Message Forum - GENERAL

Also, so what if she was picking a safe choice. Some decisions need to be good for balancing the ticket. Walz has appeal in rural America and has a broad background from high school teacher to military officer to governor. He grew up on a farm. . Fortunately, the finalists all have seemed very capable. Love, Joanie

08/10/24 07:33 PM

#17364

Apologies for the scrambled formatting of that post. I redid it several times, couldn't get it right. I'll pull it completely. Not sure I've got the patience to try and redo it again. Here's the link, for anyone who can open it. An excellent critique of the vagueness and inconsistencies of Harris's "policies."

How Generic Can Kamala Harris Be?
https://www.newyorker.com/news/fault-lines/how-generic-can-kamala-harris-be

08/10/24 09:49 PM

#17365

https://www.politifact.com/article/2024/jul/25/fact-checking-so-called-kamala-harris-facts/

Some of the claims in that article about Harris including attacks by Tulsi Gabbard are just not true.I wouldn't believe anything Tulsi Gabbard says. Love, Joanie

08/11/24 06:01 PM

#17366

Also I really like the joyfulness I feel from Harris and Walz. The more I hear about Walz the more I like that Harris chose him. He is a no nonsense person who did such great things in Minnesota. He provided free meals for needy kids and free college for those families making under 80,000. Minnesota is among the strongest in the nation supporting reproductive freedom . Walz pushed the child credit payments, and strong measures to improve the environment Free meals for the needy. When criticized for being too liberal, Walz said something like, wow how monstrous to help kids get a meal. Love, Joanie

08/12/24 09:07 AM

#17367

Congrats to France for conducting the best and most spectacular Olympics ever. Great venue, amazing athletes and competition, super coverage and more. I was glued to the telly -- day and night. It couldn't have happened at a better time -- when temps most days were 90 degrees or more, which cuts into my golf game. Combine the Olympics with Kamala Harris's unprecedented turn around in the campaign that has sparked a wave of enthusiasm, huge crowds and a renewed sense of optimism that there is indeed life after the nine dark years of politics dominated by Donald Trump who is, to be honest, losing any touch with reality and scared to death about going to jail. I have to say that this has been one of the most remarkable three weeks in American history in my lifetime. I feel 20 years younger.

08/12/24 10:54 AM

#17368

Donald Trump losing touch with reality? Have you seen the article about the helicopter that almost crashed while he, RFK Jr. and Willie Brown were hunting bear cubs from it?

08/12/24 11:43 AM

#17369

John Smeby

Stolen Valor is not the same as telling a little white lie. Democratic VP presumptive candidate Tim Walz has committed Stolen Valor since he departed active duty. There is no grey area on this issue. Even a dumb retired (E4) Navy Seabee like myself knows the difference between a command sergeant Major (E9) and a Sgt. Major (E8) and to say that he retired as a CSM is Stolen Valor, period.

Joan Rugglles (Young) - In reference to The Villages Florida, there is no Utopia. With that said, "---that parades of old people in little electric carts---" is an incorrect statement. There are both electric and gas powered golf carts in The Villages. At last count there is estimated to be well over 50,000 golf carts driving around, with around 3,500 specialty clubs for residence participation. The latest one I read about was "Bee Keepers". This is a free state/community and if a particular group wants to hold a golf cart rally, they are free to do so. There are parades for St. Paddy's, Thanksgiving, fund raisers (cancer and the like). We are definitely NOT a segregated community as you and the NYT indicate. We base residence character on MERIT, not race, religion, or political preference. I do not identify any of my neighbors, golf "buddies", softball team players by anything other than their character and merit. I suggest that you start doing the same. And the comment about "old people --- turn white neighbors against white neighbors". Having been a resident of TV since 2005, I have witnessed a change in the demographics of resident ages. In 2005 I was 60, now I am 78. The neighbors across the street and behind me are in their early to mid 50s! As a neighborhood joke, us original residents call them "our 12 year olds"!! However, they both rebuilt their 850K to 1.2Mil purchased homes and they are now worth 2.0 to 2.4 Mil. Sure they work from home, but they pay large personal property tax bills annually and keep their yards in immaculate condition, so no one cares about anything else! And please familiarize yourself with age requirements of active adult senior retirement communities: By federal and state law, they can have a 80/20 age split for residency. The only age issue is no children under the age of 19 can be permanent residents. There have been issues with residence children and grandchildren returning to the nest and living off the previous generation folks, usually with behavior that is not in line with "old people". As an example, I get up around 6:30 and am very productive until around mid-afternoon (golf, softball, walking, honey does, yard work). By mid-afternoon I start my "senior citizen dive" and just want to relax and take it easy. By 6 - 6:30 p.m. I am in my shorty pajamas in my lounge chair watching a Hallmark movie, in bed by 9:30. As opposed to a very small number of folks that go to the local bars and close them down around 1 a.m. so I read in the newspaper.

