If Wishes Were Horses, Beggers Would Ride

Flipping a blue state sounds eminently doable in our brave new world of President Trump. He has knocked the Democrat party flat on its corrupt ass with a flurry of executive orders, bills, and foreign policy changes that are designed to remake our economy, culture, and relationship with the rest of the world. The Democrats are scrambling everywhere, and it is a gratifying thing to see!

But the GOPe, or failed Republican Party, or whatever you want to call them is still a powerful force in many states, and their sclerotic vision for America has created significant issues for the Trump Doctrine. And no more so than in NJ, which has a pathetic, useless, feckless, corrupt state Republican apparatus.

The proof is their perennial candidate for governor, Jack Ciattarelli. He ran in 2017 and 2021, and obviously lost both times, the second time in the general election to a pathetic, chinless scumbag Goldman Sachs apparatchik who is the quintessential machine Democrat.

But hope springs eternal in the Garden State! I guess the third time will be the charm.

New Jersey's Blue Wall Is Crumbling, and Democrats Know It

New Jersey, a state that reliably votes blue in national elections, has long been considered a Democratic stronghold. But the political winds have shifted. The party that once took victory for granted now finds itself in a full-blown panic, pouring cash into a race that should have been an afterthought. The reason? Voters are restless, and the Democratic brand is tarnished.
This isn't just about one election. It's about the growing sense that Democrats are losing their grip on New Jersey. Donald Trump's support in New Jersey has grown with each election, hitting a record 1.9 million votes in 2024.

Sounds great! Except Ciattarelli is a machine politician without a coherent political philosophy other than he wants to be governor. He was an anti-Trumper until he saw which way the wind was blowing, but even then he tried to titrate his responses to keep the image of a maverick. Like when he denied knowing that a "Stop The Steal" rally he headlined was...you know...a "Stop The Steal" rally!

He offers nothing other than the GOPe pablum with a dash of faux-Trump muscularity to keep the base interested. He also has presented nothing substantive to combat the obvious crookedness of NJ elections. And if you dip into his policy statements, you will discover a central planner in disguise.

Can he win? Sure. Will he win? I doubt it. He is a boring politician without a clear message for New Jersey: otherwise known as a typical Republican. He is running against another boring politician, Mikie Sherrill, but she has the massive backing of the Democrat machine that will manufacture votes in whatever way it can to ensure her victory.

Until the Corporate Republican Party recognizes that it is not business as usual, it will continue to lose these sorts of races, because its lack of vision into the sea change that is possible in the United States prevents them from supporting the types of candidates that will be successful in Trump-curious areas.

Posted by: CBD at 12:00 PM

Comments

(Jump to bottom of comments)

1 Good afternoon everyone

Posted by: Skip at July 13, 2025 12:00 PM (+qU29)

2 If Elons plan was just to find better candidates it would benefit conservatives

Posted by: Skip at July 13, 2025 12:03 PM (+qU29)

3 You can lead a commenter to a thread but you can't make them comment

Posted by: Skip at July 13, 2025 12:04 PM (+qU29)

4 It's seniority. For decades, both major parties ran that way at the state/local levels. Dems largely ditched that over the past 30 years, but GOP state operations are still stuck in 1955...

Posted by: man at July 13, 2025 12:04 PM (tubbA)

5 There may be some closer-to-the-grassroots changes going on in Joisey. I just watched a short video from Washington Gun Law where he talks about a town that voted to effectively reduce the cost of a concealed carry permit by refunding the part of the fee that goes to the town to the applicant. It's only two towns so far but it's something I would never have expected from NJ.

Posted by: Oddbob at July 13, 2025 12:05 PM (/y8xj)

6 If whores were smores they would get roasted over a fire. New Jersey! Like Old Jersey. This is an opinion. And words and words and words and words and words and words and words and words and words. Scoffing. Sneering. Black pill, get your black pill here. I have complaints. I am dissatisfied. My mouth is open wide. To emit some more words! This is not AI- generated. These are real words.

Posted by: Cellphoning It In at July 13, 2025 12:10 PM (GwRY3)

7 If we win, we have to lead! That's not who we are!!

Posted by: GOPe at July 13, 2025 12:10 PM (/6GbT)

8 There may be some closer-to-the-grassroots changes going on in Joisey. I just watched a short video from Washington Gun Law where he talks about a town that voted to effectively reduce the cost of a concealed carry permit by refunding the part of the fee that goes to the town to the applicant. It's only two towns so far but it's something I would never have expected from NJ.
Posted by: Oddbob at July 13, 2025 12:05 PM (/y8xj)

It's pronounced, "Jersey". Brooklyn people say "Joisey". Even people I know from Hoboken and JERSEY City don't say Joisey. Sheesh.

