Political Roundtable Part XXIX

[Zonkerbl]

I detailed at USTR for a year and I will say this: US Whiskey producers are innocent of anything except a history of moonshining and they don't deserve to be flattened by Trump's colossal stupidity.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2021/02/18/how-biden-senate-can-help-tariff-burdened-whiskey-industry/

[dobrojim]

Apocalyptic seems fairly apt particularly by supposedly first world standards.
Telling people without heat to boil their water harkens of let them eat cake.
Seeing videos of flooded houses is heartbreaking.

[verbal8]

I know not all Republicans are as flat-out stupid as the Governor of Texas, but why do they let themselves be represented by people like that? Am I overrating their intelligence?

In many ways Ted Cruz is the current face of the Republican party. One reason I think they look so bad, is there are the anti-government party. If you don't think the government can help, why give up a promising corporate career to enter politics?

[verbal8]

“ You should never say anything bad about
the dead, only good. Joan Crawford is dead.
Good. “ - Bette Davis on the death of Joan Crawford

Brilliant satire in the online comments in response to the Rush Limbaugh died story in the Post. I didn’t get it at first. The last line is the giveaway for slow thinkers like me.
Quote-
It seems really unfair to lump his death in with "lung cancer" when clearly he had other underlying health conditions. The anti-smoking crowd is inflating the death count to scare us into not smoking. I bet once the inauguration is over we won't hear about "lung cancer" again.

The most fitting "tribute" to Limbaugh was how he reacted to the deaths of others.

[doclinkin]

Ted Cruz apparently decided it was a good time for a family vacation in
Cancun. Very nice for him.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/national/power-outages-winter-storm-texas/2021/02/17/1e848bce-7159-11eb-93be-c10813e358a2_story.html

They should build a wall on the Mexican side of the border to keep vermin like Ted Cruz out.

[Pointgod]

Read on Twitter

I know not all Republicans are as flat-out stupid as the Governor of Texas, but why do they let themselves be represented by people like that? Am I overrating their intelligence?

Sorry to say this and it’s harsh but it’s time to admit that there’s just a large segment of the population that are trash people. They’d rather be fueled by their hatred of certain groups than improve the lives of themselves and fellow citizens. I’m 100% convinced the majority of people that voted for Ted Cruz believe he’s an insincere, two faced, untrustworthy slimeball yet they gladly voted for him when they could have had this:

Read on Twitter

[Ruzious]

Read on Twitter

I know not all Republicans are as flat-out stupid as the Governor of Texas, but why do they let themselves be represented by people like that? Am I overrating their intelligence?

Sorry to say this and it’s harsh but it’s time to admit that there’s just a large segment of the population that are trash people. They’d rather be fueled by their hatred of certain groups than improve the lives of themselves and fellow citizens. I’m 100% convinced the majority of people that voted for Ted Cruz believe he’s an insincere, two faced, untrustworthy slimeball yet they gladly voted for him when they could have had this:

Read on Twitter

Not to mention he took cheap shots at the Mayor of Austin 2 months ago for vacationing in Mexico. At least Cruz showed he was capable of owning up to a poor decision. That's more than I can say about most of them. Otoh, it was such an obvious and overwhelming political mistake that any normally functioning person could see that.

[Pointgod]

Read on Twitter

I know not all Republicans are as flat-out stupid as the Governor of Texas, but why do they let themselves be represented by people like that? Am I overrating their intelligence?

Sorry to say this and it’s harsh but it’s time to admit that there’s just a large segment of the population that are trash people. They’d rather be fueled by their hatred of certain groups than improve the lives of themselves and fellow citizens. I’m 100% convinced the majority of people that voted for Ted Cruz believe he’s an insincere, two faced, untrustworthy slimeball yet they gladly voted for him when they could have had this:

Read on Twitter

Not to mention he took cheap shots at the Mayor of Austin 2 months ago for vacationing in Mexico. At least Cruz showed he was capable of owning up to a poor decision. That's more than I can say about most of them. Otoh, it was such an obvious and overwhelming political mistake that any normally functioning person could see that.

If by owning up you mean lying about it and throwing his kids under the bus then yeah that’s one way to see it

[verbal8]

How did Ted Cruz get started as a politician?

[Zonkerbl]

Governing is hard. Using your multibillion dollar (but self funding!) right wing propaganda industry to convince your constituents that it's all the liberals' fault is much easier.

[dobrojim]

Interesting talk on Chris Hayes last night talking about the GOP.
...you have to be a trumpster to get party support which will allow you to win
in a red district but as we have talked about here, they have no real legislative
agenda other than trying to maintain power which, given their minority status
as a whole, is done through gerrymandering and suppression of non-White vote.
As Zonk so apt and succinctly put it^, governing is hard. It's becoming increasing
obvious that they suck at actually governing. The list of the things the TX GOP
has been prioritizing of late is all culture war $h!t to keep the party faithful
riled up but not requiring them to actually do anything or improve the quality
of life for their citizenry.