Jay Shackford - Again you continue to post incorrect information to support your political ideology. On 8/12/2024 you posted "Donald Trump who is, to be honest, losing any touch with reality and scared to death about going to jail." Just take a minute an read closely what you said. The use of the word "ANY" is absolute and I am sure there is at least ONE situation where Trump has not lost touch with reality, thereby making your statement wrong.

And your statement about Harris and Walz being blessed with "The Joy Couple" and "joy and the American promise won't fail" is rediculous in my mind.

In the April 1967 picture from Vietnam I am the first person on the left holding the C-rations can, what, you do not recognize me??!!?? Maybe another view will help?

08/12/24 12:19 PM

#17370

John Smeby

Jay Shackford - Forgot to thank you for your greeting (8/7/2024) about making it home okay and recovered from Vietnam, BUT, speaking for ALMOST all land based combat veterans (those that were in actual hand-to-hand combat and wounded, both of which I qualify for), no one returns "okay and recovered". As I mentioned in a previous post, to this day I attend a Combat PTSD Support Group Meeting at the local VA Vet Center to keep me "focused". Having been wounded in May 1967, that is a long time to deal with combat trauma. I can write all day on this issue but you can never understand. And the physical issues that are residual, again, you can never understand.

On a lighter note, I had PAL yesterday (Pure Ass Luck) and made my third HIO (Hole In One) on a 106 yd 9 iron shot over a bunker. See attached picture and pay no attention to the injury on my lower rt leg, I took a softball shot back in January that resulted in leg surgery in March, twelve different antibiotics due to hematoma and cellulitis, just been a nightmare all this year so far. But being the intelligent sport that I am, I am back playing softball, golf and using my pool. Maybe one of these days it will heal completely.

08/12/24 05:28 PM

#17371

Although John may not appreciate having someone he considers an idiot agree with him, I will say that "ok and recovered" doesn't describe well the long-lasting effects of trauma. Survivors of trauma, military or civilian, often live with it for a lifetime. I do believe, however, that it is possible for others to understand trauma's causes and effects--I owe great thanks to VA therapists who do understand and have offered enormous help in dealing with it. My friend Jonathan Shay and my partner, Deb, among them.

But . . . I don't agree that Walz is in any way guilty of so-called "Stolen Valor" in his statements about his rank. No, he didn't retire as a Command Sergeant Major. He served in that rank, but retired, as John says, as a master sergeant--one rank lower. Walz may be misrepresenting his rank, but rank and valor--or bravery, courage--aren't the same thing. A higher rank has NO connotations of greater valor, as John knows. A four star general is no braver than an E4, even though 15 ranks or pay grades higher. No stolen valor here, because no valor involved.

Now, Walz's false assertion that he carried an assault rifle "in war" might qualify as a false claim for credit in serving in a combat theater. But NBD, in my opinion (calm down, John). Exaggerations of combat experience are probably as old as war itself. Anybody who's hung out in an enlisted, NCO, or officers' club, or a VFW or American Legion bar, knows that!