I'm sure Fen will agree.

Posted by: thatcrazyjerseyguy at July 13, 2025 12:11 PM (5xuJ/)

9 We bailed on NJ, and the Metro NY area in general, in 1988. Moved to coastal NC, and have never looked back. When Captain Schettino is at the helm, abandon ship!

Posted by: This Ship Be Sinkin'! at July 13, 2025 12:11 PM (G5+As)

10 Christine Todd Whitman and Chris Christie are the prototypical GOPe republicans that seem to come out of NJ

As with all blue states I wonder about the extent of ballot cheating there….

Virginia seems like a more likely blue pickup; already has a republican guv

Posted by: LinusVanPelt at July 13, 2025 12:11 PM (lepZb)

11 The GOP's priorities do not align with the priorities of the typical, GOP voter. They'll tell you they do.

But they lie.

Posted by: Martini Farmer at July 13, 2025 12:11 PM (Q4IgG)

12 4 It's seniority. For decades, both major parties ran that way at the state/local levels. Dems largely ditched that over the past 30 years, but GOP state operations are still stuck in 1955...
Posted by: man at July 13, 2025 12:04 PM (tubbA)

It would be nice if the GOP would field local candidates, instead of ceding the cities to the Left...

Posted by: Cow Demon at July 13, 2025 12:12 PM (vm8sq)

13 Scott Pressler is all-in on that race. Generally I give that kid the benefit of the doubt and we have to try to win EVERY battleground. Imagine if we DO make NJ purple just because of the efforts put into this ONE race. The winner of 2028 ultimately has power over the Census. We can flip NJ red for at least that, and if the governor election is only the halfway point of getting enough voters to register GOP and seat still stays Dem, it'll still be a worth-it checkpoint on the way to flipping NJ red nationally in time for 2028. Doable, regardless of NJ Governor outcome but only if we put in the necessary work.

Posted by: geewhiz at July 13, 2025 12:12 PM (wn50e)

14 Please clap?

Posted by: Jeb! at July 13, 2025 12:12 PM (PiwSw)

15 Posted by: Oddbob at July 13, 2025 12:05 PM (/y8xj)

There are many parts of NJ that are conservative.

Sadly, the state is dominated by the cities, and the squishy suburbs of NYC and Philly.

Posted by: CharlieBrown'sDildo at July 13, 2025 12:12 PM (VTAje)

16 Now that I have a decent State Senator, I need a decent State Rep. My State Rep is absolutely worthless.

And I am in TX.

Posted by: Cow Demon at July 13, 2025 12:12 PM (vm8sq)

17 Good morning! I would love to see a red state turn blue and agree, Skip, Elon is a powerful force- he needs to channel it in the (arguably frustrating) channels we have. Other ways lead us to Bill Clinton.

Posted by: Piper at July 13, 2025 12:13 PM (pZEOD)

18 13 Scott Pressler is all-in on that race. Generally I give that kid the benefit of the doubt and we have to try to win EVERY battleground. Imagine if we DO make NJ purple just because of the efforts put into this ONE race. The winner of 2028 ultimately has power over the Census. We can flip NJ red for at least that, and if the governor election is only the halfway point of getting enough voters to register GOP and seat still stays Dem, it'll still be a worth-it checkpoint on the way to flipping NJ red nationally in time for 2028. Doable, regardless of NJ Governor outcome but only if we put in the necessary work.
Posted by: geewhiz at July 13, 2025 12:12 PM (wn50e)

At this point I'd be happy to see the NJSSR split its electoral votes (which it can do IIRC).

Posted by: Cow Demon at July 13, 2025 12:14 PM (vm8sq)

19 "Until the Corporate Republican Party recognizes that it is not business as usual"

This is how I see them. Corporate. They love big business and corporate money. Small business and little mom and pop shops and middle class Americans? Nope. They want the big corporations with the big corporate money.
They're just store bought whores with law degrees and swanky cocktail parties.

$2Million same as in town.

Posted by: Madamemayhem (uppity wench) at July 13, 2025 12:14 PM (2J/Lj)

20 Trump can't run any more. Who else do they have, after? It's establishment Republicans all the way down.

Posted by: Boss Moss at July 13, 2025 12:14 PM (mrACD)

21

this is what pissed me off most about Musk and his new party.

If he dedicated spending his money and effort on purging every RINO we can, that would have made the difference he supposedly seeks.

Oh well.

