The Race For 2024

[Derec]

Inflation is rate of change in the value of a currency. Rate of change decreasing does not erase the effects of recent high inflation on prices. Neither does it negate the negative consequences of high interest rates that were necessary to bring the inflation down to 3%.

I seem to remember you defending those high prices.

Which prices? What was the context?

 

[Derec]

No shit Sherlock. Real incomes are higher. That means the effects of high inflation has been more than erased on average.

Maybe, on average. But not everybody got an average raise.
And effects of inflation go beyond higher prices (that people feel even if they get a raise). The higher cost of borrowing is also a consequence of the inflation.

Overall, as Copernicus pointed out, the economy is in better shape than it was last year or the year before. There is never a macroeconomic utopia, so what are you going on about?

I am going on about that while economy is decent, there are significant negatives that have people feeling uneasy. Like higher prices (reducing inflation reduces the rate of change of prices, it does not bring them down of course), high interest rates, and resultant reduction of available homes for sale, as people sit on their cheap mortgages rather then moving.

It is important to acknowledge that instead of ignoring these realities. Look at the polls. Most show Biden trailing. While the general election is still 10 months away, right now things are looking grim for Biden's reelection. Note that things like 14th Amendment gambit is not likely to succeed at the SCOTUS and criminal cases are unlikely to be adjudicated by November. But all the sound and fury surrounding all this may help Trump with the voters in the end.

 

[ZiprHead]

Inflation is rate of change in the value of a currency. Rate of change decreasing does not erase the effects of recent high inflation on prices. Neither does it negate the negative consequences of high interest rates that were necessary to bring the inflation down to 3%.

I seem to remember you defending those high prices.

Which prices? What was the context?

When fuel prices were at their highest and oil companies were raking in record profits, you defended them.

 

[ZiprHead]

She was bornin a US hospital that makes her a US citizen.

 

[Copernicus]

I am annoyed by your consistent use of Republican partisan tropes and baseless smears to attack Biden, but nothing even close to it for Republicans, including Donald Trump.

What "Republican partisan tropes"? I am an independent moderate, and as such am opposed to bases of both parties. The reason I argue more against Democrats on here is simply the makeup of the forum - it skews heavily to the left.

Ah, so it appears that your basic strategy to piss people off by disagreeing with what you perceive as their bias, the idea being that, if we were all "skewing heavily to the right", you would be using Democratic memes to piss us off??? Seriously. It's ok to occasionally say nice things about Democrats and bad things about Republicans, if you truly are as independent as you claim. As things stand, you come off as one of those self-proclaimed independents--usually a conservative libertarian--who almost always sympathizes with the Republican Party but doesn't want to have to own up to it. Most of your time here seems to be defending Republican positions on just about everything, whether you personally like the head of the Republican Party or not.

Nobody is arguing that everything Biden does is good,

You say that, and yet I am attacked I write anything critical of Biden by certain posters on here.

Well, you almost always attack Biden, and, as you point out, most people here tend to "skew left"--liberal, progressive, Democratic. So it would be really odd if people weren't attacking your positions all the time. Since you are aware of that bias, you ought not to be surprised or upset at the reactions.

or anything Trump does is bad, but the two men are hardly comparable, if you are actually keeping scores.

I know. That's why I voted for Biden in 2020.

Did you? I honestly wouldn't know it from your posts, but there are a lot of Republicans, some quite conservative, who won't vote for Trump. Still, you spend a lot of time trying to excuse and defend Trump, so it's hard to believe that you're going to go with Biden again. I wouldn't fault you for holding your nose and voting for him again. It's not as if I am really happy that Biden decided to crowd out other qualified candidates that might have been stronger campaigners than he is. But I'm definitely voting for him or pretty much any Democrat who becomes the nominee.

It's one thing to criticize Biden. Most of us who support his presidential bid oppose some of his policies and have actually criticized his behavior.

So why am I attacked for doing the same? Is it because "most of [you" are criticizing him from the left, not from the middle?