Shakespeare nails the improved memories of combat vets in Henry V when he describes veterans thinking back on St. Crispian's Day, a Medieval day of battle between the English and French:

"He that outlives this day, and comes safe home,
Will stand a tip-toe when the day is named,
And rouse him at the name of Crispian.
He that shall live this day, and see old age,
Will yearly on the vigil feast his neighbours,
And say ‘To-morrow is Saint Crispian:’
Then will he strip his sleeve and show his scars.
And say ‘These wounds I had on Crispin’s day.’
Old men forget: yet all shall be forgot,
But he’ll remember with advantages
What feats he did that day . . ." (My emphasis)

John, to add some context to your complaints about attacks on the valor of combat veterans, could you comment on Trump's attack on John McCain--that he was a "loser" and,

"He's not a war hero, he's a war hero because he was captured. I like people who weren't captured, okay?" https://www.c-span.org/video/?327045-5/presidential-candidate-donald-trump-family-leadership-summit

Really seems like someone denigrating the valor of an American combat veteran, and I'm sure you must think that far more offensive than Walz's remarks.

********

Close as I can come to a picture of me in Vietnam--we must not have had the PR coverage the Seabees did! Me four days after getting back from Vietnam, speaking at BCC's post-Kent State antiwar demonstration, May 8, 1970.

08/13/24 06:50 AM

#17372

Jim Boone

I was incorrect in my sayig Corporal was low rank in Marines. This description says it was for people of high quality who had some combat experience or leadership. Certainly not being a journalist as was Vance.

A Corporal in the Marine Corps is a junior noncommissioned officer, and is equivalent in rank to the Army's junior NCO ranks of Corporal and Specialist. Corporals usually command small contingents of Marines in combat and operations, including four-man fireteams (which may also be lead by a Lance Corporal) or eight-man squads comprising of two fireteams.

The Marine Corps specializes in small-unit operations, and as a result Corporals hold a significant amount of authority and resposibility in contrast to the lighter duties of Lance Corporals and Privates. Because of the responsibilities delegated to squad and fireteam leaders, promotion to Corporal is seen as a very significant accomplishment for an enlisted Marine.

Promotion to Corporal is awarded on a rolling basis to experienced soldiers who achieve a qualifying composite or cutting score in a variety of assessments.

08/13/24 06:51 AM

#17373

Jack that is a nice picture of you. Love, Joanie

08/13/24 09:29 AM

#17374

Photo was from the BCC newspaper The Tattler, Joanie. Brother Mark was the editor. He and the rest of the family had turned against the war while I was in Vietnam and brother Bruce was waiting to see if he was going to be drafted. As soon as I voiced my profound doubts about the war at the dinner table my first night home, Mark signed me up for the BCC demonstration. Next day I was in downtown DC at the big post-Cambodia invasion/Kent State murders demonstration.

Jim--Vance didn't see combat, but many journalists, military and civilian (Bill Mauldin, Dicky Chapelle, Ernie Pyle, for example), see far more combat than most people in uniform!

08/13/24 10:32 AM

#17375

Jack thank you for the background info regarding your photo. Its nice to hear of your brothers too against the war and that your brother signed you up to be in the demonstration once he knew you were anti the war too. . I remember the BCC paper, the Tattler. Love, Joanie

08/13/24 10:59 AM

#17376

“Losers and Suckers”

August 13, 2024

I guess that it’s true: “No good deed goes unpunished.” John, I was just trying to be a good guy — saying that I’m happy you made it home from Vietnam. Perhaps using “okay” and “recovered” to describe your return were bad choices of words. But believe me, I meant no harm.

On Donald Trump’s bat-shit crazy and criminal behavior and his bizarre character that makes him totally unfit and unqualified to hold the office of the Presidency, I make no apologies. He’s having a total mental meltdown.

In the past three weeks, with Joe Biden stepping down and passing the baton to Kamala Harris, the turnaround in political fortunes has been nothing short of spectacular. The enthusiasm, energy, joy, optimism, huge crowds and dramatic change in polls in the battleground states sparked by the new, new Harris/Walz ticket are driving Trump nuts.

