The US Hamster Wheel

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BenThere
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Re: The US Hamster Wheel

#3281 Post by BenThere » Wed Nov 07, 2018 5:39 pm

Speaking of socks, as we seem to have veered from US politics, I thought I'd point out the magnificent properties of merino wool socks. They are warm in the cold, cool in the heat, wick away moisture and feel good against the skin.

I don't know of any better material for socks. You can put them in the washer, but not the dryer or they're likely to turn into baby socks. They last, too, if you take care of them. I've got a couple of pairs I've been wearing for 10 years or so.

Merino wool is excellent against the elements in many applications.

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Re: The US Hamster Wheel

#3282 Post by Seenenough » Wed Nov 07, 2018 5:46 pm

Jetex Jim wrote:
Wed Nov 07, 2018 7:20 am
As of 2:00am ET the Democrates have 210 seats, gained 26 seats and the GOP has 191, lost 26 seats.

Let the impeachment procedures begin...
It was not quite the "Blue Wave"that we were all told woud occur.

A Dem Congress will spend large amounts of time focusing on Trump and the GOP and blocking where ever they can .They will pass an impeachment bill within days of taking over but it will be of little use as they will need 60 Senators to be in agreement with them if it ever even comes up for a vote in the Senate.The same would apply I believe if they try and remove Kavanaugh.

I look forward to seeing Pelosi's body language behind Trump when he gives his State of the Nation address in February next year.

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Re: The US Hamster Wheel

#3283 Post by Cacophonix » Wed Nov 07, 2018 6:01 pm

BenThere wrote:
Wed Nov 07, 2018 5:39 pm
Speaking of socks, as we seem to have veered from US politics, I thought I'd point out the magnificent properties of merino wool socks. They are warm in the cold, cool in the heat, wick away moisture and feel good against the skin.

I don't know of any better material for socks. You can put them in the washer, but not the dryer or they're likely to turn into baby socks. They last, too, if you take care of them. I've got a couple of pairs I've been wearing for 10 years or so.

Merino wool is excellent against the elements in many applications.

You know just when I am starting to give up on you BenThere, you go and make an excellent post like this one and now that I have become a soft old man I must give credence to the tender foot dolce vita and your good advice here makes sense.

No more blisters for me man like this old Rhodie describes here...
Breaking in a pair of vellies was maningi fukken indaba. You always got a blister on your heel, always. I don’t care who you are. A blister that popped and rotted and seeped and oozed. But you just had to when-we your way through it with a dab of red muti to help, until you could pick off the piece of hard skin and chew on it thoughtfully. Eventually your feet got used to the vellies, never the other way round.

Why are you limping Steven. Gorrablisterma. A what Steven? A blister ma. What from Steven? What’s what from ma? The bloody blister Steven, that’s what. How did you get a blister? Oh that ma, sorry hey. My new vellies ma, it’s eina hey? Have you thought of wearing socks my boy? Socks ma? With vellies? No ways man. Who wears socks with vellies? Normal people Steven. Not in Rhadeezja ma, nowaysI’mtellingyou. With time, the inside of your vellies would turn a dark shiny smooth brown, varnished by sweat, blisters and in the worst cases infection, and then they were at their very best. Fitted like gloves, even if they did klunk a bit. Are those your feet Steven? June would ask suspiciously, sniffing the air cautiously. Ja of course ma, how would I get someone else’s feet? I mean that stench my boy. Is that your feet I can smell? No ma, it’s not my feet, it’s my vellies. Well put them outside then. What ma? My feet? Jesus bloody Christ. Not your feet man, your vellies. Oh. They are outside ma. Sorry ma. Jesus man, didn’t I tell you to wear socks? Ja ma, you did, but no-one wears vellies with socks. I alredditoljoo.

