@DoesntExist@mastodon.social cover
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DoesntExist

@DoesntExist@mastodon.social

The uncanniest of valleys is when Ron DeSantis smiles.

Editor. Writer. Game designer. "Best ex-husband ever!" Hot date.

Former academic. Degrees in #Anthropology #Classics #History and #LibraryScience

Currently #researching and #writing 3 #books and designing 2 #boardgames

Will comment on #politics #language #climate #racism #history #publishing #AI #IPLaw and random #nerd stuff

Follow for continued disappointment.

This profile is from a federated server and may be incomplete. For a complete list of posts, browse on the original instance.

DoesntExist , to random
@DoesntExist@mastodon.social avatar

I'm convinced that Forbes is just a mis-info rag.

This article argues that Ukraine's F-16s will be ineffective against Russian SU-34s glide bombing runs

Why? Because of the Russian S-400 air defenses will force the F-16s to fly low, shortening the range of their missiles, etc

Makes sense, right?

Except the US gave Ukraine a shitload of AGM-88 HARMs in 2022, which blow up the S-400, and the F-16 is the best platform ever devised to do that.

So WTF is Forbes on about?

https://www.forbes.com/sites/davidaxe/2024/06/17/ukraines-f-16-pilots-have-a-problem-theyll-have-to-fly-low-to-survive-and-that-impedes-their-missiles/

DoesntExist OP ,
@DoesntExist@mastodon.social avatar

@otownKim
Exactly. Someone is paying (Forbes is pay-to-play) to try to make it look like the F-16s are useless -- a waste of resources -- to a less-informed audience.

The article makes a plausible argument... if you don't understand the operational use of the F-16: i.e., it is not primarily an interceptor, used to knock bombers down.

It's an outstanding and proven SEAD (suppression of enemy air defense) tool, which will allow other aircraft (like Ukraine's SU-27s) to knock the bombers down

DoesntExist OP ,
@DoesntExist@mastodon.social avatar

@otownKim
"Like OMG, the Russians have the super-effective S-400 air defense system, and like, there's nothing Ukraine can do about that now that they have the best plane-weapon combo ever to make the Russians turn their tracking radar off..."

There's so much "duh" in this article I can't even

randahl , to random
@randahl@mastodon.social avatar

The average of all polls on the day before Trump's conviction had Trump in the lead by 1.2 percentage points.

Then he was found guilty on all 34 counts of falsifying business records, and it has been all over the news for more than two weeks.

The result? Trump is in the lead by 1.1 percentage points.

Something is seriously wrong in the US.

DoesntExist ,
@DoesntExist@mastodon.social avatar

@randahl
There's over 20 points of variance in those polls.
You can average bad data all you want. Still won't make it good data...

DoesntExist , to random
@DoesntExist@mastodon.social avatar

appointments are the single most important thing you vote for, fellow Americans. Let's review them:

Clarence G* Thomas, (H.W. Bush, 1991)
Johnny Roberts, (W. Bush, 2005)
Sam-Bam *A.B. Alito, (W. Bush, 2006)
Sonia Sotomayor, (Obama, 2009)
Elena Kagan, (Obama, 2010)
Neil Gorsuch, (Trump, 2017)
Brett *D.R. Kavanaugh, (Trump, 2018)
Amy Coney Barrett, (Trump, 2020)
Ketanji Brown Jackson, (Biden, 2022)

*G is for grifter
*A.B. = abortion ban
*Not "doctor" but date-rape

GottaLaff , to random
@GottaLaff@mastodon.social avatar

WHAT?!

“Federal judge overseeing ’s classified case struck down a small but significant part of the indictment on Monday, ruling that the government must remove from its charges an episode in which Trump is said to have shown a highly sensitive military map to one of his close aides after he left office”

Gift: https://www.nytimes.com/2024/06/10/us/politics/trump-documents-charges-cannon.html?unlocked_article_code=1.y00.ZLXl.0R0squaYWTAc&smid=nytcore-ios-share&referringSource=articleShare

DoesntExist ,
@DoesntExist@mastodon.social avatar

@GottaLaff
Cannon doing her best to be an accessory after the fact.