Trump doesn’t know what to do. And he’s throwing every insult, lie, half truth and whatever else comes to his mind up against the wall, hoping that something will stick. Frankly, if my own aging dad were acting this way, we would take away the keys to the car, have a family intervention and get him some immediate medical help.

The most recent attack on Tim Walz’s 24-year military record in the National Guard sounds very much like the “Swift Boat” attacks on John Kerry during his presidential run. Kerry, I might add, was a decorated and wounded Vietnam war hero. Wait a minute. The guy who invented the “Swift Boat” attacks is one of Trump’s top political advisers. Over my past 50 years involved in the political scene, I’ve noticed that Republicans generally lack a creative chromosome. They just play the same old song over and over again.

And come on, for Donald Trump — the guy who dodged the draft with fake bone spurs and bragged about it on the Howard Stern show by saying that he fought his own personal Vietnam by dodging sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) while fucking (unprotected I might add) every good looking gal in Manhattan desperately looking for a “sugar daddy” — to attack Walz on his military record gives new meaning to the phrase “do as I say, not as I do.”

And then, as Jack noted, Trump’s comments on veterans — dead, wounded and alive — as “losers” and “suckers” numerous times during his administration demonstrates that he is no friend of members of the Armed Forces.

Those comments were confirmed again in 2023 by retired Four-Star General John Kelly, one of Trump’s former chief of staff who had lost his only son in Afghanistan in 2010. Overlooking the Arlington Cemetery grave site of John Kelly, Jr., Trump asked his Chief of Staff: “I don’t get it. What’s in it for them.”

08/13/24 01:16 PM

#17377

John, you told me that "stating that a person's 'opinion' needs to be supported by facts defeats the purpose of an opinion."

But now you complain that Jay is posting information that you think is incorrect--that isn't supported by facts. Whiskey Tango Foxtrot, over? Facts are only necessary for others, but not for you?

*********

And you say to Jay,

"Again you continue to post incorrect information to support your political ideology. On 8/12/2024 you posted "Donald Trump who is, to be honest, losing any touch with reality and scared to death about going to jail." Just take a minute an read closely what you said. The use of the word "ANY" is absolute and I am sure there is at least ONE situation where Trump has not lost touch with reality, thereby making your statement wrong."

You're certainly logically correct--even ONE situation where Trump demonstrates even a weak touch with reality would refute Jay's statement. But you're unable to find even ONE such situation? Huh.

Although I suspect Jay would be happy to amend his statement to refer to Trump losing what little is left of his contact with reality.

Reality? Trump, referring to Biden: "Somebody said he looks great in a bathing suit, right? And you know, when he was in the sand and he was having a hard time lifting his feet through the sand, because you know sand is heavy, they figured three solid ounces per foot, but sand is a little heavy, and he’s sitting in a bathing suit. Look, at 81, do you remember Cary Grant? How good was Cary Grant, right? I don’t think Cary Grant, he was good. I don’t know what happened to movie stars today. We used to have Cary Grant and Clark Gable and all these people. Today we have, I won’t say names, because I don’t need enemies. I don’t need enemies. I got enough enemies. But Cary Grant was, like – Michael Jackson once told me, ‘The most handsome man, Trump, in the world.’ ‘Who?’ ‘Cary Grant.’ Well, we don’t have that any more, but Cary Grant at 81 or 82, going on 100. This guy, he’s 81, going on 100. Cary Grant wouldn’t look too good in a bathing suit, either. And he was pretty good-looking, right?" https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2024/apr/06/donald-trump-speech-analysis

Maybe Trump should consider withdrawing, asking Kamala to take his place.

08/13/24 04:26 PM

#17378

https://www.nytimes.com/2022/03/12/opinion/letters/villages-florida.html?searchResultPosition=4

Trump really is losing it with his past talk of preferring electrocution to sharks and his fascination with Hannibel Lector...this part about Biden in a bathing suit is just plain out coo coo and crowds at Harris' events being AI generated...This is getting way out. . Love, Joanie

08/14/24 08:06 AM

#17379

Joan Ruggles (Young)

No I guess Trump is solidly on message when he speaks on and on and on and on about crowd size. Those are the kitchen table issues that most Americans really care about. Another hot topic people around the kitchen table are weighing are the dangers of electric boats vs sharks. These are the issues that mobilize voters!

