Home » Open thread 9/23/2024

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Open thread 9/23/2024 — 41 Comments

  1. I’m glad I don’t over think things, I would be a basket case. Instead, it’s kind of Ah Sh–, now what.

  2. I’m glad I don’t over think things,… — shirehome

    Ha! One of my bigger fears over the last couple of years is that I might become frozen in indecision and thereby doing little or nothing. So one of my current principles (since I know my usual MO is to over think) is to under think things. There may have been a few things at this point that I regret doing or saying, but not much, and no damaging consequences yet.

  3. Inaction is also a choice, and also has consequences. Deliberately choosing inaction is wise, in many cases, but drifting into inaction as a habit is very unwise, and so is assuming that the consequences of inaction do not need to be thought through every bit as carefully as the consequences of action.

  4. @Richard F Cook:If this is true we deserve exactly what we get.

    It’s not based on much. He contradicts himself, he says he only looks at the same 13 things every time and then a lot of the reasons he gives are about things only true in this one election (Trump’s felony convictions, how Harris “won” the nomination). It’s being amplified only because he’s predicting Harris to win. If he wasn’t, it would be a hit piece or there’d be no coverage.

    I too predict Harris to win because of who will be counting the ballots in MI, PA, and WI and in what way they will be counting them. Another reason to amplify Lichtman’s prediction is explain the Fortification in advance with something else. They’ve already deployed the “votes will take a long time to count” narrative.

  5. “We’re not seeking to destabilize the region.”

    Hahahahaha

    Right!

    And one can judge this by means of the pacific activation of the terrorist proxy armies pacifically deployed surrounding and focused on pacifically assaulting the warlike Israeli fiend complex.

    QED

  6. Evil Trump questioning Kamala race? Watching a January 2024 repeat of game show “Split Second.” Question is “who is first South Asian vice president?”.

    Guess who? Apparently, Kamala identified as South Asian in January, but more electable if she is Black today.

  7. Overthinking: I’ve lived with a perfectionist for over 40 years. My wife takes forever to decide how to do something, and then it literally has to be perfect. Needless to say we don’t work well together on projects. I’m a “looks good enough” and if I can’t see it nobody else will either. She spots the tiniest imperfection and it has to be fixed.

    Then, I tend to think of many paths in any situation, and try to find the worst case scenarios, thus being a pessimist in general. My perfectionist wife, however, assumes all will work out fine, and is much more of an optimist. Go figure LOL.

  8. 2016 I had been for Cruz or Rubio, but the pressure for Trump, and his eventual selection as the Republican presidential candidate won me over.

    Trump’s loss in 2020 shocked me. Guess I had been caught up in the ‘TrumpMania’ and/or what I now call the REP’s version of TDS.

    2020-2024 gave me time to recover from the shock of Trump losing in 2020, and to reflect on his earlier 4-years in Office. At one point in 2024—I noticed a bookmark to The New Neo blog. Don’t know when I bookmarked it!? Possibly saw neo make a comment on another blog – liked it, so clicked the avatar and added the bookmark, which I have often done elsewhere.

    Posted about this story yesterday: Trump: Will Not Run Again If He Loses in November, ‘That Will Be It’ – said “That’s a relief…” since I had been wondering if he would run in 2028.

    This morning I see this: Trump tells supporters ‘you’ll never see me again’ if he loses to Biden – Sep 20, 2020 (I used Epic browser to get past the Business Insider paywall):

    “If I lose to him, I don’t know what I’m going to do. I will never speak to you again,” Trump told the attendees at the rally. “You’ll never see me again.”

    Trump made similar remarks in 2016 when he rivaled Hillary Clinton for the presidency.

    “I don’t think I’m going to lose, but if I do, I don’t think you’re ever going to see me again, folks,” Trump said at a Maryland rally in April 2016. “I think I’ll go to Turnberry and play golf or something.”

    So, am now back to wondering if Trump will run in 2028 if he loses this year. Someone at Power Line suggested that a Harris win in 2024 might be the best thing for the GOP in 2028 – meaning she will have things so screwed up that DEMs could lose it all in 2028. Can’t recall what the post said about Trump, but he needs to be done this time—win or lose, IMHO.