Those broken in soft-as-slippers vellies were stupendously fukken tit man. Horse-riding there by Waterfields, riding your bike, wearing into town to the flicks, trout fishing in Inyanga, any occasion up to and including semi-formal. The tittest footwear ever. When I had my bar mitzvah, June and I had a murra fight because she would not under any bloody circumstances let me wear my made-to-measure by Solly grey bar mitzvah suit with my vellies I don’t care how bloody clean they are do I make myself clear Steven? If you wore your vellies with shorts you looked like a farmer or a big white hunter. If you wore your vellies with your Lee jeans, you looked so smooth you could slide up the kopje. But if you wore your vellies with your speedos, you just looked like a doos. That’s what slip-slops were for.
https://wheniwasawhenwe.wordpress.com/2014/02/17/boot/

Caco

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Re: The US Hamster Wheel

#3284 Post by Jetex Jim » Wed Nov 07, 2018 8:01 pm

Seenenough wrote:
Wed Nov 07, 2018 5:46 pm
Jetex Jim wrote:
Wed Nov 07, 2018 7:20 am
As of 2:00am ET the Democrates have 210 seats, gained 26 seats and the GOP has 191, lost 26 seats.

Let the impeachment procedures begin...
It was not quite the "Blue Wave"that we were all told woud occur.

A Dem Congress will spend large amounts of time focusing on Trump and the GOP and blocking where ever they can .They will pass an impeachment bill within days of taking over but it will be of little use as they will need 60 Senators to be in agreement with them if it ever even comes up for a vote in the Senate.The same would apply I believe if they try and remove Kavanaugh.
To complete the process the Dems will need to wait until more Senate seats come up for reelection, or until they find enough Republican Senators ready to ditch Big Donald. But that's not to say they can't commence the groundwork immediately.

Haven't they already promised to audit his taxes? That should be fascinating with someone who managed to go bankrupt running a casino.
Persuading working people to vote against their own best interests is the primary focus of conservative politics.

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Re: The US Hamster Wheel

#3285 Post by Seenenough » Wed Nov 07, 2018 8:25 pm

As we have just learned the Senate will need to approve a new AG-Lets watch the ugly fight on this one as we did with Kavanaugh

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Re: The US Hamster Wheel

#3286 Post by Jetex Jim » Wed Nov 07, 2018 9:20 pm

Seenenough wrote:
Wed Nov 07, 2018 8:25 pm
As we have just learned the Senate will need to approve a new AG-Lets watch the ugly fight on this one as we did with Kavanaugh
Isn't Trump the guy who claims to be the big deal maker.

Now, with representation split between the two major parties, this will surely be his chance to shine, no?
Persuading working people to vote against their own best interests is the primary focus of conservative politics.

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Re: The US Hamster Wheel

#3287 Post by BenThere » Wed Nov 07, 2018 10:01 pm

Seenenough,

With the Senate securely in Republican hands, and in the firm control of President Trump, having won the Kavanaugh fight, I think the new AG, whoever he/she may be, will sail through the confirmation process. The beauty of the Kavanaugh confirmation process was the damage it did to any prospect Democrats had of taking the Senate, not to mention the damage it did to the presidential aspirations of Kamala Harris and Corry Booker, two formerly shooting Democrat stars. Now they're left with Joe Biden and Nancy Pelosi, oh, and Bedo or whatever his name is.

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Re: The US Hamster Wheel

#3288 Post by Seenenough » Thu Nov 08, 2018 12:21 am

Jetex Jim wrote:
Wed Nov 07, 2018 9:20 pm
Seenenough wrote:
Wed Nov 07, 2018 8:25 pm
As we have just learned the Senate will need to approve a new AG-Lets watch the ugly fight on this one as we did with Kavanaugh
Isn't Trump the guy who claims to be the big deal maker.

Now, with representation split between the two major parties, this will surely be his chance to shine, no?
Previously,Jet,the Dems just sat on the sideline and threw stones at the Republicans (in both the Senate and the Congress ),and Trump.

Now it is the Republicans turn turn to sit and show stones at the Democrats in Congress.

In many ways Trump may actually be in a better position after the mid terms as the Democrats will need Trumps support to get things done.

