Guard Dog

One man's opinion the 2020 election will be close: https://thehill.com/homenews/campaign/454323-top-strategist-projects-narrow-electoral-college-victory-for-democrats You know what would be funny as hell? Trump wins the popular vote, loses the electoral vote.... except: the three states that have changed their elector selection to the popular vote have to give their electors to him and THAT pushes him over the top. THAT would be funny as hell. Maybe then the Democrats will STFU about the electoral system.

OK, spending deficits are bad. But the real measure is debt. In 2009 on the day he was sworn in the US debt was $10.6T. The day he left office it was $20T (19.947 actually). He nearly doubled it. It also bears mentioning that through much of his second term the US did not have a set budget. Just a continuing succession of spending resolutions. I really don't know why I'm bothering to even respond to this. It's not like you are someone with whom a rational discussion can be had. There are no good Presidents in recent memory. Clinton's surplus came as a result of a Republican congress who literally shut the government down over excessive spending. Would that that Republican Party were still around. Well, they are not. Now it's spend more, and spend more faster. Edit: Gromnir beat me to it by a minute

RIP Tea Party movement. https://www.cnn.com/2019/07/23/politics/debt-deal-budget-ceiling/index.html

According to this poll 69% of Americans don't trust their government or political leaders. 64% don't trust the media: https://news.yahoo.com/us-mistrust-rise-government-seen-worst-poll-174533655.html Just when I get to thinking we're lost a poll like this come along and restores a little hope. Gotta get those numbers up a little, at least over 70% on each. Because such things should NOT be trusted because they are not trustworthy.

Too bad. We'd have offered them a great deal on the real thing

Tick tock tick tock tick tock....

I thoroughly enjoyed both PoE and Deadfire. I certainly hope we haven't seen the last of that IP. It was a RPG for RPG fans. A love letter to days and games gone by. Even if something like that does not have a future it was well worth the time and money spent.

I'm sure there is some of that too but not what I was getting at.

Hmmm... maybe, maybe not. All the is known is they were associated n the '90's and sometime in the late '90's early 2000's they had some kind of falling out that led to Epstein being banned from Mar Lago. Rumor has it Epstein raped/propositioned/etc on of the staff but no one knows. Bill Clinton is much more at risk from Epstein because he was a frequent guest up until recently. Hard to say what comes of this. Usually Democrats won't eat their own. They might sacrifice Clinton to get Trump if the choice s presented. We'll have to wait and see on this one

I don't think Trump is in any real danger of impeachment. Not now anyway. While he has been a bad actor nothing rises to "high crimes and misdemeanors" IMO. Such an action would utterly destroy the Dems shots at 2020 unless they had a literal smoking gun. And here is the thing: if they proceed anyway no president will ever be safe again facing a hostile congress. Impeachment proceeding will begin the day after the Congress is sworn in beginning a never ending tit-for-tat until we really do become the laughingstock banana republic some people already think we are.

I'll buy that. Being in elected office certainly does not indicate any kind of advanced intelligence or understanding. But preparing for economiclypse isn't rocket science. I've been giving advice for that very thing for years here and other boards I participate in. Get out/Stay out of unnecessary debt. Save money if you want to make investment/purchases. Diversify your investments. No more than 30% of your portfolio should be stocks/securities. Avoid government bonds. Interest on them sucks anyway. Invest in things not tied to any one currency. Commodities are good. Real estate is better Buy a gun and become proficient in it's use. Have a decent store of ammunition for it. Shotguns are the best choice for home defense for people not into firearms IMO. Keep at least two weeks of non perishable food on hand. Personally I could go a year on what I have if I needed to. Take whatever steps you think are needed for the security of your home and family. Good locks, eliminate blind spots, shatter proof windows, etc. Crypto-Currency. Know what it is and how it works. I'm not saying buy it. I did. I bought one bitcoin seven months ago. That is it. We'll see where we go with that. But you need to understand what it is.

Well, you already know what I think. https://www.usdebtclock.org/ This is just right this moment. If you count unfunded future obligations five years out the US is going to be negative more than $117,000,000,000,000. That is after monitization and accounting for future incomes via tax and other sources. And before the lefties start salivating about taxing our way out of this... you can't. If they seized every dollar of every asset of every American at the same spending rate the US will still be over $100 Trillion in the red in 7 years and a nation of beggars. We HAVE to cut spending in a BIG way, That means everything. Military, social benefits, everything. But we will never do that. So we are totally f----d. I think I'll order another 1k rounds of ammunition and some more mason jars for preserving food.

They go with what they know

Binge watching From the Earth to the Moon on HBO today. Too rainy outside to work anyway. I'm not going to do a fall garden this year, I already have an abundance of canned veggies. That really frees up my weekends.

No that's just what they WANT you to think!

Images from the LRO Orbiter thirty years later: Apollo 11 Apollo 12 Apollo 14 Apollo 15 Apollo 16 Apollo 17

Fifty years ago today: The actual landing took 19 minutes from undock to touchdown. and it was quite dramatic because they overshot their landing target and Armstrong had to take manual control and pick a landing site. So Apollo 11 landed with less descent fuel than any other mission. Apollo 14 was close by Sheppard was hot dogging it. This video is the cliff notes version. Just the important two minutes.

Wait, you were being serious? You know, 1861 seven states told the rest "so long" and seceded. Five more joined shortly after? Confexit? We fought a war over it. In other news many of the Dem candidates are spending campaign funds faster than they raise them: https://www.foxnews.com/politics/presidential-campaigns-burn-through-cash-faster-than-they-bring-it-in Well, they are better qualified to be President than I though. They will fit right into the role.

That's 'cause yer ah gahddamned noatherner!

Oh I wouldn't hold that against the voters much if I were him. Three of the four never held office before... much like someone else I could think of. You don't really know what you're going to get. Of course if they get re-elected, well, it IS on them after that. Much like someone else I could think of!

So the US says is shot down an Iranian drone. Iran says we shot down out own drone? https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/world/2019/07/19/iran-disputes-trump-claim-u-s-navy-destroyed-its-drone/1775051001/ Who is right? Who cares for the moment. Just imagine this exchange: *Phone rings in the situation room* USAF General: "Mr. President I'm sorry to report the Iranians have shot down another one of our drones" President Trump: "Very well" *hangs up* *phone rings again* Navy Admiral: "Mr. President I'm please to report we just shot down an Iranian drone!"

Ok, I just thought this was funny as hell

I'm sorry KP. James was right, I did miss your point. Got it now. I guess his hopeful optimism can be forgiven.