    Am relaxed about this Presidential Election, since I will not vote for either candidate, and am now hoping the GOP gains a solid majority in the Senate. Guess the GOP has already blown control of the House, but I can still hope for the best there also.

  9. I attribute some anxiety to having played a lot of chess. Always have to wonder “what if I move here, and he moves there?”

    Take it 3,4, 5 moves out, and that what-happens–if attitude intrudes on everyday life.

    When learning kitchen remodeling, was standing with power saw in hand contemplating what steps to take to modify cabinet to accept larger double oven.
    Boss comes in, asks what am I doing? Takes the saw and makes a slice and says, “Now finish it”. A good lesson, sometimes, just do it.

  10. That’s thoughtful of the DOJ to publicize that someone is offering money for Trump’s head.

  11. Inaction is also a choice, and also has consequences. Deliberately choosing inaction is wise, in many cases,

    There is an old saying about Intensive Care Units. “Don’t just do something; stand there !”

    Another, contrary, saying is “Nobody should be allowed to die without a trial of steroids.”

    Both are satirical.

  12. Karmi wrote: “Am relaxed about this Presidential Election, since I will not vote for either candidate, and am now hoping the GOP gains a solid majority in the Senate.”

    Karmi, I have trouble squaring this approach with the known power of the modern presidency. Look just at illegal immigration since 2021. That is fully controlled (or not) by the administration in power. Are you comfortable with the possible scenario in 2028 if this administration stays in power? Another 10+ million illegal entrants, completely unvetted, flooding in from the 3rd world looking for, and demanding (and receiving from a Harris administration) public assistance?

    Immigration is just one aspect of government that is run through executive authority. The list is too long to bring up in a simple comment, but you are, I’m certain, aware of that nearly inexhaustible list.

    We as a nation are approaching a tipping point. Not voting IS voting, and not voting for the Republican alternative, no matter what you personally think of him, is a vote for all of the damage of the past 3+ years to expand to a honestly frightening level.

  13. I had a Battalion Commander that used to say ” Perfection is the enemy of good enough. ” I think the context was when waiting on Operations Orders being written by the Staff Officers. He used to say something along the lines of it does no good if the orders are not written until after the operation starts.
    Of course, the other saying in the military was ” The plan only survives until first contact with the enemy.”
    Of course you want to “Always gain and maintain the initiative.” Make the enemy react to you, not the other way around.

  14. @ Telemachus

    Yeah, appreciate your points, but I fell for the Trump ‘Chicken Little‘ routine back in 2016. Sorry, but I’m not buying it anymore.

    Immigration has been an issue since before I became political in 2002—first vote ever was in the mid-terms. Bush couldn’t fix it, and Trump couldn’t fix it. Bush had 8-years & Trump had 4.

    Trump lost me this time when he pick pro-Russia Vance. Trump already hated Ukraine for not ratting out Joe Biden for him, and then he selected Vance.

    Ukraine must continue being supported by NATO, EU, America, England, and any others who want to stop Russian aggression.

    Am a NPA (No Party Affiliation) voter in Florida ever since Republicans allowed GW Bush to go out on a limb—and then sawed it off behind him. I don’t like either party…will not vote for either of the sorry Presidential candidates this year.

  15. Dan Bongino today tells us that his souce on the SS team tells him that their “communications system has been compromised.”

    Other actors are receiving intel on President Trump’s movements.

    Bongino says the FBI knows it too — and that this story of SS failure will soon become a news story

    “Someone or some system has been compromised,” he says. Trump is not safe even if those working his security detail are polygraphed and screened again.

    http://www.bingino.com

    Catherine Herridge (ho is a solide reporter) has a report on James Comey coming. Rep. Comey knows something.

    Bongino plays a recent clip by Mike Benz — he says the second shooter’s “recruitment” CV smells of a CIA intelligence plot.