DoesntExist , to random
@DoesntExist@mastodon.social avatar

Anti-democracy "Party of Law and Order" doesn't like law and order.

This stance only helps down-ballot races. Nothing about "we don't like unanimous juries convicting our mafia president" helps win #Trump a second term.

The middle is alienated by that message. 34-count felony convictions with several other current cases won't play well.

The Trump brand is necessary for #GOP state legislators and representatives not to get completely hosed.

https://apnews.com/article/trump-guilty-republicans-vengeance-a05db7fa2512a62afe035992f2baaf16

rbreich , to random
@rbreich@masto.ai avatar

Remember: Trump asked oil execs at Mar-a-Lago for $1 billion for his campaign.

In return, Trump pledged to reverse environmental protections and cut their taxes.

The deal would net Big Oil $110 billion in tax breaks — 11,000% more than a $1 billion donation.

Utter corruption.

DoesntExist ,
@DoesntExist@mastodon.social avatar

@rbreich
He's also a felon

cstross , to random
@cstross@wandering.shop avatar

This is bullshit, because:

  1. You need a TFR (total fertility rate) of 2.1 to maintain stable population (no growth, no shrinkage).

  2. UK's TFR is 1.75, so shrinking ~15% per generation.

  3. Which means, not enough workers to support the retirees.

  4. Net-positive immigration is the only thing propping our economy up.

5.The UK NEEDS immigrants, or we're fucked.

This is the truth, unpalatable to racists molly-coddled by generations of crooked right-wing politicians.
https://mastodon.social/@lohihilo/112546615087991583

DoesntExist ,
@DoesntExist@mastodon.social avatar

@Npars01 @cstross @zakalwe

Agreed.

N.B. that if we lost 94% of the population it would be the same as it was in 1500...

Not that I recommend that.

DoesntExist , to random
@DoesntExist@mastodon.social avatar

My grandfather had a real knack for winning arguments with fascists.

He learned how in France and Germany.

DoesntExist , to random
@DoesntExist@mastodon.social avatar

I guess #Trump doesn't know that his sentencing is still coming, and the judge will consider his actions regarding the guilty verdict...

So, he's "ok with it [jail time]"

And he doesn't think "the public would stand it" because "there’s a breaking point [for his supporters]."

What about those who did this to him?

"These people are so evil."

No contrition. No remorse. Would do it again 10/10

https://www.cnn.com/2024/06/02/politics/donald-trump-possible-jail-time-house-arrest/index.html

DoesntExist , to random
@DoesntExist@mastodon.social avatar

Kill the #GOP (figuratively, please).

Make #Trump their death spasm, and into that vacuum, maybe in a decade we can build 3 viable parties... or 4... or 5.

Or help Trump win in all the ways that can still happen, and descend into real darkness with no way out.

Right now is our greatest opportunity to form something better. #Biden is a step along that path. It's not supposed to be pretty. Hold your nose if you have to.

DoesntExist , to random
@DoesntExist@mastodon.social avatar

The fact the the #GOP is fawning over #Trump the day after he's convicted tells you everything about its viability as a party.

This is their last gasp. Put the pillow on their face and push hard.

DoesntExist , to random
@DoesntExist@mastodon.social avatar

Reminder that you can now use shame to dissuade those "on the fence" from voting for #Trump

Don't argue policy with people who are disengaged from politics but still vote. Point out that it's ridiculous and un-American to consider a felon for the presidency.

Is this slightly dirty and manipulative? You betcha!

Is it better than a fascist felon POTUS?
Yes.

DoesntExist OP ,
@DoesntExist@mastodon.social avatar

"Yeah, but he's a felon, according to a jury of his peers" is the answer to every objection.