Posted by: J.J. Sefton at July 13, 2025 12:16 PM (x0n13)

22 What's a Begger?

Posted by: Chinglish? at July 13, 2025 12:17 PM (G5+As)

23 There are many parts of NJ that are conservative.

Sadly, the state is dominated by the cities, and the squishy suburbs of NYC and Philly.
Posted by: CharlieBrown'sDildo at July 13, 2025 12:12 PM (VTAje)

Sadly, CBD, that is true and has been for decades. And, the union membership in our state is very heavily influenced by the Democrat party. Between the state and teachers unions, they, in most cases, have the elections sewn up tight.

Posted by: thatcrazyjerseyguy at July 13, 2025 12:18 PM (5xuJ/)

24 $20 Same as in town.

Posted by: Boss Moss at July 13, 2025 12:18 PM (mrACD)

25 Trump can't run any more. Who else do they have, after? It's establishment Republicans all the way down.

On a 1 (Trump) to 10 (Jeb), I would put DeSantis and Vance at 5, Paxton at 3, and Rubio at... I have no idea where.

Posted by: Oddbob at July 13, 2025 12:19 PM (/y8xj)

26 FWP > NJ

Posted by: Biden's Dog sniffs a whole lotta malarkey, at July 13, 2025 12:19 PM (3447G)

27 Paxton who?

Posted by: Boss Moss at July 13, 2025 12:20 PM (mrACD)

28 VA and NJ can be flipped. 2021 showed this. VA was flipped and NJ was flipped as well but fraud gave it to the Dem.

However that was after Biden “won” in 2020. Those two states will go the opposite way of the previous election. A Republican won a landslide in 2009 in Virginia as a rebuke to Obama’s win in 2008. Chris Christie won as well during Obama’s time.

But Republicans winning the year after Trump won? Not gonna happen.

Posted by: Its Go Time Donald at July 13, 2025 12:20 PM (ImXfC)

29 Hey. I'm doing my best in my inexorable journey to become New Jersey.

Posted by: Virginia at July 13, 2025 12:21 PM (XQo4F)

30 This is how I see them. Corporate. They love big business and corporate money. Small business and little mom and pop shops and middle class Americans? Nope. They want the big corporations with the big corporate money.
They're just store bought whores with law degrees and swanky cocktail parties.

$2Million same as in town.

Posted by: Madamemayhem (uppity wench) at July 13, 2025 12:14 PM (2J/Lj)

We need a law that says if your business expands to any point beyond 10 employees on any additional locations, you (the owner) will be subject to a thorough beating by police. If you attempt to expand beyond your town, the police execute you summarily.

Posted by: Cow Demon at July 13, 2025 12:21 PM (vm8sq)

31 I suspect if you removed the false votes NJ has been slightly red since 2016 or so

Posted by: 18-1 at July 13, 2025 12:22 PM (t0Rmr)

32 NJ just might be too close to the NY rot

Posted by: Skip at July 13, 2025 12:22 PM (+qU29)

33 27 Paxton who?
Posted by: Boss Moss at July 13, 2025 12:20 PM (mrACD)

Bill.

We're tying his corpse to a stick and running him.

Posted by: The GOP's Deep Bench at July 13, 2025 12:23 PM (LWcg2)

34 So AoC is calling Trump out on the Epstein files.

Is this 5th dimensional chess to get the Dems to argue for him to release them before he drops the hammer on Clinton and Hollywood?

Or...did he and Bondi really just make a big mistake?

Posted by: 18-1 at July 13, 2025 12:23 PM (t0Rmr)

35 Begger Vance.

Posted by: He was a golfer. at July 13, 2025 12:23 PM (XQo4F)

36 Good morning! I would love to see a red state turn blue and agree, Skip, Elon is a powerful force- he needs to channel it in the (arguably frustrating) channels we have. Other ways lead us to Bill Clinton.
Posted by: Piper at July 13, 2025 12:13 PM (pZEOD)
******
I would love for a blue state to flip Red.
I'm hoping Elon will come to his senses and realize that he will only be helping the Democrats by forming a new party.

Posted by: redridinghood at July 13, 2025 12:23 PM (NpAcC)

37 Good chunks of northern NJ, are Muslim now, along with a ton of illegals. This isn’t Jersey Shore or Sopranos New Jersey anymore.

Posted by: Its Go Time Donald at July 13, 2025 12:24 PM (ImXfC)

38
But Republicans winning the year after Trump won? Not gonna happen.
Posted by: Its Go Time Donald at July 13, 2025 12:20 PM (ImXfC)

This due to Republican and conservative voters being fat, dumb and happy. They need not participate in elections (self-government is TOO HARD) because, well, we have our King.

(Such is the thinking, anyway. I'd like for voters to be every bit as hungry next year, but history suggests otherwise.)

