Saturday Open Thread - 9/11/24: Odds and Ends

Well, it was a fairly odd week, imho. The country did not erupt in riots. The losing candidate conceded like a grown up. The immigrants didn't come through for Harris. The DNC isn't as good as cheating as they once were. The propaganda we were battered with is revealed for what it is.

Oddly, the pols and MSM are back to the grind, into their usual and customary routines, as though, in the end, it really never mattered anyway. They had two Plan "A"s, no need for a Plan "B".

What we 99%ers never get is any significant positive changes to our lives.

We can get it with a song.

I am rather curious about who will be the White House decision maker until the inauguration. That calls for speculation. Blinken? Milley? What do you folks think?

Where will Biden vacation? That's the real question! He seems to be a beach bum. Hawaii? Where?

My suggestion (since he just might be a criminal):

Or, this version:

Maybe go visit his lackey in Brazil?

Let's all just trudge ahead, stick together, be quick on our feet, keep our thinking caps on, shall we?

This is an open thread, friends. Whatever comes across your radar will be interesting for us. I look forward to your input.

Let us be unburdened by what was in the past! Cackle!!!! (Kamala Harris is going away!!! What a relief!!!)

Your turn, people!

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I had this idea of posting something hopeful, positive, joyful...
best I could come up with was this:

Let 'er rip!

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"We'll know our disinformation program is complete when everything the American public believes is false." ---- William Casey, CIA Director, 1981

Lookout's picture

We're still dry, but having a lovely fall. I love walking in the multicolored woods.

I thought this was interesting...
Look at this bar graph. Note how many millions more votes were cast in the 2020 elections than in the two previous and now in the 2024 contest. How did that happen? Where did that surplus supply come from? The Covid-19 scam provided the cover for a profligate mail-in ballot operation. They deluged the country with paper. Mark Zuckerberg provided $450-million through his cut-out charities to hire thousands of party activists to harvest and fill-out fraudulent ballots, and stuff them in drop-boxes by the hundredweight, with special attention to the crucial precincts in swing states — and that’s what landed the basement-cringing candidate, “Joe Biden,” in the White House.

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Have a good weekend and thanks for the OT!

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“Until justice rolls down like water and righteousness like a mighty stream.”

@Lookout We have no fall colors here. None. The temperatures are mid-60s to high 80s, with lots of rain. We have had 3 days of what I would call "fall".
I saw that voter graph yesterday, didn't see the connection to mail in ballots. Why isn't someone in prison for that? We had Biden foisted upon us with dementia, and the nuclear clock headed for midnight. Did Zuckerberg know Biden was not functioning and fund the scam anyway?
I may browse the net to find some economic analysts to see if they have any practical suggestions on what to do when we can't pay that trillion bucks of interest due next year.
My question is not about buying gold and silver, but the effects of people being in debt when the shit hits the fan. Who is going to do the suing and collecting on unsecured loans? If I ran up $50k on my credit cards, along with millions of others, what will BOA do?
Interesting times, LO.
Growing up, and as an adult until my 60s, the best way to enjoy fall was to saddle up a horse and go to the national park. Unfortunately, the last time I did that, I rode up upon a meth lab.
Thanks for stopping by, dear friend, and enjoy your weekend!

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"We'll know our disinformation program is complete when everything the American public believes is false." ---- William Casey, CIA Director, 1981

QMS's picture

somebody posted a picture on here yesterday
showing Hillary and Kamala pouting on the sidelines
during their "victory celebration" which was not to be

remains to be seen how much more damage old sleepy Joe
can enact in the next couple months
someone please take the keys away from him

thanks for the OT and enjoy your Saturday in TX!

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@QMS of the losers exemplifies their impeccable grace, doesn't it? /s
I ran across a tweet from Whitney Webb yesterday. She sees way more neocon/Zionists on his team than you'd think. Tulsi and RFK,Jr. do not seem to be more than casual advisors.
In other words, just more of the same ol' same ol'.
AIPAC is, as always, the real winner.
Have some fun today! Convince your wifey not to worry about Trump. AIPAC will remain in total control. Breathe deep...
Thanks for dropping by, dear friend!

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"We'll know our disinformation program is complete when everything the American public believes is false." ---- William Casey, CIA Director, 1981

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@la58 Biden seems to have one or two emotions. Anger and frustration.
The only time I have seen his face light up is when he is touching a little girl. That includes biting them.
He stayed too long. Both he and Harris are plagiarists. That should have gotten them both disbarred. Justice for thee, not me, as the saying goes.
Seems Dear One has 2 Pablo Cruise albums and he is thinking about setting up his stereo and massive speakers to test the integrity of the walls of the house. How much shaking will they take?
Thanks for dropping in, friend!