Even if the response is "they all do it; #Trump just got caught."

Yeah? Being bad at pulling off an illegal op is NOT an endorsement for POTUS, who has the highest security clearance.

If Trump can't outsmart a jury, how's he going to do against our enemies, who have massive resources at their disposal?

flexghost , to random
@flexghost@mastodon.social avatar

Hm.

Isn’t it interesting that for all the bitching and threatening and distracting…

Republicans don’t dispute the facts?

He was convicted by a jury of his peers

He refused to testify

He’s guilty of this and a lot more

https://gop.com/press-release/rnc-statement-on-the-rigged-witch-hunt-against-president-trump/

DoesntExist ,
@DoesntExist@mastodon.social avatar

@flexghost

Disappointed that this isn't...

"RNC Statement on the Rigged Witch-Hunt against the Glorious Divinity, Shining Light of the Galaxy, First of his Name, the Imperial Majesty, His Excellency President Trump"

DoesntExist ,
@DoesntExist@mastodon.social avatar

@flexghost
Now imagine Trump saying those words to himself at bedtime...

GottaLaff , to random
@GottaLaff@mastodon.social avatar

Via Maddow:

"The case started with 5 women the state’s ban stopped from getting medical care for their complicated pregnancies. The case has since grown to include 20 women and two doctors.

In August, a judge issued an injunction allowing Texans with complicated pregnancies to get an abortion if their doctor made a 'good faith judgment' that it was necessary.

The Supreme Court overturned that ruling today."

https://www.texastribune.org/2024/05/31/texas-supreme-court-zurawski-abortion/

DoesntExist ,
@DoesntExist@mastodon.social avatar

@GottaLaff
It's almost as if the notion of having a "supreme court" was a bad one.

DoesntExist , to random
@DoesntExist@mastodon.social avatar

Many people in the US are disengaged from politics -- they don't know a fascist from a farmer...

But TRUST matters, and #Trump's 34 convictions make him untrustworthy to the somnambulant middle.

It's a massive hill to climb to get suburban families to say "okay, yeah, there are no laws -- let's overthrow the system for this huckster."

People can be stupid, but they don't want to be seen as that stupid, that gullible.

DoesntExist , to random
@DoesntExist@mastodon.social avatar

The questions everyone should be asking of anyone who isn't a straight-up #Trump cultist:

How can you give a convicted felon a top-level security clearance?

How can you give access to the US nuclear arsenal to a criminal?

DoesntExist , to random
@DoesntExist@mastodon.social avatar

My only disappointment is that Trump won't be sentenced on the 4th of July.

#Trump

DoesntExist , to random
@DoesntExist@mastodon.social avatar

So, "undecideds," and "centrists," are you voting for a convicted felon?

Just as the Founders intended, right?

Get it together. It took a day for a jury to find Trump guilty on all 34 felony counts -- this wasn't a 2 week deliberation to find him guilty of 4.

1 day, 34 counts. Not just a slam dunk, but a posterize. The appeals will fail.

#Trump

DoesntExist , to random
@DoesntExist@mastodon.social avatar

Trump convicted on 34 felony counts, so any police organization endorsing him that doesn't rescind that endorsement by tomorrow should be investigated by the DOJ.

Cops endorsing Trump are dirty cops, full stop.

#Trump

GottaLaff , to random
@GottaLaff@mastodon.social avatar

NEW: THE JURY HAS REACHED A VERDICT IN THE TRUMP TRIAL.

DoesntExist ,
@DoesntExist@mastodon.social avatar

@GottaLaff @dannotdaniel @markwyner @thepoliticalcat

Helluva job, Laffy. Full-on heroic.

randahl , (edited ) to random
@randahl@mastodon.social avatar

If Trump is convicted in the current trial, should Biden still debate him in the two planned presidential debates?

DoesntExist ,
@DoesntExist@mastodon.social avatar

@randahl
Yes.