Well, if, as you say, most of us are on the left, why should we adopt a "middle" position? That would be dishonest, wouldn't it? In the case of Biden vs Trump, there really doesn't seem to be any middle ground to take a stand on. The contrast is too stark, and we all have too much to lose if Trump manages to pull off another electoral fluke.

Donald Trump would never get my vote, so it pains me a lot more that he is going to be the likely Republican nominee. He represents an existential threat to our democracy and our rule of law.

Maybe you can switch over in the primaries and vote for Nikki Haley?

Why? She's a horrible candidate who can't even admit that slavery was what the Civil War was about. I would prefer that Republicans would nominate someone actually qualified to hold the office, but it's for Republicans to decide whether they want that or the guy that was impeached twice, held liable for sexual assault, incited an insurrection, and charged with 91 felony counts. If a Republican were to win, I would rather it be her than Donald Trump, but I'm not voting in any Republican primary.

 

[Swammerdami]

BTW, I'm 74 years old and I now exercise noticeable caution when walking down the sidewalk. But my brain still works better than most. I have some minor failings, usually problems I've had all my life, just slightly worse now.

Amusing isn't it that those ridiculing "Brandon" never compare him to the other guy! Mr. Biden is a highly respected 81 year-old who acts like a statesman in his early 70's. Mr. Trump is a 77 year-old narcissistic criminal who acts like a brat aged 7. Biden occasionally stutters -- as he's done all his life. Credible sources tell us Trump can't even change his own diapers.

“Dr Jill” always gives me chuckle.

A Woman? With a Degree? Pass me my smelling salts, those bracket-faced suffragettes have gone too far this time!

She has a PhD in education leadership or whatever. Technically she can use the title “doctor” but I still get a chuckle out of it. She’s putting it to good use chaperoning her dementia addled husband.

I don't know how the "Dr. Jill" meme started -- perhaps it was created by the Ilk just so they could ridicule it -- but I know that at Silicon Valley companies where many workers have (non-medical) doctorates everyone knows who those doctors are, and they are often addressed as "Dr. ____." That's WITHOUT any attempt by the doctor to brag about his or her degree. Heck, even I was often addressed as "Dr." in some contexts and I don't even have a doctorate. And I NEVER pretended to have a degree I lack, unlike QOPAnon luminaries such as George Santos or (guess who?) Donald Trump! Donny DID get a B.S. from Wharton (with the help of Daddy's money to hire shills to take exams) but he claims to have an MBA and even Daddy knew that was an over-reach for his lazy semi-literate boy.

I imagine that people complaining about a doctor being called "Dr." often do so out of envy: They wish they had something better than an HSG.

 

[bilby]

Donny DID get a B.S. from Wharton

Donny is the world's greatest source of B.S.

 

[Swammerdami]

A young grandmother is going to prison for 5 years for breaking a window on January 6. But she expects to be in prison for only a year since Trump has promised to pardon her. The link is to her being interviewed on CNN.

She regrets "destroying her family" but otherwise has no remorse. She (along with a whopping 25% of all Americans) thinks the Jan 6 Insurrection was some sort of false-flag operation instigated by the FBI.

 

[southernhybrid]

Posted by Derec:

I would take an MD over APRN any day to diagnose me. As I said, nurses and nurse practitioners are valuable members of a medical team, but they should not practice independently because of less training in medicine they receive.
And why preference for female MDs over male physicians? It seems you are the sexist one!

I know we are off topic, but let me respond to Derec. I have been misdiagnosed and/or mistreated by doctors a few times, but not once by an NP. I'm not that crazy about PAs, but I've known a couple of good ones. It's not all about formal education. It's about experience and what one does with the education they receive. I've known too many doctors who never kept up with the latest practices in medicine, as well as having terrible, arrogant attitudes. The one that could have killed me was when I was told I had a tia, which was in fact a partial seizure. I'll spare you the details.