Watch on YouTube

[Ruzious]

Interesting talk on Chris Hayes last night talking about the GOP.
...you have to be a trumpster to get party support which will allow you to win
in a red district but as we have talked about here, they have no real legislative
agenda other than trying to maintain power which, given their minority status
as a whole, is done through gerrymandering and suppression of non-White vote.
As Zonk so apt and succinctly put it^, governing is hard. It's becoming increasing
obvious that they suck at actually governing. The list of the things the TX GOP
has been prioritizing of late is all culture war $h!t to keep the party faithful
riled up but not requiring them to actually do anything or improve the quality
of life for their citizenry.

And theys fer guns and against abertions... until they're not - ya know, considering Trump used to be liberal on those issues before it suited him not to be.

https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/timeline-trumps-record-gun-control-reform/story?id=64783662
https://www.nbcnews.com/meet-the-press/video/trump-in-1999-i-am-very-pro-choice-480297539914

[dckingsfan]

Read on Twitter

I know not all Republicans are as flat-out stupid as the Governor of Texas, but why do they let themselves be represented by people like that? Am I overrating their intelligence?

Sorry to say this and it’s harsh but it’s time to admit that there’s just a large segment of the population that are trash people. They’d rather be fueled by their hatred of certain groups than improve the lives of themselves and fellow citizens. I’m 100% convinced the majority of people that voted for Ted Cruz believe he’s an insincere, two faced, untrustworthy slimeball yet they gladly voted for him when they could have had this:

Read on Twitter

I'll just add that they made it easy to find folks to help... Beto is just the bomb, IMO.

[dckingsfan]

Saying a jewish-atheist prayer for Duck. It was an "isn't it ironic" story at first but now it seems like it's turning into an apocalyptic catastrophe. Maybe DC could send some extra snowplows full of food and water or something?

I should write a story... and thanks for the thoughts. I have to say that the solar and battery was just amazingly helpful.

We only kept the power to the refrigerator and two rooms (connected) and used a portable water heater. Filled up the bathtub so we could flush the toilets. Really, we didn't suffer.

I had a bunch of cell phone power chargers (tradeshow giveaways) and gave them out (Beto's team pointed me to local need). I had a dozen 110 chargers (used to use them at races, my wife through a fit when I moved them) and gave those out too. And neighbors gave me their extra portable heaters so I could give one with each charger. Our battery kept up with the recharges.

I showed up to one apartment (grandmother, parents and kids) and the house was 38. When I came back to pickup the battery to recharge they had the room up to the mid-50s. So, survivable but not much more. They didn't have water either. When the neighbors found out what I was doing they gave me blankets as well. Kids of the same family built a blanket fort.

Anyway, power is back on. Water has some pressure but you have to boil it. Cell phone towers are back on.

I really feel for those in Austin and Dallas... two days is bad but man those folks are still in it.

Just going to say, it is interesting when you find out you live in a 3rd world country (ducks).

[Pointgod]

Read on Twitter

I know not all Republicans are as flat-out stupid as the Governor of Texas, but why do they let themselves be represented by people like that? Am I overrating their intelligence?

Sorry to say this and it’s harsh but it’s time to admit that there’s just a large segment of the population that are trash people. They’d rather be fueled by their hatred of certain groups than improve the lives of themselves and fellow citizens. I’m 100% convinced the majority of people that voted for Ted Cruz believe he’s an insincere, two faced, untrustworthy slimeball yet they gladly voted for him when they could have had this:

Read on Twitter

I'll just add that they made it easy to find folks to help... Beto is just the bomb, IMO.

How you doing man? Hope you’re keeping safe.

[dckingsfan]

BTW, lessons learned for winter storms in the south.

1) you don't have enough bottled water because someone else will run out.
2) make sure you have enough blankets.
3) portable batteries don't last as long as I thought, they are only 3.5 years old and now only hold 75% of the charge.
4) kids are resilient if they are warm and fed.
5) Get that bathtub filled.
6) Drip feed your water line or turn on the faucet every hour to keep your pipes from freezing.
7) If the entire family is on one room, the room temp will be much better.

8) Don't think your tropical plants are safe from cold weather

[Wizardspride]

Read on Twitter

?s=19

Read on Twitter

?s=19

[dckingsfan]

Short rant, okay - maybe a ridiculous rant given what is going on. Sorry.

But really, folks don't have even ONE working flashlight? How is that possible. HOW?

And when it is cold, not getting everyone in one room and sealing off the other doors and closing the blinds? HOW?

And when you are cold, not having 5 layers of clothing on, really. Just your jeans, a t-shirt, sweatshirt and jacket? WHAT!?!

Edit: And no bottled water?

EOR

Okay, now opinion. Do you think I should just give away those power supplies? My wife votes yes but she just wants to get them out of the garage. Or do I keep them for the next event (because we can charge them)?

[dobrojim]

^ (wiz pride) I’m impatient for the reckoning. I need to remind myself that it’ll be all
the sweeter when it finally arrives.

PS- Maddox covered this story a couple nights ago including an interview.

[dobrojim]

If we lost power in extreme cold I would first collect as much water as possible.
Then I would shut off supply to my house.
Then I would open the lowest tap in my house to drain as much water out as possible.