Seenenough

Re: The US Hamster Wheel

#3289 Post by Seenenough » Thu Nov 08, 2018 12:25 am

BenThere wrote:
Wed Nov 07, 2018 10:01 pm
Seenenough,

With the Senate securely in Republican hands, and in the firm control of President Trump, having won the Kavanaugh fight, I think the new AG, whoever he/she may be, will sail through the confirmation process. The beauty of the Kavanaugh confirmation process was the damage it did to any prospect Democrats had of taking the Senate, not to mention the damage it did to the presidential aspirations of Kamala Harris and Corry Booker, two formerly shooting Democrat stars. Now they're left with Joe Biden and Nancy Pelosi, oh, and Bedo or whatever his name is.
Ben-a new AG who is prepared to alow access to some long sought information is a big issue to the Democrats as Schumer's reaction to the situation already shows.

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Re: The US Hamster Wheel

#3290 Post by Stoneboat » Thu Nov 08, 2018 1:39 am

I look forward to seeing Pelosi's body language behind Trump when he gives his State of the Nation address in February next year.
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Re: The US Hamster Wheel

#3291 Post by BenThere » Thu Nov 08, 2018 2:37 pm

I was hoping the stellar performance of the US economy, the administration's success in tamping down geopolitical challenges, and working to secure our borders, would play out well in the elections - better than they did. I ascribe it to an electorate majority focused on the wrong things, but isn't that what makes politics grand?

As I've always maintained, we get the government we deserve, so long as we are privileged to vote it in. I've got no complaints.

We'll see how the Democrat House performs and before we know it we'll be looking at 2020. It's already starting. It'll be interesting who the Democrats will come up with to replace today's ossified leadership. The trend seems to be toward radical/socialist rising stars like Beto, Kamala, Booker, and the like. Nancy Pelosi, who as Speaker will hold more spotlight than Schumer, who remains a minority leader, is already senile and can't handle embarrassing herself when given a microphone. For some inexplicable reason she has retained her hold over house Democrats who generally vote 100% with her dictated positions. We'll see how that holds in the next few months.

President Trump is not much weakened by the loss of his House majority. The stronger Republican majority in the Senate can block most of the damage the Democrat House can do. Impeachment of either Trump or Cavanaugh is an utter fantasy - neither has a chance of getting through the Senate.

Meanwhile, the economy continues to hit on all cylinders, delivering optimism and prosperity. I scratch my head at how so many seem determined to kill that off.

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Re: The US Hamster Wheel

#3292 Post by llondel » Thu Nov 08, 2018 3:51 pm

The Dems will allow Pelosi to remain in charge while they let loose on Trump. She'll take the heat for anything they do in the next year or so and will then step down and let untainted hands take over the helm. She can stand there and explain why they're not going to approve his tax bills, his attempts to cut health care (no matter how dressed up it appears to be) and will call for investigations as necessary.

Of course, the GOP might be secretly glad if they do vote to impeach Trump, saves them having to initiate the proceedings themselves and they could then just vote him out in the Senate and Pence would be in, all before Trump could do anything.

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Re: The US Hamster Wheel

#3293 Post by BenThere » Thu Nov 08, 2018 4:10 pm

llondel ,

There's really no attempt that I've seen to cut health care anywhere in the Trump administration. In fact, significant effort has been made to mitigate astronomical premium increases for those forced into Obamacare, but who earn a living, many self-employed, and don't have the benefit of subsidized premium reductions - i.e. the Middle Class. There are a lot of people who now have insurance, but have an unaffordable deductible before they access it. They are much worse off than before Obamacare set its claws into them. And there are tens of millions of middle-class, taxpayers, in this boat.

As for the impeachment prospects, I suspect Republican strategists are licking their chops in hopes the Democrats controlling the House pursue it. While they would be playing to their base, they will disgust most Americans. There are no plausible charges calling for President Trump's impeachment. I'm fairly confident, but not sure, the people will see through and ultimately ridicule and reject the Democrats pushing impeachment, and they will pay for it just like the Republicans did trying to impeach President Clinton.