As far as preferring female healthcare providers, you might benefit from reading a book like, "Gender from a Primatologist Perspective" by Frans de Wall. There is overwhelming evidence that female primates, including Sapiens are usually more nurturing compared to male primates. Males can be nurturing when necessary, but it's usually more common among females. Of course, there are exceptions, but I prefer a more nurturing care provider, which is why I usually prefer a female to a male. Plus, as a female myself, I find it easier to discuss my problems with another female. My husband also prefers a female provider for the same reason, although I imagine some men feel more comfortable discussing their problems with someone of their gender.

Of course, men are physically stronger compared to most females, so I did have a male Orthopedic surgeon for knee replacement, and he was a fairly nurturing person. I saw two others, who I decided not to use based on their attitudes. There's a reason why most nurses are females. To be a good nurse, one must be nurturing and caring. The men in my nursing class all chose to work in areas like the OR or the ER, areas that don't allow you to get to know your patients very well, so there's not the need to be as nurturing as there is in areas where I worked, like home health and long term care. Of course, there is a need for people like my former male classmates, but it was obvious to me that most of them weren't as nurturing as my female classmates.

I apologize to the rest of you for going off topic, not that we don't do that quite often on IIDB.

 

[Elixir]

I know we are off topic, but let me respond to Derec. I have been misdiagnosed and/or mistreated by doctors a few times, but not once by an NP. I'm not that crazy about PAs, but I've known a couple of good ones. It's not all about formal education. It's about experience and what one does with the education they receive.

QFT
Should be obvious, but seems to elude a lot of people. Even good doctors will tell you as much.

 

[Shadowy Man]

A young grandmother is going to prison for 5 years for breaking a window on January 6. But she expects to be in prison for only a year since Trump has promised to pardon her. The link is to her being interviewed on CNN.

She regrets "destroying her family" but otherwise has no remorse. She (along with a whopping 25% of all Americans) thinks the Jan 6 Insurrection was some sort of false-flag operation instigated by the FBI.

What kind of brain damage is this?

It was an FBI false flag operation but she participated in it?? Is she an FBi agent?? Trump didn’t stop them and said he loved them?

So far down the rabbit hole that the brain doesn’t function properly anymore. If it ever did.

 

[Jimmy Higgins]

Then CC said "It pains me to say this, but Gov. Sununu is a liar."

I wonder if he’ll apologize?

He seemed to make a big deal in an interview I saw of saying that he does admit when he’s wrong, unlike Trump.

Christie is an asshole. Just because Trump is worse, that doesn't make Christie good, just less bad.

 

[Jimmy Higgins]

A young grandmother is going to prison for 5 years for breaking a window on January 6. But she expects to be in prison for only a year since Trump has promised to pardon her. The link is to her being interviewed on CNN.

She regrets "destroying her family" but otherwise has no remorse. She (along with a whopping 25% of all Americans) thinks the Jan 6 Insurrection was some sort of false-flag operation instigated by the FBI.

What kind of brain damage is this?

It was an FBI false flag operation but she participated in it?? Is she an FBi agent?? Trump didn’t stop them and said he loved them?

So far down the rabbit hole that the brain doesn’t function properly anymore. If it ever did.

Cognitive dissonance can be quite powerful.

 

[ZiprHead]

State Democrats break off-year fundraising record as they look to make inroads in red states in 2024

As President Joe Biden casts the race for the White House as a fight to save democracy, state-level Democrats say that battle is already well underway in what they’re calling “the year of the states.”

The party committee dedicated to state legislative races raised more than $21 million, a record-breaking sum ahead of the 2024 on-year, and is laying out a roadmap for the year ahead in battleground states as well as red states where it sees an opportunity to break Republican legislative supermajorities, according to a memo released Wednesday and shared first with CNN.

That kinda tells me Democrats have a lot of support for the coming elections.

 

[TV and credit cards]

State Democrats break off-year fundraising record as they look to make inroads in red states in 2024

As President Joe Biden casts the race for the White House as a fight to save democracy, state-level Democrats say that battle is already well underway in what they’re calling “the year of the states.”