Posted by: Cow Demon at July 13, 2025 12:24 PM (vm8sq)

39 If he dedicated spending his money and effort on purging every RINO we can, that would have made the difference he supposedly seeks.

I think that was Plan A but he wasn't ready for the resistance he received. As mentioned before, he's an autist and he can't cope with unmet expectations very well.

All that said, I have no problems with his 3rd party. Competition is good. It sharpens distinctions and forces change in order to keep market share. Unlike many here, I don't blame Perot for Bush's loss, I blame Bush. He had four years to convince us to keep him and he couldn't do it. That's not on Perot.

Posted by: Oddbob at July 13, 2025 12:24 PM (/y8xj)

40 And thank you for using that old saying as a title! I rarely hear that used anymore. I use it, along with..
If "ifs" and "ands" were pots and pans, there'd be no work for tinkers!

Most people have no idea what a tinker actually is.

Yesterday the boy, his lady, and our delightful grandson visited. Someone said something that brought to mind the lyrics of that old Sinatra song "The Lady is A Tramp". I made a comment using the lyric and everyone, including Hubbymayhem, just stared at me. No knew that song! I was disappoint.

Posted by: Madamemayhem (uppity wench) at July 13, 2025 12:25 PM (2J/Lj)

41 A third party? I'm all ears!

Posted by: Ross Perot at July 13, 2025 12:25 PM (XQo4F)

42 "I would love to see a red state turn blue"

Stay tuned!

Posted by: Georgia at July 13, 2025 12:26 PM (vFG9F)

43 >>> 39
==
I don't blame Perot for Bush's loss, I blame Bush. He had four years to convince us to keep him and he couldn't do it. That's not on Perot.
Posted by: Oddbob at July 13, 2025 12:24 PM (/y8xj)

"read my lips"

Posted by: GHW Bush at July 13, 2025 12:27 PM (ULPxl)

44 I think Musk greatly misunderstood how American politics work/don't work. Either or. His engineering background looks at problems as solvable, in some manner, shape or form.

Politics ain't like that. Thus, great frustration over it.

His energies would be much better spent on primarying RINO's and election/voting reforms. Neither are as "sexy" as a new political party tho'.

Posted by: Martini Farmer at July 13, 2025 12:27 PM (Q4IgG)

45 NJ just might be too close to the NY rot
Posted by: Skip at July 13, 2025 12:22 PM (+qU29)
******
Yep.
Besides that the state went for Kamala not Trump, so I don't think they will change course.

Posted by: redridinghood at July 13, 2025 12:27 PM (NpAcC)

46 NJ just might be too close to the NY rot
Posted by: Skip at July 13, 2025 12:22 PM (+qU29)

Many from NYC and Long Island have relocated here. With their voting habits intact. That's been going on since the mid 60's, accelerated through the 70's. Now, they are entering bidding wars when they look for a house. Tons of apartments are being built in every town that has a railroad station, especially Woodbridge, New Brunswick, Edison, Bound Brook, Somerville, and towns along the shore RR line. They live here, but it's very easy to commute to their jobs in the city.

Posted by: thatcrazyjerseyguy at July 13, 2025 12:30 PM (5xuJ/)

47 Strawberry fields forever!

Posted by: Newscum at July 13, 2025 12:33 PM (vFG9F)

48 its lack of vision

Hard to see past piles of cash.

Posted by: DaveA at July 13, 2025 12:34 PM (FhXTo)

49 Good chunks of northern NJ, are Muslim now, along with a ton of illegals. This isn’t Jersey Shore or Sopranos New Jersey anymore.

Posted by: Its Go Time Donald at July 13, 2025 12:24 PM (ImXfC)

That's an exaggeration, and the real problem is home grown.

Posted by: CharlieBrown'sDildo at July 13, 2025 12:34 PM (VTAje)

50 The cat is pouting. I didn't give her a potato chip.

Posted by: Madamemayhem (uppity wench) at July 13, 2025 12:36 PM (2J/Lj)

51 Pouting Cat would be a good Indian name.

Posted by: Captain Obvious, Laird o' the Sea at July 13, 2025 12:38 PM (XZ5S6)

52 >>> 51 Pouting Cat would be a good Indian name.
Posted by: Captain Obvious, Laird o' the Sea at July 13, 2025 12:38 PM (XZ5S6)

Poutine Cat is her Canadian cousin.

Posted by: Helena Handbasket at July 13, 2025 12:39 PM (ULPxl)

53
I don't blame Perot for Bush's loss, I blame Bush. He had four years to convince us to keep him and he couldn't do it. That's not on Perot.
Posted by: Oddbob at July 13, 2025 12:24 PM (/y8xj)

__________

GHWB was a lightweight. One of those people who bops from position to position without doing much in any of them. He trotted onto the field for Dear Old Yale and Bulldog, Bulldog except he was going up against Ohio State.