Here are Biden's talking points

"You say you're going to be a dictator -- how is that the American Dream?"

"You keep losing to E. Jean Carroll. What's it like to pay for a sexual assault so many times?"

"Explain what you mean by 'unified reich.' Why would you use a term associated with Nazis to describe your vision for America?"

"You said you'll deport protestors. Where? Are you planning to set up internment camps for them?"

"Theres a trolly. On one track, a billionaire...

GottaLaff , to random
@GottaLaff@mastodon.social avatar

U.S. Department of Labor on Thursday sued South Korean auto giant Hyundai Motor Co (005380.KS), an auto parts plant and a labor recruiter, over illegal use of child labor in Alabama.
https://www.reuters.com/business/autos-transportation/us-labor-department-sues-hyundai-over-us-child-labor-court-filing-2024-05-30/

DoesntExist ,
@DoesntExist@mastodon.social avatar

@GottaLaff
Solution: The Alabama legislature needs to step up and make child labor legal, like duh.

Nonilex , to random
@Nonilex@masto.ai avatar

#TrumpTrial Thurs 30 May 2024 🧵#Deliberations continue

Justice #Merchan says he believes that the #jury wants him to repeat a significant portion of the #JuryInstructions.

He will read pages 6-35.

Each page yesterday took him just a little more than a minute, so this will take >30 mins.

Between that & the testimony readbacks, also expected to take >30 mins, there will likely be >1 hour this morning w/the jury in the courtroom, not actively deliberating.

#criminal #law #Trump

DoesntExist ,
@DoesntExist@mastodon.social avatar

@Nonilex
Frothing at the mouth will play for Kirk's nitwit audience. AGs and DAs won't do shit. They have neither the "stones" nor the skill... nor, for that matter, evidence.

GottaLaff , to random
@GottaLaff@mastodon.social avatar

NYT-The House Ethics Committee has launched an investigation into Representative Henry Cuellar, Democrat of Texas, over allegations that he accepted bribes and committed misconduct in office, the panel said on Wednesday.

DoesntExist ,
@DoesntExist@mastodon.social avatar

@GottaLaff Too bad he's not a SCOTUS justice. He'd be fine.

ElleGray , to random

Omg any day now computers will be able to add

DoesntExist ,
@DoesntExist@mastodon.social avatar

@ElleGray
Maybe Boeing can hire them to design a jet or two.

wdlindsy , to random
@wdlindsy@toad.social avatar

"Former President Donald J. Trump has baselessly and publicly cast doubt about the fairness of the 2024 election about once a day, on average, since he announced his candidacy for president, according to an analysis by The New York Times."

~ Karen Yourish and Charlie Smart

#Trump #ElectionDenial #BigLie
/1

https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2024/05/24/us/politics/trump-election-results-doubt.html

DoesntExist ,
@DoesntExist@mastodon.social avatar

@wdlindsy
So, fomenting insurrection yet again.

ElleGray , to random

horror writers, start your engines

DoesntExist ,
@DoesntExist@mastodon.social avatar

@ElleGray
Not the Venn diagram I was expecting

GottaLaff , to random
@GottaLaff@mastodon.social avatar

“Provocative.” 🤦🏻‍♀️🙄 GET HIM OFF THE COURT. Gift: https://www.nytimes.com/2024/05/22/us/justice-alito-flag-appeal-to-heaven.html?unlocked_article_code=1.t00.Ihnd.LkwD_75RA6zD&smid=url-share

“Another Provocative Flag Was Flown at Another #Alito Home

The justice’s beach house displayed an “Appeal to Heaven” flag, a symbol carried on #Jan6 and associated with a push for a more Christian-minded government. https://www.nytimes.com/2024/05/22/us/justice-alito-flag-appeal-to-heaven.html

DoesntExist ,
@DoesntExist@mastodon.social avatar

@otownKim @GottaLaff
Just not a funny one...

