Hmm? Recall for a moment the overall strategy that Trump and co decided on. Step 1) try to make things as bad as possible for blue states. Step 2) blame the Democrats for all problems to gain political advantage.

Recall further how in the big tax cut for the rich that was passed by Republicans, there were also parts of that which overtly were there to hurt blue states and that Trump has, at multiple times, blamed the Democrats for failing to stop those parts.

I think that those bits of data should help you answer your question fairly well.

I wonder if we put a unannounced backdoor in the software in those planes we sell overseas that would allow us to make them inoperable in case of hostilities.

Who exactly are you referring to as "brown-skinned"? Hispanics, Arabs, East Indians, Southeast Asians?

I thought I had a strong counter-argument lined up but I didn't. Conservatives are however shown by statistics to be much happier overall and more likely to be successful/wealthy. I don't think the anxiety levels are higher by that much anyway, and there's are going to be several conservatives still with little concern for the future.
Too bad there wasn't a differentiation between populist conservatives and cuckservatives in the amygdala(anxiety) studies.

That assumes they are connected to the Internet

Yes

To address the latter part here first, I'm generally sympathetic to differentiating between actual principled conservatives and the Fox/Limbaugh "conservatives" that far too frequently are not even remotely principled conservatives. Further, though I'm generally on the liberal side of most issues, I am firmly in favor of having a decently strong conservative presence that balances out a more liberal presence. With that said, the Republican Party is not such a presence, unfortunately, especially now, and that can likely be largely traced back to how it's been very affected by some very rich Libertarians and corporatists who are well aware of how public opinion would be firmly against what they're actually pushing if people actually knew (without the partisan glasses), long term strategy of attracting authoritarians, and a propaganda network that's been working hard to create a fantasy world that the Republican politicians feel like they're forced to pander to and reinforce.

Could you point to the statistics that you're referring to, out of mild curiousity? To be clear, I'm not disputing that link, especially given that there's a fairly direct link between wealth and happiness (at least to around, say 70K-80K a year in income), though I am curious about whether that link is properly accounted for in the statistics that you're thinking of.

Of note, it's likely worth differentiating between general anxiety and triggered anxiety, as well as belief alteration/reinforcement that can be attached to such.

Also, to add my anecdotal experience to the mix to help delve into that a little more, I have a number of conservative friends and family. Most of them are smart, well-adjusted, and generally good people. When politics comes up, though, for most of them, they seem to fall prey to outright, easily demonstrable lies and nonsense to a rather remarkable extent. When my father, for example, was arguing that the Civil War is great evidence that the current Democratic Party is utterly racist (as just one example of the jaw-dropping level of ignorance and turning off his brain required to make the arguments that he did), it boggled the mind. When he utterly broke his word in an incredibly dishonest way to try to prop up his belief that immigrants are criminals with no respect for law when presented with evidence to the contrary, that was depressing.

Well said. :thumbsup:

Trump Retweeted

Dan Bongino
@dbongino
Kamala Still Hasn't Deleted Tweet Supporting Bail Fund That Helped Rioters Down pointing backhand indexDown pointing backhand index

Trump Tweets

Hispanics seem to be strongly favoring President Trump!

Lindsey Graham Tweets

This agreement sets the Middle East on a new course of cooperation and economic integration.
Well done President @realDonaldTrump and his team.

What incredible times we are living in.
Adding Bahrain to the list of Arab nations to recognize the State of Israel and create political and economic relationships is a tremendous achievement for the Trump Administration.

Trump Tweets

Fake Liberal Democrat Donors. Money laundering anyone?
Quote Tweet

Lindsey Graham
@LindseyGrahamSC
Wow – this sounds fishy as hell. Nearly 50% of liberal donors using @actblue were untraceable and listed as unemployed (with a 4% national unemployment rate).
https://foxnews.com/politics/exclusi...mployed-donors

Lindsey Graham Tweets

only 4% of conservative donors were listed as unemployed. I don’t believe Democrats are 12 times more likely to be unemployed than Republicans.

I urge the @FEC and others to investigate this situation. Is money being laundered through @ActBlue from straw donors or foreign governments to Democratic candidates, or is this legit? Somebody needs to find out ASAP.

How 'bout I say, "non-white?" Clear enough? Or should I go straight to "Non-Aryan?"

Go away please

Trump tweets

While I travel the Country, Joe sleeps in his basement, telling the Fake News Media to “get lost”. If you’re a reporter covering Sleepy Joe, you have basically gone into retirement!