Posted by: Hadrian the Seventh at July 13, 2025 12:39 PM (HZi96)

54 I live in Virginia. Another state where the GOP can still be competitive, but also where the party is a bunch of worthless hacks who stumble into success, not of their own making.

Glen Youngkin has been a good governor, but if Terry McAuliffe hadn't stepped on his dick in 2021, he'd be governor and not Youngkin. I imagine the CIA chick will be the next governor, and I might be moving.

Posted by: Ex Rex Reeder at July 13, 2025 12:40 PM (MZ+PY)

55 Like when he denied knowing that a "Stop The Steal" rally he headlined was...you know...a "Stop The Steal" rally!

---

I don't know anything about New Jersey, or about Ciabatta or whatever his name is. But I can easily see how a regular politician could go to a Stop The Steal rally and regret it later. Stop The Steal was successfully re-branded as a bunch of loonies, and some of the top people who pulled it off were Republicans.

"I thawt the election was crooked, but gimme a break, dey wuh torkin' about Chinese thoimostats in deah!"

Posted by: Bombadil at July 13, 2025 12:44 PM (MX0bI)

56 Hubbymayhem and I are building a small purse for me. I basically designed the thing and Hubbymayhem cut the very thin lightweight boards and drilled holes for the thread to go thru. Then we use fabric "sewn" between the two boards. Board front and back, fabric sides and bottom. The fabric I chose is thick and tough and printed to look like leather but with a "finished " back so I don't need a lining fabric.
This fabric is made entirely out of hatred. It should have been simple! We've done this before! He handles the wood working and I do the sewing. But this fabric is actually made out of hatred and I can't get a needle thru it without using pliers! I tried and managed to stab myself in the boob with a very large needle. It drew blood! Now Hubbymayhem has banned me from working on this and is man handling that needle himself to protect the boobs.
Some men will go to extremes for their lady and her boobs!

Posted by: Madamemayhem (uppity wench) at July 13, 2025 12:47 PM (2J/Lj)

57 Jack Ciattarelli — A thin Chris Christie.

Posted by: Ralph at July 13, 2025 12:48 PM (8WZD4)

58 >>> Posted by: Madamemayhem (uppity wench) at July 13, 2025 12:47 PM (2J/Lj)

*starts stopwatch, waiting for "pics" requests"

Posted by: Helena Handbasket at July 13, 2025 12:49 PM (ULPxl)

59 This due to Republican and conservative voters being fat, dumb and happy. They need not participate in elections (self-government is TOO HARD) because, well, we have our King.

(Such is the thinking, anyway. I'd like for voters to be every bit as hungry next year, but history suggests otherwise.)
Posted by: Cow Demon at July 13, 2025 12:24 PM (vm8sq)

Local elections are in odd years where I live. Our county votes 65-70% Republican for president, senate, congress? Governor.

Then every local position goes to a leftists the next year. Because nobody pays attention to anything other than “the big stuff”. Even though your local school board and city council has more impact on your day to day life than who your senator is.

Posted by: Its Go Time Donald at July 13, 2025 12:49 PM (ImXfC)

60 this is what pissed me off most about Musk and his new party.

If he dedicated spending his money and effort on purging every RINO we can, that would have made the difference he supposedly seeks.
-
Why would he though?

He doesn't want candidates that are more conservative, he wants those with more 'common sense,' which is to say, agree with him.

Posted by: Methos at July 13, 2025 12:51 PM (zLwRl)

61 The free South has been flooded with Jersey refugees. They're being replaced by Muslims.

Muslims are like gheys; they only vote for each other.

Posted by: Field Marshal Zhukov at July 13, 2025 12:51 PM (wBaIH)

62 This due to Republican and conservative voters being fat, dumb and happy. They need not participate in elections (self-government is TOO HARD) because, well, we have our King.

(Such is the thinking, anyway. I'd like for voters to be every bit as hungry next year, but history suggests otherwise.)
Posted by: Cow Demon at July 13, 2025 12:24 PM (vm8sq)

Local elections are in odd years where I live. Our county votes 65-70% Republican for president, senate, congress? Governor.

Then every local position goes to a leftists the next year. Because nobody pays attention to anything other than “the big stuff”. Even though your local school board and city council has more impact on your day to day life than who your senator is.
Posted by: Its Go Time Donald at July 13, 2025 12:49 PM (ImXfC)

Don't forget state and local judges, either!