Mr. Smeby, Sure you're proud to defend where you've chosen to live! Who wouldn't be? And it's clear that you're also oh so proud of your hole-in-one. As a commited non-golfer, whoop dee doo. But to quote a resident of the Villages "It is true that the Villages lacks racial diversity, and is mostly Christian and politically conservative. " Hey I don't make this stuff up. I just pointed that out.

And you don't need to convince me of the age diversity. I'm not the one who calls it a "retirement community" which by definition means old people........unless some were lucky enough to retire at 45 or 50, but why would they want to confine themselves to living with old people and their children would be forbidden? Sorry, I wandered off into a thought experiment. I live in a neighborhood where "merit" is not a requirement for residency. Nor of course, is race, religion, or political preference. If you like the place, you just move in. I guess that's weird. I suggested I hoped that the political golf cart parades between Harris and Trump supporters "doesn't turn white neighbors against white neighbors". That sounds like a reasonable wish. The lack of racial diversity is just a fact. Nobody's saying other races are forbidden. And as to the fact that nobody at The Villages HAS to drive an electric golf cart! Bravo! I assume yours is gas. Hey it's free country.

I'm sure we're all delighted to have you explain to us your daily routine! Especially with details such as your "shorty Pajamas". I won't do the same because I'm fairly certain no one cares a bit about what I do every day.

For those who've chosen the felon as their future president, I'd LOVE to hear more - lots more - from any and all of you about the wisdom of your choice. Can't wait for the responses! I'd be happy in return to declare my reasons for choosing Harris/Walz!

08/14/24 08:36 AM

#17380

"reasons for choosing Harris/Walz!"

I'll keep my response brief, to the point, and consistent with what I've posted numerous times. To counter any charges of mis/disinformation or generated by AI, I'll put it in Trump's own words on his own social media platform. No need to get into the thickets of economic policy, immigration reform, Christian nationalism, anybody's military record or draft dodging:

Voting for a candidate who claims to be able to terminate the Constitution is counter to the oath I took, several times, to "support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic." The First Felon is such a domestic enemy of the Constitution, far greater than any enemy I confronted while in the military.

08/15/24 08:48 AM

#17381

Trust me!

08/18/24 04:12 PM

#17382

Whispers

"Wish we had something like the 25th Amendment tucked away in the Republican Bylaws," said one senior GOP member to another in the cloakroom of the U.S. Senate.

08/18/24 04:55 PM

#17383

The Republican Party already had something they could have used like the 25th Amendment. It was called the 2024 Republican National Convention. Rather than using it to rid themselves of their noxious candidate, they used it to enthusiastically endorse him.

Never forget, like history will never forget, that the Republican Party brought this plague down on themselves and the rest of the nation.

"The GOP is fully and unapologetically the party of Trump
"Trump’s Republican critics were either absent from the convention, or fully converted. The most notable convert to Trump’s cause: his new running mate, Ohio Sen. J.D. Vance, who’d once called Trump “noxious” and said he was leading the white working class to a “dark place.” Several of Trump’s former rivals for the nomination, including former United Nations Ambassador Nikki Haley - who earlier this year said she felt “no need to kiss the ring” - appeared on stage and gave speeches endorsing Trump." https://www.npr.org/2024/07/19/nx-s1-5045569/rnc-trump-republican-convention-gop-milwaukee-election-2024

