Dennis Quaid just ended his career.

Horace

@89th said in Dennis Quaid just ended his career.:

@Mik said in Dennis Quaid just ended his career.:

My feelings are not that far off his, although I would prefer not to vote for him. It really comes down to what you think the greatest threat to the republic is.

I can understand that position. And while I wouldn't mind Trump's impact to the stock market, SCOTUS, and unscripted press conferences... his actions during his time in office and handling of the election loss makes that answer easy for me. It's hard to describe the ripple effect from the election... tens of millions still believe he didn't lose, believe there is widespread election fraud and conspiracies, think it's normal for an outgoing President not to attend inauguration activities for his successor or communicate an acceptance of a transition of power. It's all just mind boggling and I refuse to become numb to it.

I'm fine with Biden, and I know he's actually a mainstream corporate centrist, which I can get along with. He gives lip service to the stuff I hate, but even if he didn't, that stuff I hate would be here to stay. There will always be a certain white savior component of politics, where one's life is one's performative virtue, and losers are to be infantilized rather than respected as the potential winners they may be, if they will it to be so. I think the culture was very ripe for concerns over election integrity, and the unprecedented moral panic that Trump instilled in the culture after his win in 2016 made the conspiracies inevitable. I will never not know how many millions of people would actually have participated in any given election fraud, in order to keep Meteor of Death Trump from the oval office. How does one reconcile that with a true belief that there was no fraud? One has to trust the system, which I did, and I do. But that same system is what keeps Trump from becoming dictator for life, and now look how many people who consider election fraud a ridiculous conspiracy, believe that Trump the Fascist Dictator is all but a done deal if he's elected again.

Copper

Judge Instructs Jurors They Need Not Believe Trump Is Guilty To Convict Him

NEW YORK, NY — As the criminal trial involving former President Donald Trump winds to a close, the presiding judge instructed jurors that they don't have to believe Trump is guilty to convict him.

The reminder from Judge Juan Merchan was issued to the jury as closing arguments began, with the judge clarifying that Trump doesn't necessarily have to be guilty of a crime in order for the jury to find Trump guilty of a crime.

"Don't get hung up on whether or not he's ‘guilty' of anything," Judge Merchan instructed jurors. "Words like ‘guilty' or ‘innocent' or ‘evidence' are really just for show, anyway. The important thing is that you listen to the closing arguments with an open mind and an unwavering commitment to handing down a guilty verdict. Remember, believing Trump is guilty is not important. Declaring him guilty — that's what you're all here for."

https://babylonbee.com/news/judge-instructs-jurors-they-need-not-believe-trump-is-guilty-to-convict-him?utm_source=The Babylon Bee Newsletter&utm_medium=email

89th

@LuFins-Dad said in Dennis Quaid just ended his career.:

Biden would be if he could, Trump, due to extraordinary circumstances, was.

Well summarized. Biden would be if he could LOL.

Again, I'll take the justices and the stock market if Trump wins, but a Biden (Harris) term I think would be a predictable few years (which the stock market also likes btw) and would basically keep things status quo until (hopefully) DeSantis or another conservative comes into power in 2028 and restores a bit of sanity, youth, and convention to the oval office.

LuFins Dad

I’m being asked to choose between Lung Cancer or Heart Disease. My personal answer? I’m not playing, thanks anyway.

LuFins Dad

But I am also not going to get all high and mighty and insulting on anybody else over how they vote.

Unless it’s for Biden.

Or Trump.

Jolly

Again, ask yourself who can do the most damage to the country, Trump or Biden?

In reality, those are your choices.

I think the weaponization of the Just-Us Department may be one of the worst things to happen in D.C. in decades...

Mik

I have to agree. The fact that it is, however openly or clandestinely, supported by a major party is terrifying to me. The things I hear about why I should be terrified of Trump as a threat to democracy hold no water outside 1/6. He is not the first presidential candidate to question the election, but he is the first one to act on it in this manner. I question his judgment.

LuFins Dad

@Jolly said in Dennis Quaid just ended his career.:

Again, ask yourself who can do the most damage to the country, Trump or Biden?

In reality, those are your choices.

I think the weaponization of the Just-Us Department may be one of the worst things to happen in D.C. in decades...

You honestly believe that genie is going back in that bottle?
You honestly believe Trump would put that genie back in the bottle?

Or, do you think (like I do) that Trump is thinking “Oh… That’s allowed? Okay… Wait till it’s my turn again…”

I think it’s just going to get worse.

Horace

The thought experiments of "if he does this, then he becomes Fascist Dictator..." seem to end up at SCOTUS, and SCOTUS, in the minds of the rational, rather than the TDS infected, is not in Trump's court.

They also tend to include "executive orders", which, if we democracy-minded people have an issue with, then we democracy-minded people should probably vote to put some limits on.

Jolly

@LuFins-Dad said in Dennis Quaid just ended his career.:

@Jolly said in Dennis Quaid just ended his career.:

Again, ask yourself who can do the most damage to the country, Trump or Biden?

In reality, those are your choices.

I think the weaponization of the Just-Us Department may be one of the worst things to happen in D.C. in decades...

You honestly believe that genie is going back in that bottle?

You honestly believe Trump would put that genie back in the bottle?

Or, do you think (like I do) that Trump is thinking “Oh… That’s allowed? Okay… Wait till it’s my turn again…”

I think it’s just going to get worse.

Unless stopped by SCOTUS, it's going to get worse, Trump or no.

Politics is MAD, on a much smaller scale. Successful nations limit the antics of political parties through good law and fair application of those laws.

LuFins Dad

Frankly, I don’t think many on the right want to fix it (not that I’m sure it can be fixed, including by the Supreme Ct). I think they are more interested in revenge and escalation. I’m sure Donald will deliver for you. Enjoy.

I will admit that I will get some vicarious pleasure out of watching people’s heads explode and the gnashing of teeth and wailing that will come from a Trump victory…

Copper

Mr. DeNiro seems to actually believe that Mr. Trump will never leave.

People are funny.

LuFins Dad

@Copper said in Dennis Quaid just ended his career.:

Mr. DeNiro seems to actually believe that Mr. Trump will never leave.

People are funny.

At Trump’s age and BMI, he can be President for Life and not go past 2028.

taiwan_girl

@89th said in Dennis Quaid just ended his career.:

It's hard to describe the ripple effect from the election... tens of millions still believe he didn't lose, believe there is widespread election fraud and conspiracies, think it's normal for an outgoing President not to attend inauguration activities for his successor or communicate an acceptance of a transition of power.

Yeah, I was talking to someone about that there was no evidence, etc of vote fraud, and their response was something like, "the absence of evidence does not equal that the evidence does not exist"

I felt like saying, "Okay, I believe that you are a child molester, The absence of evidence does not equal that evidence does not exist." But, it was smarter to keep my mouth shut. LOL

The New Coffee Room

Dennis Quaid just ended his career.