tonight by refusing to endorse the head Trumpanzee took some guts on that stage, but it was also incredibly self-serving. Still, I'm glad he did it and that the world saw it. Paul Ryan should be feeling every bit the hypocrite he is, right now.

Now I've got to go lie down, I've got the RNC flu...