08/19/24 03:23 PM

#17384

Thanks for the posts Jack. I heard from a leader of the Haley voters for Harris, that they were not really supporting her as much as against Trump when she was in the race, but maybe some were strong for her. This leader of the group said that they are not bound by her support of Donald Trump and are looking for a candidate who supports democracy. I was particularly turned off to hearing Haley now counselling Trump on how to behave to win the election. I feel like she is another one who has sold her soul to Trump and done a 180 on her stances while she was running when she talked of the dangers of Trump. Now he is fine to elect according to her. What happenedt to her support for Ukraine against Russia, etc. Its really sad to listen to the one other Presidential candidate, Donald Trump, whose comments are mostly that he thinks he looks better then Harris and that she is not smart and her laugh according to him is awful. Then how can the public tolerate his disdain for the military. He talk of the suckers and loses and that John McCain is no good as he was captured and so on and so on. Its hard to believe that he is even close in the running for President. Love, Joanie

08/20/24 05:56 AM

#17385

Joan Ruggles (Young)

I asked our Trump supporters on the forum to give us some insights on their choice. So far no responses. So can I ask them to comment about a few recent statements by him?

He says rising sea levels will create more beachfront property. But wait, if sea levels are rising due to climate change doesn’t that create less beachfront property instead of more? Imagine an island. The water rises, the shoreline reduces.

What about tariffs? He doesn’t understand that when he imposes tariffs on Chinese imports, WE are the ones who pay the tariffs, not China. I didn't create this concept. Many many economists have said so. Can’t some advisor explain it to him in simple language and preferably with a chart? He likes charts.

What’s “nuclear warming”? The other day he said Global Warming was not a threat, but Nuclear Warming was. Huh?

Trump claims “I’m much better looking than her” when talking about Kamala Harris. Anybody want to vote on that opinion?

About Harris. “Nobody really knows her last name. If you ask people, do you know what her last name is, nobody has any idea what it is Harris. It’s like Harris. I don’t know, how the hell did this happen?” What the hell is he talking about???

Harris, who was bussed to school when she was in first grade because she was black but according to Trump didn't realize until recently that she was black.

Trump claims there will be a “rigged” Democratic convention and “rigged” election before either has happened.

I’d love to hear how our forum veterans feel about what Trump said about the Congressional Medal. When talking about giving GOP mega-MAGA-donor Miriam Adelson the Medal of Freedom, the nation’s top civilian honor, he said it is “actually, much better than the Congressional Medal of Honor because everyone (who) gets the Congressional Medal of Honor, that’s soldiers. They’re either in very bad shape because they’ve been hit so many times by bullets, or they’re dead.” He added “she’s still alive and beautiful” (his highest compliment to a woman) But she got a better medal than the soldiers who actually served our country instead of just donated to him.

Also vets, how do you feel about Trump's stated feeling that he doesn’t like veterans in wheelchairs cause it’s not a good look.

Anybody beside me think that when Trump talks about Hannibal Lecter and insane asylums, he really thinks immigrants who come here for political asylum are really coming from insane asylums? Is he really THAT confused/stupid? Why does he bring up Hannibal Lecter only when talking about immigrants?

It appears that members of the Republican Party run for government office in spite of the fact that they want to abolish government. My husband says it would be like If I was in charge of the National Football League, something I care nothing about and wouldn’t mind if it disappeared.

An observation about Trump (doesn’t take a genius to figure out) He projects. He projects feelings he has onto others Ex: Biden is furious with Harris for becoming the candidate. He projects his fears Ex: Electric boats and shark attacks. He projects what he knows about himself. Ex: "The Biden crime family." He projects his ignorance. Ex: Harris only recently found out she's black. Another ignorance Ex: "The ocean’s gonna rise one eighth of an inch over the next 400 years" Another ignorance Ex: Re: immigration: "You have millions of people coming in a month" “I believe it’s over 20 million people came into our country (during Biden), many coming from jails, from prisons, from mental institutions, or a bigger version of that is insane asylums.”

Personally, I LOVE Kamala's laugh and especially the JOY she has brought to this formerly sad election!!! Have you ever heard Trump laugh?? Does he know how?

Just heard this on a video of Trump from the convention "I don't care about you I just want your vote. I don't care". Cute joke from a guy running to be the most powerful man in the world!

08/20/24 09:25 AM

#17386

Janet Lowry (Deal)

All. I can say is thanks, Joan. And I waiting to hear some responses.

08/20/24 11:19 AM

#17387