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"We'll know our disinformation program is complete when everything the American public believes is false." ---- William Casey, CIA Director, 1981

mimi's picture

no comment comment.

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@mimi Gee, don't listen to the song! On the other hand, it would be convenient if you ate something that disagreed with you, up and out it goes! It would come in handy.
I hope you are communicating with your son regularly, and that he is well-situated in Hawaii. I hope you are ok in Germany, as well.
It will be interesting to see the formation of your next, new and improved government. Of a little interest here is how Trump will handle our government going bankrupt. He know his bankruptcy stuff, fer shere!
Have a great weekend, chica!

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"We'll know our disinformation program is complete when everything the American public believes is false." ---- William Casey, CIA Director, 1981

snoopydawg's picture

.

IM Doc
November 8, 2024 at 4:46 pm

How things are going in the blue hive this week…….I am reporting facts, upsetting as they may be. I am struggling with my own fatigue and the complete lack in my brain of anything to do for these people.

4 Suicide attempts – 2 now in a psych hospital – the other 2 more stable

2 people became so worked up – that they actually worked themselves up into a NQWMI – non Q wave MI – heart attacks

I have had just many people with palpitations, sobbing, severe anxiety, etc.

So far, thankfully, we have had no deaths.

2 things I never saw coming and I am truly trying to understand – if anyone can add some insight please do – this is serious cult stuff – and I am really having a hard time combatting it – see below

3 20something women arrived for their appts – heads completely shaved – and I mean Kojak style – all 3 stated their goal was to make themselves completely unwanted by any male – and it appeared to me all 3 had instant regret and THAT regret was more upsetting to them than their disdain for Trump or the Trump voters or whatever

There is much more that the doc has been dealing with. This is happening all over the country.

Is there something worse than PTSD? This is not normal behavior just because your candidate lost. He calls it cult behavior. I definitely blame the media for instilling this level of fear and hatred into people who if they haven’t noticed survived Trump’s 1st presidency.

People listen to an interpretation of what Trump says instead of validating it at the source. He never said to drink bleach, that Nazis are good people, or many of the other things the media said he did. He wasn’t found guilty of colluding with Putin, but many people still believe he did because of how Mueller framed his decision.

Rachel Moscow says that Trump will turn American media into RT. She has been the biggest driver of the cultists behavior and her name should go down in history next to Joe McCarthy.

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Was Humpty Dumpty pushed?

@snoopydawg Rachel Maddow makes $890.000 a year. She is not going fuck up that apple cart.

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@la58 https://www.thewrap.com/maddow-deal-30-million-2024/
Lindsey Ellefson
August 25, 2021 @ 10:01 AM

Rachel Maddow’s deal to stay with MSNBC will cost the network $30 million per year, according to a new report.
The Daily Beast revealed Wednesday that Maddow, a liberal primetime hosts who commands the highest ratings on the network, will pull in that much each year, though she is dropping her nightly show next year in favor of a weekly one, along with other projects. Per the reported terms, she’ll stick with the company through the 2024 election.

An individual close to the network denied the reported salary — which the Beast said was confirmed by four people — but declined to offer another figure. As for a $30 million annual salary, the individual said, “It’s completely inaccurate, and I’m shocked that anyone would publish that. It’s just not true.” A rep for WME, Maddow’s agency who negotiated her new deal, declined to comment.

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@la58 she makes the same salary for nightly or weekly propaganda fests. She is simply all that, ain't she?
It is just strange to me that she has such a loyal following.
I gave up on her during Obama's first term.
I don't want to throw a shoe at my tv screen at the mention of "Russia Russia Russia". It is a mess that is easily avoidable.
Why her salary is controversial and secret causes me to wonder what the hell is going on?
Interesting, friend.
Mucho thanks!

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"We'll know our disinformation program is complete when everything the American public believes is false." ---- William Casey, CIA Director, 1981

@snoopydawg Media and the CIA should be brought up on criminal charges.
How fucking dare them harm these vulnerable people with their propaganda!
They are getting better at it by the day.
Joy Reid is calling out white people for being too racist to vote for Harris. No other reason for their vote. Only racism. She can tell by the numbers.
We are divided by political parties, by race, by gender, but there is nary a mention of class division. Money talks, bull shit walks.
ID pol for the win!
Please shield Sam from this. I don't want her to get depressed!
Thanks for dropping by, chica!

