[Azath Vitr (D'ivers]

'Trump Has Financial Interest in COVID-19 Drugmaker: NYT

The president's family trusts all invest in a mutual fund whose largest holding is the drugmaker of Plaquenil, the brand-name version of hydroxychloroquine.'

https://www.thedaily...cturer?ref=home

This post has been edited by Azath Vitr (D'ivers: 08 April 2020 - 12:19 AM

[Aptorian]

Bernie Sanders is out of the Democratic primary:

https://edition.cnn....-out/index.html

Shame. I have little faith in Biden as a Progressive President. Hell, I have doubts he has the strength for a full term. He can probably beat Trump but in a debate I fear he'll stumble and fumble and Trump will pounce on him.

I was looking forward to Sanders spitting fire at Trump in a national debate.

This post has been edited by Aptorian: 08 April 2020 - 03:41 PM

[Mentalist]

That's a shame. I have no faith in Biden's ability to rally enough support to beat Trump. Sorry, southern neighbours, but I'll have to predict 4 more years of the orange clown.

I look forward to being proven wrong, ofc.

[Lady Bliss]

Elizabeth Warren is the smartest choice if he wants to win over her supporters and Bernie’s. Also imagine the debate between Warren and Pence? She’d kick him in the dick, then he’d run off crying to Mother.

[Malankazooie]

Colorado Governor Jared Polis, a democrat who has been critical of Donald Trump in the past:

"Mr. President, we are in dire need of ventilators"

Trump:

<no reply> *crickets-chirping

Senator Cory Gardner, a republican and Trump boot licker, who supports everything Trump does and is running for reelection for his Senate seat:

"Apologies for the distraction dear leader, but in your omnipotent grace, can you bless the state of Colorado with 100 ventilators?"

Trump:

"So let it be written, so let it be done. Now bathe yourself in oils and fragrance, and prostrate yourself before me."

[QuickTidal]

Briar King, on 08 April 2020 - 04:20 PM, said:

Well that’s some good news to wake up to! Bernie out! Cool.

You know I loves ya BK, but I feel bad because this was literally the only person in the race remaining who had your best interests as an individual American at heart, the most obvious of which is the universal health care that all the other western countries on the planet have and take for granted (Ex. I cannot imagine having to pay for health care...the only time I've ever had to in my life was when we paid for parking both times my wife gave brith...about $40 each time)

I wonder what bothered you about Bernie to reject him so hard...all the stuff he was espousing were not really radical and in a lot of cases was simply the same stuff the rest of the world already has.

[Obdigore]

Lady Bliss, on 08 April 2020 - 05:17 PM, said:

Elizabeth Warren is the smartest choice if he wants to win over her supporters and Bernie’s. Also imagine the debate between Warren and Pence? She’d kick him in the dick, then he’d run off crying to Mother.

A lot of people are suggesting Kamala Harris is going to be his VP. Which will turn off a lot of Bernie and Warren supporters, imo. I've seen joking suggestions that hes going to pick Hillary Clinton, because the DNC isn't tanking this election enough, and another one that he wants to pick Michelle Obama just to piss off trump supporters.

[Obdigore]

Aptorian, on 08 April 2020 - 03:40 PM, said:

Shame. I have little faith in Biden as a Progressive President. Hell, I have doubts he has the strength for a full term. He can probably beat Trump but in a debate I fear he'll stumble and fumble and Trump will pounce on him.

Biden is sundowning. Trump has a tennous at best grip on reality. These debates are going to be two old men arguing past each other.

[Malankazooie]

A new criteria should be introduced to determine the winner. A doctor should examine Biden and Trump in a men's country club locker room after a round of golf. The one who's ball sack hangs lower should be deemed to old to be president.

[Slow Ben]

QuickTidal, on 09 April 2020 - 02:54 PM, said:

Briar King, on 08 April 2020 - 04:20 PM, said:

Well that’s some good news to wake up to! Bernie out! Cool.

You know I loves ya BK, but I feel bad because this was literally the only person in the race remaining who had your best interests as an individual American at heart, the most obvious of which is the universal health care that all the other western countries on the planet have and take for granted (Ex. I cannot imagine having to pay for health care...the only time I've ever had to in my life was when we paid for parking both times my wife gave brith...about $40 each time)

I wonder what bothered you about Bernie to reject him so hard...all the stuff he was espousing were not really radical and in a lot of cases was simply the same stuff the rest of the world already has.

It’s kind of a trademark of most modern republicans to vote against their own interests.

[Malankazooie]

Sounds familiar, I wonder were I heard that before? *friendly-elbow-to-ribs ...wink wink nudge nudge

This post has been edited by Malankazooie: 09 April 2020 - 05:29 PM

[Aptorian]

Never go full Nico.

[Puck]

Briar King, on 09 April 2020 - 10:11 PM, said:

Slow Ben, on 09 April 2020 - 05:21 PM, said:

QuickTidal, on 09 April 2020 - 02:54 PM, said:

Briar King, on 08 April 2020 - 04:20 PM, said:

Well that’s some good news to wake up to! Bernie out! Cool.