Posted by: Hour of the Wolf at July 13, 2025 12:52 PM (S/Y4j)

63 Elon Musk may be a genius engineer and businessman but he’s an absolute retard in the realm of politics. His new party will do nothing but make things worse; and that’s if he actually succeeds in getting a little something off the ground (which will only siphon votes from republicans)

Posted by: LinusVanPelt at July 13, 2025 12:52 PM (ANuwa)

64 Elon wants unlimited H1B.

For that alone he can FOAD.

Posted by: Its Go Time Donald at July 13, 2025 12:53 PM (ImXfC)

65 64. Him and Gates both

Posted by: night lifted at July 13, 2025 12:56 PM (/YboP)

66 65 64. Him and Gates both
Posted by: night lifted at July 13, 2025 12:56 PM (/YboP)

If Microsoft wants more H1B workers, then move the jobs to India and stop the pretense. Just admit you won't consider having Americans to work for you, by moving the jobs outright. Better yet, just move the whole verdamnt company there, and see how much India sticks up for you. Their CEO, Satya Nadella, will be home.

Posted by: Hour of the Wolf at July 13, 2025 12:58 PM (S/Y4j)

67 If Wishes Were Horses, Beggers Would Ride

If turds were biscuits I'd eat til I died.

Posted by: toby928 at July 13, 2025 01:02 PM (ptgc5)

68 Posted by: LinusVanPelt at July 13, 2025 12:52 PM (ANuwa)

Not retarded, just ignorant.

Dumb/retarded = unintelligent, unable to learn due to lack of intelligence.
Stupid = having no common sense. Could be very intelligent but no common sense makes stupid.
Ignorant = uneducated/uninformed on a topic. Someone with no real experience with something is ignorant on that thing.

Musk is intelligent and seems to have plenty of common sense. But he was woefully uninformed and inexperienced with American politics. Like Trump, he thought the Republicans and even some demoncrats love the country and want to do what is obviously in the best interest of the country and the people. He was wrong. Trump learned that hard lesson and came back with a plan to burn everyone to the ground if they, once again, didn't follow the will of the people.
Musk is going to figure this out. My guess is he will go back to playing with his rockets and leave politics to the insane.

Posted by: Madamemayhem (uppity wench) at July 13, 2025 01:03 PM (2J/Lj)

69 Microsoft has been moving a lot of jobs to India. There are around 10k direct employees in the country. In the latest round of mass layoffs it was almost all US jobs. India was pretty much untouched. Along with Eastern Europe which is kinda the new India as far as tech outsourcing goes.

The majority of employees is still US based but the ratio of US: Non-Us is shrinking every year.

Posted by: Its Go Time Donald at July 13, 2025 01:03 PM (ImXfC)

70 I live in Virginia. Another state where the GOP can still be competitive, but also where the party is a bunch of worthless hacks who stumble into success, not of their own making.

The right has no process to produce rightwing politicians.

Our limited NGO/pundit positions are almost completely held by controlled opposition GOPers.

Want consistent conservative politicians? Then we need to build a structure to do so just like the left has built. And that ruthlessly purges non-conservatives

Posted by: 18-1 at July 13, 2025 01:04 PM (t0Rmr)

71 Where have you gone, Vivek Slamalamadingdong?
The Indian nation's H1B parasites turn their lonely eyes to you...

Posted by: David Patel, Motel Owner at July 13, 2025 01:05 PM (R/m4+)

72 MSFT pays about 1/3 for people in India as in the US.

It is good for stockholders I suppose, but not for Americans.

The biggest stockholders are: Vanguard, Blackrock, and State Street.

So...three groups that don't care about what is good for Americans...

Posted by: 18-1 at July 13, 2025 01:07 PM (t0Rmr)

73
Posted by: Its Go Time Donald at July 13, 2025 01:03 PM (ImXfC)

============

If we have to have cheap Indian labor, I'd rather it be Indians in India than H1-B tribalists running the tech companies. I acknowledge the overgeneralization.

Posted by: Blonde Morticia at July 13, 2025 01:07 PM (xp7+v)

74 The right has no process to produce rightwing politicians.

Our limited NGO/pundit positions are almost completely held by controlled opposition GOPers.

—

Not just no process for politicians, but no process for building a movement. The left has billions of dollars for setting up grassroots groups. This is how within a week you get 1000 No Kings protests organized. That doesn’t just happen by luck. It happens because there is a vast network in place to make it happen.

And it’s also how any time there is a bill like the BBB this network is in place to oppose it. All the opposition to the BBB did t just happen. It was planned. The bbb still passed but only by the skin of its teeth and it was watered down to nothing. And even though it passed and does nothing, this network of the left has convinced everyone it cuts Medicaid from single mothers.