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"We'll know our disinformation program is complete when everything the American public believes is false." ---- William Casey, CIA Director, 1981

snoopydawg's picture

@on the cusp

Right. Americans rejected the white woman HerHeinous so obviously it’s only misogyny that cost both of them the election…./s

Neither woman offered us a reason to vote for them and they pushed Trump is bad instead of at least lying about what they would do for the working class.

We can thank Obama for dem women going batshit crazy because f his rescinding the anti propaganda legislation.

Please shield Sam from this. I don't want her to get depressed!

Don’t worry…we make fun of this nonsense. I’m trying to get her to stop walking around all day saying "FJB." She’s become quite the potty mouth. It’s quite embarrassing when she does that in public.

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Was Humpty Dumpty pushed?

snoopydawg's picture

@on the cusp

until the car heated up enough for the heater to get warm while I was chauffeuring your client’s black butt to her walk.

When people give me a strange look I point at Sam so they know it’s her doing.

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4 users have voted.

Was Humpty Dumpty pushed?

@snoopydawg Or a binky (blanket)? After all, she needs to be warm on her way to flip flop in snow. I totally get that.
Give me the names and addresses of anyone making my client out to be the bad dog. I can send them a sternly worded letter.
I had griped this morning about fall hasn't arrived yet, but tonight it is damp, breezy, and the 71 deg. temp feels 65. I and Dear One are in sweatshirts. I bitched too soon.

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"We'll know our disinformation program is complete when everything the American public believes is false." ---- William Casey, CIA Director, 1981

enhydra lutris's picture

of ballot stuffing, people voting several times and all that. This is the first one I've heard that specifically mentions Zuck, and, like all of the rest, it might be true, but it might not. However, Mail in voting isn't illegal or per se bad and, IMO is a public good.

It used to be very common and easy to selectively disenfranchise large groups by manipulating access to polling places. Group a gets 1 polling place per several thousand, containing one voting booth, and open from 10:00 am to 4:00 pm, group b gets one (or more) per square mile and there is no voting anywhere on the Res. Mail-in voting is far more egalitarian, if you're eligible to vote, you get a ballot which you can drop off or mail. You aren't tied to one specific voting place nor to a specific time window. This infuriated Trump and many others because a lot of "those people" could vote. The issue, if any, is how well it is managed.

Even before it went all mail-in, CA allowed any and all registered voters to opt for "permanent absentee", which my wife and I opted for the second it became available because of the personal freedom inherent in the process. I get a notice by both postal and electronic mail when my ballot is mailed to me, possibly also when the p.o. says it was delivered, when it was picked up from wherever I dropped it off and when it was counted.

I can't really explain the variation is the numbers voting from year to year, but would point out that motivation is a big part of it. In areas where large numbers know that nobody will really represent their interests, there has to be other motivating factors, like propositions, well orchestrated and cunning GOTV campaigns and the like. This election really had just about nothing to motivate most people. The Dems have worn out the "abortion" appeal, especially since Biden didn't even try to take it up and one could be certain that KH almost certainly couldn't even if she wanted to and probably wouldn't try. Biden might've well been seen as a possible savior from the evils of Trumpism in the 2020 election, driving massive turnout, and when he proved to be as bad or worse as well as generally useless except at a warmonger, Dem turnout vanished in 2024 and while some previous dems voted maga, boosting DJT a bunch, trad GOP also suffered a decline, minimizing his bump, because a lot of Trad GOP voters had seen and disliked his act, but surely wouldn't vote for Biden's female clone. Just something to consider.

be well and have a good one

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That, in its essence, is fascism--ownership of government by an individual, by a group, or by any other controlling private power. -- Franklin D. Roosevelt --

@enhydra lutris of increased voters should be scrutinized. Biden just was not popular. How did he inspire that vote? Mail in ballots are legal but are subject to fraud in numerous ways.
Why I wouldn't vote absentee is mistrust of the USPS. Last week, I had to play detective to find a certified mail document that hadn't been received at a nearby judge's office after 3 weeks. Well, it had never left the post office for delivery. This Monday, I got a "return-refused" certified letter that I sent to a woman in November of 2023.
If I am gonna vote, I will stand in line, chat with neighbors.
For the degradation of the USPS, I say, "Thanks, Obama!"
Have a great weekend, friend! Don't let the chores get ya down, pal!

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"We'll know our disinformation program is complete when everything the American public believes is false." ---- William Casey, CIA Director, 1981

enhydra lutris's picture

@on the cusp
library and the senior center, both less than 1.5 miles away. We always use one of them. IIRC, they are collected a few times per day by folks from Secy of State (not PO). After all, we've all had grief with the PO at least once or twice.

bwahago.