You know I loves ya BK, but I feel bad because this was literally the only person in the race remaining who had your best interests as an individual American at heart, the most obvious of which is the universal health care that all the other western countries on the planet have and take for granted (Ex. I cannot imagine having to pay for health care...the only time I've ever had to in my life was when we paid for parking both times my wife gave brith...about $40 each time)

I wonder what bothered you about Bernie to reject him so hard...all the stuff he was espousing were not really radical and in a lot of cases was simply the same stuff the rest of the world already has.

It’s kind of a trademark of most modern republicans to vote against their own interests.

Extremely noble goal yet he is a cranky old fuck that imo can’t really engage people with any kind of charm who may even if you believe ole gal Warren is shitting on the notion of a female president. I don’t believe either one and I would have called her a sellout if he got the nom with her on ticket. I also have something else I’ve been thinking about for a few months but I ll keep that rabbit hole dive to myself and not pull a glorious Nico move.

I'm truly, genuinely curious: why is it more important for you for your potential president to be charming than to be competent?

A country shouldn't be handled the same way as a TV show. Then again, I actually gained more respect for some German politicians during this crisis. They may have the charm of week-old pancakes but there's sure sense coming out of their mouths and it's been a breath of fresh air compared to the shit-slinging we'd been listening to before the pandemic hit. Our minister of health showed integrity by knowing the distinction between personal morals and democracy. Our right-wing party is about to possibly slit apart due to having nothing constructive to contribute since no one's listening to catch phrases. Loving it. So may be biased in my question, but still. I'm curious.

[Cause]

Charming is part of being competent, Obama was an orator, even when you disagreed with him he could speak about his views in such a way that you would listen. You would contemplate his view. Trump by contrast for me and many others has speech patterns so painful to listen to that even when he speaks sense I want to disagree with him, He also has no credibility left, if he said the sky was blue I would need to go outside and make sure it’s still true, Biden is also u fortunately not a master orator, is it the be all and end all of being a god president? No but it certainly helps. The man says outrageous things, confuses things he shouldn’t and every time he does so he erodes his credibility and weakens his impression of competence, seeming is being, if he is very competent behind closed doors but a bafoon in public that’s a problem.

As people have said the debates between trump and Biden will be Hilarious and not in a good way.

[Azath Vitr (D'ivers]

Many people in the United States drastically over-estimate the value of 'faith', 'confidence', facile attention....

A great orator can, perhaps, not only grab the attention and provide entertainment, but lead audiences to think and change for the better (Kennedy, Obama). That's different from being charming. Many people found Dubya charming.

[Puck]

I get all of that, but charm OVER competence? Makes no sense, since whatever is coming out of such a hypothetical person may be nice to listen to, but would have no substance. Obama is, imo, actually not a good example since he is both: charming AND competent, and that competence was what allowed him to be so eloquent, not the other way around. Trump is the opposite. Hard to argue for him having nothing to draw people in considering his amount of die-hard voters. But the fact remains that he talks nice all day and knows shit all.

My point is, for any charm or oratory skills to be actually useful, there should be some kind of baseline competence to back it up and something that is actually worth saying. Then it's absolutely a plus.

This post has been edited by Puck: 11 April 2020 - 12:11 PM

[Macros]

In today's world alas charm is more important that competence.

Tony Blair would have wiped the floor with Bojo, because like his policies and what he did or not, he was quite good at charming an audience. Labour lost because as much as I like what Corbyn stood for (on some issues, not Europe) he's cardboard, and was an easy target for the media to tear down, zero cult of personality

Ergo, if you want trump out at all costs, get in a charming mother fucker

[Gorefest]

More charming than Trump? Geez, that's a task. The man is oozing charm and personality. Who wouldn't love to get grabbed by the pussy? I can see how he charmed his way in to office. The democrats are screwed if they have to counter such a monumental charm offensive. Never seen a more charming American than dear Donald. I wish he was my granddad. Who wouldn't want such a lovable racist mysoginistic rogue as your pater familias? And with his own hair still as well. Eloquence personified.




Just to be clear, I am aiming for a sarcastic undertone. Not sure if it came through well enough so I thought I'd clarify.

[Gorefest]

The man is an effing criminal, people. Plain and simple. The US president is a crook right out of the Sopranos. It wouldn't surprise me if he has a poster of Don Corleone above his bed.

[Azath Vitr (D'ivers]

Gorefest, on 11 April 2020 - 04:40 PM, said:

The man is an effing criminal, people. Plain and simple. The US president is a crook right out of the Sopranos. It wouldn't surprise me if he has a poster of Don Corleone above his bed.

'Ivana Trump told her lawyer Michael Kennedy that from time to time her husband reads a book of Hitler's collected speeches, My New Order, which he keeps in a cabinet by his bed'

Trump definitely has charisma, of sorts.

https://www.business...-his-bed-2015-8

This post has been edited by Azath Vitr (D'ivers: 11 April 2020 - 04:57 PM