  16. They could have found a more suitable candidate no?

    This bum with no apparent resources
    As thriller material it doesnt really work

  17. General Maurice Gamelin, who ran the French Army prior to the invasion of 1940 (and during the first part of the resulting campaign) frustrated his subordinates by his indecisiveness. At one point, they sent him a note that said:

    “The failure to make a decision changes the course of future events just as surely as does the making of a decision”

  18. Vance is against no win wars like we discovered in 2021 ‘war what is it good for’ in the final analysis eastwood who was enlisted in korea was not very sanguine by the time vietnam came around the time of kellys war he celebrates those who fight it like both sides of the pacific war and most recently chris kyle but those who play these games as pawns and have no consequences to them

  19. Karmi, about the only thing I agree with you is the support of Ukraine. This is an issue that Rep. just do not understand. And, it is an issue that I do not support Trump on. It would be a big mistake if we stopped our support.

  20. SHIREHOME

    Fortunately, a lot of REPs agree on how important supporting Ukraine is. I see some here are accusing Zelensky of ‘campaigning against Trump and Vance‘ because he is over here begging for weapons that he can strike deeper into Russia with—against military targets.

    He is here—begging for help in the survival of his nation, in a war that Russia started. Then he is accused by some Trump supporting REPs of ‘campaigning against Trump and Vance‘.

    Thanks for that input, SHIREHOME!

  21. Zelensky made specific negative comments about Trump and Vance in addition to “asking for weapons.” If he had focused on the second and not on political statements about the US presidential election he would not be getting this criticism.

    We should remember that it was Biden whose first reaction to the Russian invasion was to offer Zelensky a ride out of the country. Further, he has, for the 2.5 years of the war, given Ukraine just enough ammo and rules of engagement to enable Ukraine to survive, mostly, but not to win. Now, with the drones, Ukraine is able to bypass US restrictions and hit Russian airfields, ammo storage, and logistical routes not just in Ukraine but in Russia. Ukraine is doing an end around Biden.

  22. Re: Anxiety

    Fritz Perls, founder of Gestalt Therapy, famously defined “anxiety” as “excitement without oxygen.” Meaning that anxiety and excitement are closely related emotional states but with different physiological responses.

    Excitement is typically an energizing, positive state that feels manageable, whereas anxiety arises when we experience excitement or arousal but constrict our breathing, leading to tension. By breathing fully and embracing the physiological sensations of excitement, Perls suggested, we can transform anxiety into something more constructive and less overwhelming.

    Maybe it’s not entirely that simple, but physiology — how one uses one’s body — is an important factor in psychological state.

    Take some deep breaths. Drink a glass of water. These can make a difference in how one thinks and feels and therefore the results one gets.

    Recall how Jordan Peterson recommends the importance of standing up straight, shoulders back.

    Like a strong, confident lobster…

    –Jordan Peterson, “Lobster lesson — Stand up straight with your shoulders back”
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ACt5D6xVRx8

  23. Deep breaths and water sound like good advice, along with the admonition “Don’t panic!”

    Perhaps an addendum to Huxley’s comment is:
    Stress is what you experience when you are faced with a challenge that you know how to address and presumably surmount.

    Distress is when you don’t have a clue.

  24. SHIREHOME,
    I have 2 tea mugs. One is plain white and says; ‘Wait! Let me overthink this.’
    The other one is covered in flowers with a quote around the inner rim; ‘Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow…’ Matt 6:28
    Maybe I can find a third with ‘Ah Sh-, now what?’
    That should about cover all the possibilities.

  25. Sounds like Kimberly Guilfoyle won’t be a vengeful woman by trying to ruin former president Trump’s chances of winning.

    Kimberly Guilfoyle could dump Don Trump Jr. over ‘dalliance’ if Trump loses, political experts predict

    Kimberly Guilfoyle has always been “strategic” in how she “charts” her personal life and career in politics, which means that she will “swallow her pride,” “put a big smile on” and bide her time following a report alleging that her fiancée, Donald Trump Jr., has been cheating on her with a Palm Beach socialite.

    “If Trump wins, she stays with Don Jr.” Palmeri told McCain. “If Trump loses, watch Kimberly chart her own path.”

    Had wondered if she would try to upset the ‘October Cart‘…

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