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That, in its essence, is fascism--ownership of government by an individual, by a group, or by any other controlling private power. -- Franklin D. Roosevelt --

plug this video into the mix. Col. McGregor has some predictions. It is 48 minutes. I haven't watched it, but he is always worth a viewing. Let's see what he has to say about the state of the nation.

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"We'll know our disinformation program is complete when everything the American public believes is false." ---- William Casey, CIA Director, 1981

dystopian's picture

Hi OtC,

I guess we America wants to unburden itself of the past four years.

Biden is on vacation no matter where he is. Wink

The problem is that meanwhile the same people that screwed up everything they touched, are still in charge, and are now pissed off. They can do a lot of damage in the next 10 weeks.

They are the same DEM greatest minds that thought having an obviously puppet for a president, followed by no primary or open free press was a path to victory. That haing no policy or platform besides wars, censorship, raising prices and increasing illegal immigration would lead to success for the voting majority.

Their grief is equal to their delusion. It was racism and misogyny why people would not vote for the straight-haired black woman that will not wear a dress, trying not to look feminine or black. OK.

In case anyone hasn't seen this yet, I thought it good. I saw these guys first G3 tour over 20 years ago at the Hollywood Bowl. One song they did great together then was Frank Zappa's My Guitar Wants to Kill Your Mama. I thought I had died and gone to heaven. This one is great too, and where we are....

Thanks for the OT OtC!

happy trails all!

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We cannot solve our problems with the same thinking we used when we created them.
Look deep into nature, and then you will understand everything better.
both - Albert Einstein

@dystopian Well, don't forget that sometimes it was more advantageous for Kamala to be an Indian. It just depends on the situation...
I figure the 4B movement will cause the sex toy industry to boom. Wedding chapels might take a hit in blue cities and states. Also, ob/gyn and pediatricians might take a hit. And divorce lawyers. And dating web sites. And day care centers. And kindergartens.
There were people who drank the kool Ade, so there is no limit to how people can be manipulated, if they are the type.
Ok, so 3 vultures found something by the road. Then, the cara cara swooped in and scattered them. The cara cara flew off with food dangling from his beak. Bad ass bird. I still can't believe they have arrived here. Wow, what a sight.
Have a great weekend, friend, and enjoy the birds and the music, and find joy now that we are unencumbered by you-know-who. Thanks for dropping by!

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"We'll know our disinformation program is complete when everything the American public believes is false." ---- William Casey, CIA Director, 1981

enhydra lutris's picture

@on the cusp

for years that US wimmenfolk read Lysistrata, take its message to heart and put it into practice if they want to get anything done in this sorry-assed country. Looks like some finally have.

bwahago

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That, in its essence, is fascism--ownership of government by an individual, by a group, or by any other controlling private power. -- Franklin D. Roosevelt --

@enhydra lutris body part is what can control the men of the world.
We actually discussed Lysistrata this morning.
Nothing's new, is it?

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"We'll know our disinformation program is complete when everything the American public believes is false." ---- William Casey, CIA Director, 1981

soryang's picture

Thursday night South Korean President Yoon Seok-yeol made a public presentation and then took some media questions ostensibly. Certain media were precluded from attending.

Yoon made the ritual apology for his shortcomings, and then proceeded to deny each and every accusation made against his wife and himself as "fabrications." He displayed a completely defiant attitude and in the final minutes, was unresponsive to a reporters question if he could give a concrete example of what he was apologizing for. Yoon dismissed the question, and then said his throat was sore, and that he needed to wrap up the 2 hour press conference.

Yoon asserted that prior investigations by police and prosecutors had determined that his wife had not done anything wrong. He contended that legislative appointments of special investigations into his wife were "unconstitutional" usurpations of power and that the accusations were politically motivated and abuse of process implying his vetoes of such legislation are "justified." This would be applicable to the Dior handbag scandal, and the Deutsche Motors stock manipulation scheme. The one offense is recorded on video, the second is documented in financial records of Kim Gon-hee and her mother (their respective investment accounts). All others involved in the stock price manipulation scheme were tried, convicted and sentenced.

The third pending issue getting a lot of attention has to do with Kim Gon-hee, and Yoon interfering in party matters. Various accusations have been raised by Myung Tae-gun, a political influence peddler, who allegedly fixed polls for Kim Gon-hee and perhaps Yoon, used by party insiders to select candidates for the National Assembly races. Just recently, Lee Jun-seok, the former young PPP leader, was also implicated by Myung Tae-gyun, who allegedly also called for fixed polls to grease Yoon's selection as the PPP conservative party presidential candidate over Hong Joon-pyo who was actually ahead at the time. These were internal polls used by the PPP and not publicized.

