Guard Dog

Possible ways to move forward w/o Biden: https://newrepublic.com/article/157556/democrats-arent-stuck-joe-biden https://jacobinmag.com/2020/05/joe-biden-democratic-party-presidential-primary-sanders

So the IRS has been sending stimulus checks to people years dead: https://abc7news.com/finance/treasury-dept-wants-stimulus-money-back-from-dead-recipients/6154344/ They have also sent small business bailout money to such worthy small business as Harvard University (received $12.4M despite controlling a $34B trust), the Los Angeles Lakers (they make $49M annually just in merchandise licensing alone, not counting actual operations earning) and General Electric (whose 1Q earning thus year were $2.98B). Now.. they DID send that money back. But only after it was revealed in the press that it happened. But the pizza place in Covington TN just announced they cannot re-open and will be gone after 43 years. They didn't get a goddamned nickel. The US Federal government can't even give away money competently. But this same government told us in the last administration they could lower the temperature of the earth if we just paid them more taxes. The misplaced faith of people everywhere to cede more of their rights and money to governments everywhere in exchange for empty promises would be comical if it wasn't so f-----g sad.

New gun control coming to Canada. https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/trudeau-gun-control-measures-ban-1.5552131 But... in true Canadian fashion they are being nice about it. They will wait two full years before they send men with guns to kick down your door and take your guns. And while they will still beat the absolute f--k out of you in the process, and likely kill all your pets too, at the very least they won't shoot your children like they do here in the US. So there is that.

‘Safe’ Becomes Rural Tourism Pitch to a Distancing Public NO! No dammit! People who live in rural areas moved there to get away from these f-----s! Do NOT go inviting them out here now!

@Bartimaeus Primary voting is problematic for me because of my party affiliation. But you are absolutely correct in saying better candidates run than end up on the ballot. Steve Bullock and Tulsi Gabbard were both Democrat candidates I would have supported. The former enthusiastically, the latter less so but she would have gotten my vote. In '16 I would have voted for either Rand Paul or Jeb Bush without reservation. I also would have voted for James Webb on the Democrat side. There are intelligent, reasonable and pragmatic candidates in every primary. Usually not many and they are usually DOA at the first debate. As for the so called false equivalency, the United States is just shy of $25T in debt. It is increasing at a rate of $15k per second. Four years ago it was spending $12k per second. Is that going to get better or worse following the 2020 Election? No matter who wins? I think you know the answer. There is no difference. Every President since George HW Bush has presided over an erosion of civil liberty. We already know Trump is not bucking that trend. Is there anything in Joe Biden's history to suggest we might? There is not. Every President since Woodrow Wilson has usurped powers that rightfully belong to Congress., State Government, or just never existed prior to them doing it. Every. One. We already know Trump has during this virus mess and in abusing Tariff power that the President does not have. Is there anything about Biden's 40 years in public service to suggest he won't. There is not. I'm sorry but the equivalency is anything but false.

I was really referring to within our lifetimes. As plagues go Corona ain't got a thing on some of the past outbreaks.

Former Dolphins coach and HoF Don Shula passed away at 90: https://www.msn.com/en-us/sports/nfl/winningest-head-coach-in-nfl-history-don-shula-passes-away-at-90/ar-BB13zLfd?ocid=spartanntp There was a great quote attributed to Bum Phillips about Shula: "He could take his and beat yours. Then take yours and beat his." So, I jut looked that up and it turns out Phillips actually said that about Bear Bryant.

Realistically? Probably will not. But it HAS happened. In 2000 George W Bush won Florida, and the Presidency by 512 votes. One state tipped the balance. Ralph Nader running as the Green Candidate got 97k + votes in Florida. The thinking is if just 513 of those voters had chosen Gore history changes. Probably less than most folks want to admit... but it would be a little different. In 1992 Ross Perot was believed to have taken votes from George HW Bush enough to have cost him 47 electoral votes. It would not have changed the outcome of the election, but it would have been close. Ditto in 2016 when Gary Johnson won almost 200k votes in Michigan and the state was decided by less than 62k votes. Here is the problem with this whole line of thinking. It is presuming the third party candidates are "stealing votes" that rightfully belong to the donkeys or elephants. It's assuming that third party voters are just angry democrats or republicans casting protest votes. It fails to acknowledge that the LP, Green Party, and others might have a message that actually appeals to a growing minority of the electorate. Speaking only for myself the presumption of "protest votes" is entirely untrue. Had Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump been the only names on my ballot in 2016 I still would not have voted for either of them. In the minds of the Democrats ( and a good many folks online like @Gromnir & @Bartimaeus ) any voter that is disgusted with Trump's BS is obligated to help defeat him by voting for a slightly less repulsive, slightly less harmful Joe Biden. I reject that notion outright.

critics fear Amash's Libertarian bid may ensure a Trump win If the election came down to just me. Trump and Biden were in a dead tie and my one vote turned the election I'd still vote for Amash. Why? Because f--k them. That's why.

Is the world a more f----d up place now? Or, was it always completely f---d up and we're just more aware of it now? Bah. What's the f-----g difference. We all have a lot to drink about.

I went to Kroger and the Covington package store today. It's only the second time I've left home in six weeks. Other than on foot that is. Kroger was fully stocked and not crowded I'm please to say. Not that I needed much. The liquor store was the opposite. The best bourbon they had was Maker's Mark. It's OK, I guess. I made a pitcher of whiskey sour using that, lemon juice, corn syrup, and grenadine. You are supposed to garnish that s--t with orange peel or lemon wedges. But I'm the only one here. Who the f--k am I trying to impress? I'm sitting on the porch smoking a full rack of beef ribs and power drinking. Some days you just need to get trashed.

Hmmmm looks like I've been posting in the wrong thread. I'll let one of the mods clean that up! Sorry about that!

@ShadySands @Volourn @Leferd

@Gfted1 you have inspired me. Today I'm walking down to the river to go fishing. Maybe I'll find some grubs, nightcrawlers, or crickets along the way to use for bait. If not the good ol' beetle spin never fails. Well... sometimes it does.

This is, as you already gathered, political theater. If such a law actually existed the first time it was applied the State AG would sue in Federal Court and seek and injunction. There is a 99% chance the injunction is granted. Then the legal wrangling would begin until there is one of three outcomes. The SCOTUS eventually decides it It gets dropped because one side or the other or both change political party control It becomes moot for one reason or another.

I picked about a half a bucket full of strawberries in the garden. I've got sugar, water, lemon juice and 3 glass mason jars out. Time to make preserves

Doh! Reading comprehension fail!

The governor of Maryland is ordering 500k Maryland National Guard troops to protect the State's COVID-19 test kit from the Federal Government! https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-8276045/Maryland-governor-using-National-Guard-protect-tests-federal-government.html

Bah. everyone should just go back to where they came from. EVERYONE! That means we're all moving to Tanzania. Hmmm I wonder if Rosetta Stone sells a Swahili tutorial? Gotta assimilate once we all get there.