GottaLaff , to random
@GottaLaff@mastodon.social avatar

Too late.

Via MSNBC:

All the Truth Social and campaign website posts that Judge Merchan ruled violated his gag order have now been deleted.

#Trump #GagOrder #TrumpTrial #legal

DoesntExist ,
@DoesntExist@mastodon.social avatar

@GottaLaff
Cue Trump's next campaign speech about crooked deep-state judges censoring him.

GottaLaff , to random
@GottaLaff@mastodon.social avatar

Politico: Third Republican endorses push to oust #SpeakerJohnson

Rep. Paul Gosar (R-Ariz.) signed on after the House advanced Johnson's multi-part foreign aid plan with Democratic votes.

DoesntExist ,
@DoesntExist@mastodon.social avatar

@GottaLaff
I live in AZ. No civilized person likes Gosar, who's seen as a complete nut job.

It's interesting to look at the districts he's represented, first relying on Scottsdale money, then Mesa Mormons, and now literal wasteland along the western border of the state.

randahl , to random
@randahl@mastodon.social avatar

Picture 1, Trumps reality: The US has donated USD 100 billion dollars more to Ukraine than Europe.

Picture 2, reality: Europe has donated more than twice as much as the US.

Source: https://www.ifw-kiel.de/topics/war-against-ukraine/ukraine-support-tracker/

image/jpeg

DoesntExist ,
@DoesntExist@mastodon.social avatar

@randahl
"No war has ever crossed an ocean" is, itself, a very Trumpian take.

DoesntExist ,
@DoesntExist@mastodon.social avatar

@randahl
Riffing off an idea always better than burying a worthy thought in the responses.

I do the same ;)

DoesntExist , to random
@DoesntExist@mastodon.social avatar

I transcribed Donald Trump's recent Pennsylvania speech. I write history. I've taught college history.

If I came across this from a student, I'd fail them and ask if they needed support. Seriously.

#Trump #Gettysburg

“Gettysburg, Gettysburg: what an unbelievable battle that was — the Battle of Gettysburg — what an unbelievable, I mean it was so much and so interesting and so vicious and horrible and so beautiful in so many different ways. It represented such a big portion of the success of this country: Gettysburg, wow. I go to Gettysburg Pennsylvania to look and to watch, and the statement of Robert E. Lee, who’s no longer in favor — did you ever notice that? No longer in favor: ‘Never fight uphill, me boys, never fight uphill.’ They were fighting uphill, and he said, ‘wow, that was a big mistake.’ He lost his great general, and they were fighting. ‘Never fight uphill, me boys!’ But it was too late.”
ALT
  • Reply
    • + pluralistic, otownKim
    GottaLaff , to random
    @GottaLaff@mastodon.social avatar

    Starting a new thread 🧵 1/...

    Via Inner City Press (I call him Press):

    Trump's lawyer Blanche: There are a number of the jurors that we have social media posts for very much contrary to what they said. We don't want to confront them openly

    Judge: They were not told it is an anonymous jury.
    Trump's lawyer Blanche: Juror number 1 has a series of extraordinarily hostile Facebook posts-
    Judge: Can I see them?... Was I handed the right thing? The sheet has 2 screen grabs

    DoesntExist ,
    @DoesntExist@mastodon.social avatar

    @GottaLaff
    This tabula rasa stuff says an astonishing amount, and it's the real weakness of our jury-selection procedure.

    Very "Enlightenment/everyone has rational capacity" idea, but if there's a hung jury, Juror B374 is the prime candidate.

    Again, tuned-out "moderates" determine the fate of the planet...

    DoesntExist ,
    @DoesntExist@mastodon.social avatar

    @GottaLaff
    Fair. Thank you, as always, for what you do.

    DoesntExist , to random
    @DoesntExist@mastodon.social avatar

    I'm waiting for the "genocide-Joe" types to start complaining about France, Germany, the UK, and Australia continuing to supply arms to Israel.