Even editorials in the traditional conservative media reflected that Yoon doesn't seem to get the message about his spouse, and the need to take significant steps to limit her influence in the presidential office and party. On the left of center side, the feeling is Yoon should either be impeached for abuse of power, or his term reduced by two years by a constitutional amendment.

Below is a good link to a discussion of Yoon's presentation Thursday night in the Hankyoreh:

‘Whatever the case, I apologize’: Yoon’s 140-minute nothingburger press conference

Meanwhile, while opposition leader Lee Jae-myung faces two trials in the next two weeks on contrived charges, Yoon had the nerve to accuse the democratic party of using false accusations and special investigations for unjustified political purposes. That's funny coming from him.

Yoon is referred to as V-1 in the independent opposition media meaning VIP number one. Kim Gon hee the first lady is referred to as V-O, and is regarded as the first priority of the Yoon administration, ahead of Yoon himself; both in terms of influence and keeping her out of prison.

Demo Saturday as usual by labor unions, media employees, democratic party figures, and the candlelight movement supporters.

언론 알아야 바꾼다 (언알바 awn al ba) a youtube pundit I follow claimed there were 400,000 at the demo. Lee Jae-myung gave a great speech, emphasizing the economic hardships the country was enduring, and the deaf ear of the administration on that. I couldn't estimate the size, no good camera angles. There will be more demos next week.

Gallup Korea reports a further 2 percent drop in Yoon's approval rating. Disapproval rating 74 percent.

Over in Japan-

Thanks for the O&E OntheCusp!

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語必忠信 行必正直

@soryang reminds me of the crooked shit that goes on and on and on in my county.
Yoon is just a loving and protective husband, soryang. Lol!
Nobody in Japan's government has a firm grasp of their history from the previous 100 years. Well, I guess the same thing could be said about the US. It's just a thing.
Find something fun and interesting to do this weekend and let the home repair worries be there for you to face next week. We all need a break now and again.
Thanks for dropping by and for the interesting news from Asia, my friend!

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"We'll know our disinformation program is complete when everything the American public believes is false." ---- William Casey, CIA Director, 1981

soryang's picture

@on the cusp

Took a walk at Smokey's favorite park just now. Unfortunately, did deal with repairs people today. Met an elderly acquaintance at the park, who doesn't do digital, internet etc., lives alone. She has roof damage and no insurance. I told her I thought Disaster Assistance.org (FEMA) could probably offer substantial financial aid, I hope she calls a government office, and gets someone to assist her.

Somebody was sitting with her, and said something like, sounds like bs to me. I know people who got between 15 and 20 grand plus because they didn't have insurance during Ian. That didn't pay for everything of course, but its better than nothing. There are also transitional cost payments that are a lot less, but again, better than nothing.

Saw something that gave me a laugh last night at the apartments, while taking a walk. Some idiot on light motorcycle was looking to get around a car waiting to get in at the security gate. So the metal gates were open in the oncoming lane, for cars leaving, and no one was coming, so he decided to drive on the wrong side to get in quicker. He didn't see the automatic gate that goes up and down, when a vehicle approaches from the other side. It was dusk. So he drives right through the gate breaking it on his handlebars, with pieces flying into him hitting him in the midsection. Luckily it's a breakaway design, and did no apparent damage to anything but his ego. So he says, "stupid gate, the red lights are on the wrong side." LOL. I couldn't stop laughing. Dog knows I needed a laugh.

edit fixed typos.

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語必忠信 行必正直

@soryang That biker needs to learn to stop and enjoy the sights for a minute here and there, just to save time and money.
Ya know, it would be an incredible adjustment to have no internet. And also, not to know how to maneuver around on it. It would be like living in the wild west, awaiting the pony express to bring a newspaper. I hope the elderly lady will make a call and contact FEMA. Isn't there a liaison in your local government that helps the elderly? For that matter, someone in her church, if church is a thing with her? My last suggestion is free legal organizations. They are nation wide. They could assist her at low or no cost.
Well, we are going to go out to dinner tonight. No doubt, we will run into friends, and we won't have to cook and clean up the kitchen! It's the little things.

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"We'll know our disinformation program is complete when everything the American public believes is false." ---- William Casey, CIA Director, 1981

have an interesting take on the Trump win. They call it a mandate, with which I can't argue, and have some very interesting views on the Democratic Party, which, in their opinion, is done and over. 1hr.25 minutes. Very interesting to hear their chat about black voters swing hard right.

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"We'll know our disinformation program is complete when everything the American public believes is false." ---- William Casey, CIA Director, 1981