Once again, Sleepy Joe told the press they could go home at 9 A.M. Meanwhile, your Favorite President, me, will go to Reno, Nevada tonight, three stops in Las Vegas tomorrow, with California and Arizona on schedule Monday. Don’t worry, we won’t be taking off Tuesday, either!

It’s not true, but even if it were, so what?

Part of a candidate going to a state is to listen to the people who live there. That idea is so foreign to Trump that he couldn’t even pretend to pay attention to peons.

Hey Trump, just because you are criss crossing the country like an overly loud side show doesn’t mean youre better or more efficient. The only thing it means is that you are addicted to applause and there is no bar too low for you if applause are involved. FFS, they could have rented a bunch of auditoriums.in DC. Then let Trump speak at one, put him in AF1, fly around for a few hours, land, and take him to the next DC auditorium. He’d never know the difference. He lacks the intellectual curiousity to look out a car window or airplane window. To eat local foods. To watch local TV. To read local newspapers.

You may be surprised that this is not true, even in the jokey sense you wrote it.

We had bad air quality today and I actually watched both candidates speeches from the past few weeks.
It is really quite amazing how Trump will recognize the local people, recall their names (even without teleprompter) and other attendees, even when he didnt know they would be there. It's not always exact, but he must do some memorizing of all the names and some key points/anecdotes to the specific locality he is in before he lands to achieve this... or he just has a knack for that. Every politician (and salesman, ceo, diplomat...) knows that remembering names and places becomes an art form.

Inauthentic? Maybe. But it is effective.
Whatever you think of Trump and his ability to be a President, he is actually pretty good at this part.

Maybe we need a new thread dedicated solely to Trump trying to avoid panic.

Tonight in Trump campaign texts:
Attachment 43044

https://twitter.com/daveweigel/statu...23506728198145

Trump tweets

Just landed in Nevada but while on Air Force One watched most vicious TV commercial I have ever seen. Pathetic Joe’s people placed an unsourced ad where they have me saying unthinkable things about soldiers while standing over their graves. It is a MADE UP LIE. A TOTAL CON JOB!

Trump Tweets

Joe Biden cannot LEAD our Country, because he does not BELIEVE in our Country. At Biden’s convention, they decried America as a wicked, sinful nation, destined for a fate of doom and despair. They even removed the words “Under God” from the Pledge of Allegiance – twice...

...The far-left maniacs supporting Joe Biden are burning flags and chanting “America was never great.” But we know the truth: America is the most Exceptional Nation on earth, and our destiny is blessed by God!

I did more in 47 months as President than Sleepy Joe Biden did in 47 years! #MAGA

Trump Tweets

I am running for re-election to bring prosperity to Nevada, to put violent criminals behind bars, and to ensure the future belongs to AMERICA—NOT China. If we win, AMERICA WINS! If Biden wins, China wins. If Biden Wins, the rioters, anarchists, and arsonists win. VOTE! #MAGA

Trump Tweets

Animals that must be hit hard!
Quote Tweet

LA County Sheriffs
@LASDHQ
Update: The gunman walked up on the deputies and opened fire without warning or provocation.

Hey MISSING, I'm dad!

So Nevada isn't prosperous now. After 4 years under your watch. But you want another 4 years to turn that around. OK, got it.

The current batch of violent criminals are White nationalists, who are your supporters, loud and proud. Be careful what you wish for, Donny!

*YAWN* Who is paying for those "Chinese tariffs" again?

To paraphrase the words of the great philosopher, Han Solo, "Looks like he hit him pretty close to the mark to get him all riled up like that."

Biden and his supporters seem to have found a good message to stay on.

Trump Tweets

Such an honor! Drudge is down 40% plus since he became Fake News. Most importantly, he’s bleeding profusely, and is no longer “hot”. But others are! Lost ALL Trumpers.
Quote Tweet

Thomas Paine
@Thomas1774Paine
ICYMI - Drudge’s Historic Crash Hits Rock Bottom; Numbers from Turbulent August Tank http://ow.ly/dVJW30r9w3C

Trump Tweets

If they die, fast trial death penalty for the killer. Only way to stop this!
Quote Tweet

Donald Trump Jr.
@DonaldJTrumpJr
Please pray for these two Sheriff Deputies. Their lives matter!!! #BlueLivesMatter twitter.com/LASDHQ/status/…

Trump Retweeted

Stephen Barlow
@True_Barlowisms
I was at a graduation in 2016 in Delaware. Biden happened to be there and walked past me (surrounded by SS). He was so frail looking back then. He could barely walk 20 yards without grabbing someone. And this was 4 years ago!

atoukFlag of United States
@atouk_zug
It's gotten to the point where I can't even bring myself to make Biden jokes anymore.
It's beyond sad. It's elder abuse by the @DNC
As sole caregiver to my mother before her death at 84, the things I'm seeing here by his handlers are obvious and inexcusable.