    Oh, you didn't know that was happening?

    There's no handy alliterative slogan during an election year in which the incumbent is being challenged by a ravening fascist?

    Huh. Wonder why?

    [Continued]

    DoesntExist OP ,
    @DoesntExist@mastodon.social avatar

    @blogdiva See my post from yesterday.

    These deals have nothing to do with Gaza.

    DoesntExist , to random
    @DoesntExist@mastodon.social avatar

    If you're only just noticing that the U.S. is the world's biggest arms dealer b/c of Gaza, catch up. (Russia is no. 2, France is no. 3, BTW).

    The Cold War didn't end. Blaming Biden for our fucked up system is like blaming him for not getting guns off the streets. There are deep pockets funding the sale of arms. They have a lot of power -- much more than infinite whinging or "Genocide Joe" sloganeering.

    Don't like it? Do something about it. Electing Trump makes it worse.

    GottaLaff , to random
    @GottaLaff@mastodon.social avatar

    As if we needed yet another reason to #VOTEBLUE

    Via RonFilipkowski:

    Mike Johnson says if #Trump wins and Republicans expand their House majority and take the Senate, he has already spoken with Trump about making “big radical changes,”“aggressive changes” to the govt in first 100 days.

    DoesntExist ,
    @DoesntExist@mastodon.social avatar

    @GottaLaff @hunkyscotsman
    Smart move. It's a reply-guy Elon stan that misspelled "lose."

    GottaLaff , to random
    @GottaLaff@mastodon.social avatar

    I think we know--other than Trump-- who has cognitive issues, and it's not Biden.👇🏼

    Via Scott MacFarlane:

    At news conference, Sen. Mitch #McConnell (R-KY) comment on Sen. #KatieBritt (R-AL) response to State of the Union: "We were proud of Senator Britt. Thought she did a great job. I have zero criticism of her performance. I thought it was really outstanding"

    DoesntExist ,
    @DoesntExist@mastodon.social avatar

    @GottaLaff
    "No notes" in itself is amazing comedy.

    GottaLaff , to random
    @GottaLaff@mastodon.social avatar

    Via Democracy Docket:

    #Indiana Gov. Eric Holcomb (R) signs a law to make it easier for election officials to purge voters from the rolls in an alleged effort to remove wrongfully registered noncitizens. A similar program in Texas was subject to a flurry of litigation.

    DoesntExist ,
    @DoesntExist@mastodon.social avatar

    @GottaLaff
    Maybe Katie Britt can come by and do a breathless ad about the likely 4 vote cheaters in Indiana.

    GottaLaff , (edited ) to random
    @GottaLaff@mastodon.social avatar

    "Blood bath at #RNC" 1/...

    "Trump’s newly installed leadership team at the RNC began the process of pushing out dozens of officials.

    All told, the expectation is that more than 60 RNC staffers who work across the political, communications and data departments will be let go. Those being asked to resign include five members of the senior staff, though the names were not made public. Additionally, some vendor contracts are expected to be cut" #Trump https://www.politico.com/news/2024/03/11/bloodbath-at-rnc-trump-team-slashes-staff-at-committee-00146368

    DoesntExist ,
    @DoesntExist@mastodon.social avatar

    @GottaLaff
    It's, dare I say, a purge

    DoesntExist ,
    @DoesntExist@mastodon.social avatar

    @GottaLaff @NorCal_Lynne
    Seconded.
    A viable Republican Party allows the Democrats the freedom to move left.

    A healthy democracy needs real choices, not "welp, guess at least this isn't fascism/fascism."

    lolgop , to random
    @lolgop@journa.host avatar

    When we say that Arizona Republicans are coming for your birth control, what we mean is they want all women to take a vow of chastity as punishment for being able to get pregnant.

    DoesntExist ,
    @DoesntExist@mastodon.social avatar

    @lolgop
    Clearly Borelli isn't very creative in the sack.

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