[worry]

I thought Paul Ryan was actually the one dude today who actually looked like a pro. No cheap tricks, a straightforward speech in favor of his party. I ain't saying it was Obama '04 electrifying, but relative to everyone else, he really rose to the top.

The evilest speech went to Mitch McConnell, who claimed Hillary would say/do/etc anything to be elected -- which might be damning if it wasn't McConnell saying it. He did the sleazy Hillary greatest hits (Benghazi is STILL their linchpin issue!), and then blamed Democrats broadly for Congressional gridlock, most specifically for failing to pass legislation on Zika. That's some Bizarro World logic.

[worry]

That lady just made me suspicious. If you own a farm and you know who every single one of your farmworkers is voting for -- and they're all voting for the candidate you support -- something fishy is going on. It's possible she just loves polling her employees for the sake of innocent curiosity, but it kinda strikes me as this kind of thing: http://www.rawstory....ent-and-donate/

[Terez]

I never watch the conventions live on TV, even when I'm following the election pretty closely. Convention speeches are so boring. The only one in recent years that wasn't was Bill's speech at the 2012 convention, but there's something about watching him work a crowd that makes my skin crawl, so... yeah.

[worry]

Uhhhh everyone speaking today is drunk. I don't mean that as a joke. It's insanity. Pam Bondi (Florida's AG) is the worst one so far.

[worry]

Don't worry, so far all you've missed is a bunch of drunk civilians, a Trump supporter saying outright that Obama "gave [Iran] the bomb", and Laura Ingraham throwing up a Nazi salute to end her remarks.

Spoiler

[worry]

I really wish I was hating, instead of providing a literal description of what has actually happened. There was something of a highlight when astronaut Eileen Collins came out to talk about NASA and deliberately skipped the part in her script endorsing Trump. http://www.businessi...nvention-2016-7

[amphibian]

Kanyemander West, on 21 July 2016 - 12:35 AM, said:

Uhhhh everyone speaking today is drunk. I don't mean that as a joke. It's insanity. Pam Bondi (Florida's AG) is the worst one so far.

There's reports of a norovirus going around there, so some people may be wacked out on meds to deal with it.

[Abyss]

amphibian, on 21 July 2016 - 01:50 AM, said:

Kanyemander West, on 21 July 2016 - 12:35 AM, said:

Uhhhh everyone speaking today is drunk. I don't mean that as a joke. It's insanity. Pam Bondi (Florida's AG) is the worst one so far.

There's reports of a norovirus going around there, so some people may be wacked out on meds to deal with it.

Your generousity of spirit is wonderous.

[Tiste Simeon]

Never thought I'd say this but good for you Ted Cruz!

[Tiste Simeon]

Kanyemander West, on 21 July 2016 - 01:12 AM, said:

Don't worry, so far all you've missed is a bunch of drunk civilians, a Trump supporter saying outright that Obama "gave [Iran] the bomb", and Laura Ingraham throwing up a Nazi salute to end her remarks.

Spoiler

The more I see that, the more it looks like she did just that, then remembered where she was...

[Macros]

type Laura Ingraham into google, guess what the first suggested search is?

[Terez]

Macros, on 21 July 2016 - 02:17 PM, said:

type Laura Ingraham into google, guess what the first suggested search is?

First "speech". Then "nazi".

[Cause]

Trump wants to leave Nato? Is he a moron!

[Tiste Simeon]

Cause, on 21 July 2016 - 08:03 PM, said:

Trump wants to leave Nato? Is he a moron!

I thought we established that months ago?

[Darkwatch]

It's telling that someone like Cruz can look like a good principled person (which he most definitely is not) when compared to Trump.

If I wanted to be optimistic I could say that the only good thing that's come out of all this is that the nasty underbelly of the U.S. and to a certain extent other western nations has been revealed in a clarity and resolution that we hadn't had before.
This at least opens the door to being able more effectively change things.

The downside is how demoralizing it all is. I have enough trouble dealing with racist family members, but dealing with something so incredibly ingrained and societal? Feels like chipping away at a glacier with a toothpick.

[Silencer]

Darkwatch, on 21 July 2016 - 09:40 PM, said:

It's telling that someone like Cruz can look like a good principled person (which he most definitely is not) when compared to Trump.

If I wanted to be optimistic I could say that the only good thing that's come out of all this is that the nasty underbelly of the U.S. and to a certain extent other western nations has been revealed in a clarity and resolution that we hadn't had before.
This at least opens the door to being able more effectively change things.

The downside is how demoralizing it all is. I have enough trouble dealing with racist family members, but dealing with something so incredibly ingrained and societal? Feels like chipping away at a glacier with a toothpick.

The problem with your optimism is that it's a double edged sword. Exposing it like this just means all those who like it are reinforced in their belief that they're not alone and are therefore less likely to change. So yeah. Not so great after all maybe?

[Terez]

I agree with Darkwatch. Exposure is the first step toward healing; this has been proven time and again in recent history (i.e. the last century or so). Some will double down on their beliefs knowing they have company; others will be forced to face the ugliness of their own beliefs. The younger generation in particular will benefit from the exposure.

[worry]

I do have some hope that Trump has reached his upper limit already, and the convention isn't going to grant him any more momentum. I've seen his speech tonight described as "Pat Buchanan"-like, which isn't exactly attracting the non-elderly. Remains to be seen if the Dem convention will give Clinton a boost, which seems likely. Maybe not with lefties (her VP shortlist is already making them feel ill), but with the middle probably so. Also I wonder if the debates are gonna be some of the most-watched in history. I kinda hope so, cuz there's no way Trump wins those.

[Cause]

Tiste Simeon, on 21 July 2016 - 08:55 PM, said:

Cause, on 21 July 2016 - 08:03 PM, said:

Trump wants to leave Nato? Is he a moron!

I thought we established that months ago?

There is stupid and then there is stupid.

He sounds like he wants to run a PMC. Charge Korea a fee for the use of his American marine mercenaries!

Though he also sounds like a mobster wanting to extort protection money from nato countries.

American military policy is not charity. It's governed by self interest. Forward deployments to extend its navy, missiles, missile shields and early warning etc. He acknowledges this in the same breath he demands money.

[Silencer]

Terez, on 21 July 2016 - 10:12 PM, said:

I agree with Darkwatch. Exposure is the first step toward healing; this has been proven time and again in recent history (i.e. the last century or so). Some will double down on their beliefs knowing they have company; others will be forced to face the ugliness of their own beliefs. The younger generation in particular will benefit from the exposure.

Like I said, so double-edged. I don't disagree with the original sentiment, but I do genuinely believe that very few people who are "forced to face the ugliness of their beliefs" will do any changing at all. Largely because I've never seen anyone who is that bigoted actually change. People on the fringe of bigotry maybe. But not the core (which makes up the bulk of the problem imo) and not the ones who are oblivious to their own prejudices (which is the rest of the problem, basically).

*shrug* I'm cynical though, especially when it comes to America and social progress.