Posted by: Its Go Time Donald at July 13, 2025 01:08 PM (ImXfC)

75 "...Except Ciattarelli is a machine politician without a coherent political philosophy other than he wants to be governor."

You nailed it, CBD, except that I'm not even sure how much he really wants to be governor. He actually had a chance in his first run against Murphy (when the truck driver won a seat in the state Senate) but he never even disputed the election after that last-minute Bergen County ballot dump. He wanted to lose with dignity, and got his wish.

Ciattarelli is a joke.

Posted by: Darrell Harris at July 13, 2025 01:09 PM (13SMu)

76 The proof is their perennial candidate for governor, Jack Ciattarelli.

Will he be better than a Democrat if he wins? Even slightly? Make the Bolsheviks spend money where they don't want to. It's not limitless.

Posted by: toby928 at July 13, 2025 01:09 PM (ptgc5)

77 California, Oregon and Illinois, and other blue states have more red counties than blue. But they all both dominated by urban Democrats, where the population advantage lies.
Look at the electoral map by counties from 2024, and this becomes very clear.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/296834021272
As many major cities across the US descend further into chaos (think SF, Philly and soon NYC) perhaps the GOP can pick up more votes from dissatisfied moderate Democrats and Independents.

Posted by: proudvastrightwingguy at July 13, 2025 01:10 PM (Ovc06)

78 Purging the Republican Party of RINOs and GOPe rent seekers is a long-term process. I became the Chair of my counties Republican Party in 2015, just finished my term this year (term limited out). At our level, we were doing everything we could to sideline the New England Country Club Republicans that really couldn't grasp the fundamental change that Trump was bringing to the Party. Change that was desperately needed if we wanted to win. 10 years later, we have seen some real success outside of the Minneapolis/St. Paul, Rochester, Mankato, Duluth, St. Cloud areas. We just can't seem to get Trump style Republicans to run in those areas, and when we do, the moneymen don't support them financially so they can't compete against the DFL opponents. The GHW Bush New England Country Club Republicans are aging out, but they have done everything in their power to cripple the reshaping of the Republican Party to becoming something that can actually turn this country around. George Will and the rest of his ilk have much to answer for creating the get along go along attitude of that generation of Republicans. We are winning, and we are changing the Party, but it is a long-term process.

Posted by: Assassin6 at July 13, 2025 01:10 PM (grnGK)

79
if he actually succeeds in getting a little something off the ground
Posted by: LinusVanPelt

=============

As Sean Spicer said, "Who's gonna work for him?" Which Republican operatives and fund raisers are going to trash their futures by abandoning the GOP (as pathetic as it is) for "the America party"?

Posted by: Blonde Morticia at July 13, 2025 01:11 PM (xp7+v)

80 So Windows11 is the overengineered H1B version of Windows7.

Posted by: Reforger at July 13, 2025 01:12 PM (lPvx2)

81 It is interesting to see how... incestuous politics gets. The same people. The same families. The same social circles.

Posted by: Aetius451AD work phone at July 13, 2025 01:12 PM (Yamow)

82 Not just no process for politicians, but no process for building a movement.

I do think back to the 90s when the biggest protest movement in America was Operation Rescue.

It was the right putting together protests...and the left used every tool they had to arrest everyone involved. But in the end it was Mitch McConnell and the GOPe that destroyed the right's popular wing via FACE.

And even though it passed and does nothing, this network of the left has convinced everyone it cuts Medicaid from single mothers.

The same people will claim Elon stole everyone's SS checks...even if theirs still came on time. Members of the left repeat mantras, but it isn't clear if they believe them or not. I guess it largely doesn't matter as long as they continue to do what they are told.

Posted by: 18-1 at July 13, 2025 01:12 PM (t0Rmr)

83 I would rather be ruled by 1974 Democrats than the 2000s Republicans. I remember when Reagan was running against the intolerable $80B deficit that Carter ran up.

Posted by: toby928 at July 13, 2025 01:12 PM (ptgc5)

84 What do you think of Gavin Newsom for 2028? I heard that he has a lot of baggage, but I'm finding it hard to get information on his past. I really like him and I hope he runs in 2028. Please say nice things about him. I'm running out of hope.

Baggage like Hillary or Obama? Or Biden? Not even. Republicans have a few months to turn this nice white guy with very few scandals into a demonic hell beast. And he doesn't have a vagina. Or dark skin. So it will be a little difficult.

But they won't stop with lies and innuendo. They have the military in his back yard. Anything could happen. He's not folding.

Right now, California has a bit of a bad reputation in a lot of the country, and some people blame Newsom for it. If the primaries were right now, I don't think he'd do well. Newsom is smart political animal. He's not my first choice, but I could see myself voting for him. He's got charisma, so he might go all the way.