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Re: The US Hamster Wheel

#3294 Post by Jetex Jim » Thu Nov 08, 2018 4:17 pm

BenThere wrote:
Thu Nov 08, 2018 2:37 pm
Meanwhile, the economy continues to hit on all cylinders, delivering optimism and prosperity. I scratch my head at how so many seem determined to kill that off.
Here's a clip from today's Financial Times re. the economy
A “strong economy” is a bit of an exaggeration, and demonstrates that we’ve failed to move away from short-term economic thinking. The effects of Trump’s tax cuts will fizzle out — arguably, they have already.

All that will be left behind is a ballooning deficit, which has already increased by 17%, from $665 billion to $779 billion, under Trump and his Republican Congress.

If there’s an economic downturn, interest rates will still be fairly low, and fiscal stimulus won’t have the effect that it should, because Trump has done the very opposite of what should be done: he’s running deficits despite steady economic growth. In the end, taxpayers will have to pay, as they have had to pay for the bailout of the agricultural sector, hit by Trump’s trade war. Of course, not all industries or businesses were bailed out: only the special ones. Trump’s administration has perfected the practice of crony capitalism.

Contrast that to President Obama, who managed to more than halve the deficit and substantially reduce it as a proportion of GDP. And, of course, he didn’t start a trade war. Instead, he initiated the greatest number of challenges against China at the World Trade Organisation in US history — and repeatedly won.
Persuading working people to vote against their own best interests is the primary focus of conservative politics.

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Re: The US Hamster Wheel

#3295 Post by BenThere » Thu Nov 08, 2018 4:58 pm

Jetex Jim
Your cut and paste, citing Financial Times, a fairly well-respected journal, needs more citation, as its assertions are ridiculous. Was it a letter to the editor, a left-wing OP-ED? I can't believe a sentient observer or reporter would promote such rubbish.

President Obama did not halve the deficit. He doubled it. That assertion alone discredits your post. The facts are generally uncontested except by your post.

While you may not be capable of acknowledging it, the US economy under President Trump has doubled its growth rate from the 8 Obama years, manufacturing and construction jobs have exploded since President Trump's election, employment of every category and demographic of Americans has risen smartly, everyday people have gotten raises, and things are moving along pretty well. Most Americans see this, unless they are reading the same stuff you do.

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Re: The US Hamster Wheel

#3296 Post by Jetex Jim » Thu Nov 08, 2018 5:20 pm

Regarding the budget deficit. This would suggest otherwise.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_St ... 8-2028.png
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Re: The US Hamster Wheel

#3297 Post by BenThere » Thu Nov 08, 2018 6:51 pm

I don't argue the point that the deficit has continued to climb under the Trump administration, a lot of that is due to built in entitlements that are not discretionary spending, but inherited bills coming due. No one seemed to mind all those and additional escalations, not to mention quantitative easing, off the federal balance sheet, a few short years ago. But now you suddenly take offense when we have a Republican in the White House?

While the president does influence spending, he has no appropriation authority beyond temporary authorizations associated with the exigencies of the job. All the money is ultimately spent by the House of Representatives, where the power of the purse resides under the Constitution.

I'll ask again, where can you point credibly to President Obama's halving the US Federal deficit, as you posted? It's not a fair question because any fool knows that it simply didn't happen. I don't think you can possibly squirm out of this one.

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Re: The US Hamster Wheel

#3298 Post by Jetex Jim » Thu Nov 08, 2018 6:58 pm

I'll ask again, where can you point credibly to President Obama's halving the US Federal deficit, as you posted?
I believe the link I posted makes it clear enough. Feel free to be like Big Donald and dismiss it as 'fake news.'
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Re: The US Hamster Wheel

#3299 Post by BenThere » Thu Nov 08, 2018 7:22 pm

So long as you continue to maintain that President Obama halved the Federal deficit it is 'fake news'. Are you sticking to that assertion?

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Re: The US Hamster Wheel

#3300 Post by Jetex Jim » Thu Nov 08, 2018 7:37 pm

So long as you continue to maintain that President Obama halved the Federal deficit it is 'fake news'. Are you sticking to that assertion?
Let me put it this way. Obama was President of the USA from January 2009 to January 2017. The deficit as a percentage of US GDP stood at -10% in 2008. By the end of 2016 it was -3% .

So are you suggesting something like, "that wasn't Obama's doing".
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