The party committee dedicated to state legislative races raised more than $21 million, a record-breaking sum ahead of the 2024 on-year, and is laying out a roadmap for the year ahead in battleground states as well as red states where it sees an opportunity to break Republican legislative supermajorities, according to a memo released Wednesday and shared first with CNN.

That kinda tells me Democrats have a lot of support for the coming elections.

Ohio could sure benefit. Our governor for all intents and purposes has lost his veto power. Hateful and hurtful legislation is the order of the day.

 

[bilby]

I don't know how the "Dr. Jill" meme started -- perhaps it was created by the Ilk just so they could ridicule it

It certainly reminds me of the gag from Red Dwarf, where Rimmer describes himself as "Arnold J. Rimmer, BSc, SSc".

Holly asks "What is 'SSc'?", and Rimmer replies: "Silver Swimming certificate"

 

[Loren Pechtel]

Posted by Derec:

I would take an MD over APRN any day to diagnose me. As I said, nurses and nurse practitioners are valuable members of a medical team, but they should not practice independently because of less training in medicine they receive.
And why preference for female MDs over male physicians? It seems you are the sexist one!

I know we are off topic, but let me respond to Derec. I have been misdiagnosed and/or mistreated by doctors a few times, but not once by an NP. I'm not that crazy about PAs, but I've known a couple of good ones. It's not all about formal education. It's about experience and what one does with the education they receive. I've known too many doctors who never kept up with the latest practices in medicine, as well as having terrible, arrogant attitudes. The one that could have killed me was when I was told I had a tia, which was in fact a partial seizure. I'll spare you the details.

I think what's going on is that the MD thinks they know all there is about the field, the APRN or the like knows their knowledge is incomplete and thus is more likely to look further rather than stuff the patient into the first pigeonhole they appear to fit.

As far as preferring female healthcare providers, you might benefit from reading a book like, "Gender from a Primatologist Perspective" by Frans de Wall. There is overwhelming evidence that female primates, including Sapiens are usually more nurturing compared to male primates. Males can be nurturing when necessary, but it's usually more common among females. Of course, there are exceptions, but I prefer a more nurturing care provider, which is why I usually prefer a female to a male. Plus, as a female myself, I find it easier to discuss my problems with another female. My husband also prefers a female provider for the same reason, although I imagine some men feel more comfortable discussing their problems with someone of their gender.

Seconded--I have always been much happier with the bedside manner of female docs. And if they have to go hands-on they tend to be gentler. And smaller--so far that's only been relevant with the dentist. Small fingers are a definite plus if they're poking around in your mouth.

Of course, men are physically stronger compared to most females, so I did have a male Orthopedic surgeon for knee replacement, and he was a fairly nurturing person. I saw two others, who I decided not to use based on their attitudes. There's a reason why most nurses are females. To be a good nurse, one must be nurturing and caring. The men in my nursing class all chose to work in areas like the OR or the ER, areas that don't allow you to get to know your patients very well, so there's not the need to be as nurturing as there is in areas where I worked, like home health and long term care. Of course, there is a need for people like my former male classmates, but it was obvious to me that most of them weren't as nurturing as my female classmates.

I apologize to the rest of you for going off topic, not that we don't do that quite often on IIDB.

Yeah, so many people try to deny there is any difference between the sexes. There most certainly is--considerable overlap but there's a definite skewing of females to jobs with high social interaction and males to jobs with low social interaction. And this becomes more pronounced as you go up the parental income scale.

 

[laughing dog]

No shit Sherlock. Real incomes are higher. That means the effects of high inflation has been more than erased on average.

Maybe, on average. But not everybody got an average raise.
And effects of inflation go beyond higher prices (that people feel even if they get a raise). The higher cost of borrowing is also a consequence of the inflation.

Overall, as Copernicus pointed out, the economy is in better shape than it was last year or the year before. There is never a macroeconomic utopia, so what are you going on about?