Trump Tweeted

They just don’t get it!
Quote Tweet

Kenny Webster
@KenWebsterII
Trump, easily one of the greatest marketing strategists in history, has driven thousands of angry liberals to publicly express their confusion over why he plays the Village People at his campaign rallies. It’s perfect. twitter.com/charleyw/statu…

Trump Tweets

In the highly competitive world of high tech, how come nobody has ever challenged Mini Mike Bloomberg and his very average, & supposedly outdated, “stuff” that he sells to so many? Did he use his position as Mayor of New York to create what is now a monopoly? Just askin’?


I thought Mini Mike was through with Democrat politics after spending almost 2 Billion Dollars, and then giving the worst and most inept Debate Performance in the history of Presidential Politics. Pocahontas ended his political career on first question, OVER! Save NYC instead.

Trump Tweets

But people don’t want to get mugged, beaten up, or killed. Let New York’s Finest (who proudly endorsed me!) do their job. Rehire crime squad and fired police. They will bring safety back to NYC, FAST!!!
Quote Tweet

Mayor Bill de Blasio
@NYCMayor
It’s a beautiful Saturday, New York City.
Get out and enjoy it, but don’t forget we’re fighting back against COVID-19.
Wear your face covering.
Practice social distancing.

Roger Stone to Donald Trump: bring in martial law if you lose election

Well, yes, I’d figured that much out, but what is the benefit of being allowed to “use the 10% Pumps for the 15% BLEND”? What does it mean?

I Googled an article on HuffPo yesterday that said that when individuals are more conservative they are happier, but when a government is liberal the people are happier. Can't be arsed to find it now, but a quick search should be revealing.

Also, don't forget that it might just be a correlation: does being conservative make you happy, or does being happy make you a conservative?

Ignorance is bliss.

It's probably the case that when you're content; when the system is working for you and isn't systematically stacked against you, it's easier to develop a "Status quo is good, I don't see what all the 'others' are making such a big fuss." mentality.

It means a few biofuel donors got what they paid for and about 13 people in Iowa who still believe a candidate engaging in public displays of piety to ethanol will translate into solutions to their kitchen table problems will be harping on about how Trump single-handedly saved the corn industry in America.

One thing the Trump "Presidency" should have highlighted to legal scholars and Congress is the need to clarify the entire concept of martial law. It is not mentioned in our The Constitution and there's a smorgasbord of SCOTUS precedent to choose from on it.

There is clear guidance from two cases from Hawaii in WWII that US citizens, in the US cannot be put in military proceedings while the civilian courts are still open and functioning. Unfortunately, it's unclear if there are any circumstances where a US citizen can be put in front of a military tribunal in the US.

https://digitalcommons.law.yale.edu/...80&context=ylj

There's not even any agreement on if the term "martial law" is legally meaningful. If it is meaningful, it's not clear the president has the authority to declare it. A decision by SCOTUS during the Korean War says only Congress has the authority. Sadly, most of the main constitutional questions on these cases were never ruled on because they were moot by the time the case made it all the way to the Supreme Court.

After Trump's flirtation with the Insurrection Act, it seems clear Congress needs to get to work next year on clarifying this.

Some quotes from the trump Rally

On the West Coast wildfires
"It is about forest management. Please remember the words, very simple, forest management."

On Wind Turbines
"They spew more crap into the air than anything, we gotta talk to the environmentalists"

On winning a third term
"We're gonna win four more years in the White House, and then we'll negotiate, because based on the way we were treated, we're probably entitled to another four years after that"

On a purported antifa sympathizer being killed by US Marshals
"By the way, the US Marshals did a great job in Portland. You know what I mean"

On testing
"The reason we show many cases, because we have the best testing program in the world by far"
"We're at like, around 180,000,. we've done an incredible job"

On Biden
"He wants to ban energy"
"He will indoctrinate your children with poisonous anti-American lies in school."

On voting
"The only way we're tied is if they screw around with the ballots, which they will do in my opinion"
"We have a rigged election. It's a rigged election"
"I hope you're all going to be poll watchers, because with you people watching the polls it's going to be pretty hard to cheat. I'll tell you, I wouldn't want to be a cheater"

The first woman Trump mentions during his rally is Donna Brazile, the audience responds by chanting "lock her up!"
Trump responds by calling for Hillary Clinton to be imprisoned and that "Her lawyers should go to jail with her"