I am going on about that while economy is decent, there are significant negatives that have people feeling uneasy. Like higher prices (reducing inflation reduces the rate of change of prices, it does not bring them down of course), high interest rates, and resultant reduction of available homes for sale, as people sit on their cheap mortgages rather then moving.

Repetition of the Republican echo chamber contributes to their false narrative. There is always some drawback in the economy.

 

[lpetrich]

Asa Hutchinson, Tilting at a Trump-Branded Windmill, Hangs On - The New York Times - "The former Arkansas governor, nowhere in the polls, is running on principle — and on fumes, financially speaking."

For now, Mr. Hutchinson’s campaign defines living off the land. He had raised all of $1.2 million through September and spent $924,015 of it, a pittance compared with the pocketbooks of other candidates. He cut one television ad, he said. It hasn’t aired much.

Where others fly, he drives — long distances. Aides say he has been known to drive the eight-plus hours to Des Moines from Arkansas by himself in his own car. Travel is in the cheapest S.U.V.s on offer at the rental counters. Last fall, when a flight from Chicago to Des Moines was canceled, he rounded up three strangers, pooled their money to rent a car and drove to Iowa for his scheduled events.

But he has a flight booked to New Hampshire on Tuesday, after what he hopes will be a better-than-expected showing in Iowa on Monday.

I remember AOC campaigning for Bernie Sanders in Iowa, being driven to several campaign rallies, and once noticing wind turbines.

Iowa caucuses: Asa Hutchinson campaign hopes door knocking campaign helps push him into top four - YouTube

With Iowa caucus approaching, Asa Hutchinson barely registers with voters - Arkansas Times

In other words, Hutchinson is no stranger to fighting a losing battle on terms set by the other team. He lived to see the wholesale Republican takeover of the Arkansas after years in the wilderness. Unfortunately for him, it seems much less likely his new cause — a restoration of Reagan-era values within the Republican Party writ large — will happen in any imaginable version of the near future. But maybe he’s content to keep trying anyhow.

Asa Hutchinson: Will evaluate campaign after Iowa caucuses | CNN Politics

I made some predictions in post #1,789 in this thread, that Chris Christie was likely to continue to Super Tuesday at least, but he dropped out a few days ago. I also expected AH to drop out after IA and NH, and at most Super Tuesday. But from the looks of it, he's likely to throw in the towel after IA. He is in the sober-Republican-governor ideological lane, like Doug Burgum, but DB is now gone.

• 2024 Iowa Republican Presidential Caucus Polls | RealClearPolling - RCP calculates an average of 0.3% for that state.
• Iowa : President: Republican primary : 2024 Polls | FiveThirtyEight - 538 calculates 0.4%.
• Rather curiously, 2024 New Hampshire Republican Presidential Primary Polls | RealClearPolling does not mention him.
• But New Hampshire : President: Republican primary : 2024 Polls | FiveThirtyEight does, and he's at 0.7% there.
• 2024 Republican Primary: Presidential Nomination Polls | RealClearPolling - he's at 0.7%
• National : President: Republican primary : 2024 Polls | FiveThirtyEight - he's at 0.9%

 

[lpetrich]

So that leaves us with

1. Donald Trump
2. Ron DeSantis and Nikki Haley neck and neck
3. Vivek Ramaswamy

VR seems to me to be too full of himself to want to drop out.

Nikki Haley, Ron DeSantis Go to War Over 'Woke' Disney

On Wednesday, debate co-moderator Dana Bash asked DeSantis about his attacks on Disney, prompting the governor to state: "The proper role of government, if it means anything, it is to protect our kids. It's wrong to sexualize the curriculum."

Then saying that Disney is making children change genders.

DeSantis also branded Haley as "representative of this corporatist element" of the GOP. "We need to stand up for the people and not bow down to woke corporations, and we know Nikki Haley will cave to the woke mob every single time," he said.

...
Haley also criticized DeSantis for even taking aim at Disney in the first place, as she spoke out against government interference in business, which has long been touted as a Republican ideal.