He was married to Kimberly Guilfoyle. That makes me wonder a little bit about his judgment. I do like him, though, as a strong voice in the party.

I prefer someone like AOC or Jasmine Crockett. Someone left of center.

Posted by: Intercepted DU Transmissions brought by the Intrepid AoS Liaison at July 13, 2025 01:13 PM (2YQ+U)

85 I prefer someone like AOC or Jasmine Crockett. Someone left of center.
Posted by: Intercepted DU Transmissions brought by the Intrepid AoS Liaison at July 13, 2025 01:13 PM

Is there a Democrat that isn't left of center?

These people are delusional.

Posted by: toby928 at July 13, 2025 01:14 PM (ptgc5)

86 If Jack C. Speaks at the picnic that I'm going to attend , I will let you know what he had to say. He was invited. Whether he will attend, I do not know.

Posted by: FenelonSpoke at July 13, 2025 01:14 PM (2GCMq)

87 They look at Gavin Newsome and see nice boy? Weird. People are just strange.

Posted by: Aetius451AD work phone at July 13, 2025 01:15 PM (Yamow)

88 It is interesting to see how... incestuous politics gets. The same people. The same families. The same social circles.

If you think of politics as "public service", doing good, etc this stuff makes no sense. In a country of 350M people, obviously the child/wife/brother of a pol is NOT the most qualified person to replace them.

If you instead think of politics as primarily a source of money and power though it becomes easy to understand. Who inherits a rich man's assets and wealth? His family, his lovers, his friends.

Now notice how politics plays out the same...

Posted by: 18-1 at July 13, 2025 01:15 PM (t0Rmr)

89 Is there a Democrat that isn't left of center?

They mean left of center among Democrats.

These people are delusional.

Yeah, that too.

Posted by: Oddbob at July 13, 2025 01:17 PM (/y8xj)

90 The GOPe is seriously lacking in situational awareness. If it were a single person, it would be the sort that gets caught unawares, and totally unprepared, by a grisly bear.

Posted by: Paco at July 13, 2025 01:18 PM (mADJX)

91 The GOPe is seriously lacking in situational awareness. If it were a single person, it would be the sort that gets caught unawares, and totally unprepared, by a grisly bear.
Posted by: Paco at July 13, 2025 01:18 PM

I go back and forth on this. If their purpose is to be the secret leftists that always lose to the out and proud Marxists, what would they do differently?

Posted by: toby928 at July 13, 2025 01:19 PM (ptgc5)

92 Don't vote. It only encourages them.

Posted by: George Carlin at July 13, 2025 01:20 PM (KLmsn)

93 [iI would rather be ruled by 1974 Democrats than the 2000s Republicans.
[also]
Is there a Democrat that isn't left of center?

This country and our supposed political center has moved hard left pretty consistently for almost 30 years now.

Trump, by 2000 standards, would be a center-left Democrat. And yet now we are told he is a far right extremist.

Now lefties deny this claiming the country has been moving right...and they argue this in silly ways, for example arguing "transphobia" is increasing. Well, 30 years ago a tranny showing up to do drag queen story hour at an elementary school would like be beaten AND arrested.

But you can sometimes get them to acknowledge we, and they, have gone far left, into things they would have denied anyone would have wanted then. They'll tell you "we've learned so much since then". And you can then have fun by asking, "so out of the things that you currently consider beyond the pale, horrible, and disgusting, what do you think in another 20 years you'll be arguing is just reasonable and commonsense since you will have against learned so much more?"

That has always, always ended the conversation

Posted by: 18-1 at July 13, 2025 01:21 PM (t0Rmr)

94 Jasmine Crockett and Sandy Cortez lean so far left of center that they've fallen over and hopefully as the old commercial says they "can't get up" By this, I wish no physical harm on them, just that their ideas would be completely rejected and they are elected no longer.

Posted by: FenelonSpoke at July 13, 2025 01:21 PM (2GCMq)

95 And no more so than in NJ, which has a pathetic, useless, feckless, corrupt state Republican apparatus.

*waves*

Posted by: WA State at July 13, 2025 01:23 PM (/U5Yz)

96 But you can sometimes get them to acknowledge we, and they, have gone far left, into things they would have denied anyone would have wanted then. They'll tell you "we've learned so much since then".

Barack Obama thought gay marriage was a bridge too far. I can't even see Domestic Partnerships in my rearview mirror now.

Posted by: toby928 at July 13, 2025 01:23 PM (ptgc5)

97 I also think that you should send your remarks to Jack C, CBD. He probably isn't reading ASHQ.

Posted by: FenelonSpoke at July 13, 2025 01:23 PM (2GCMq)

98 Barack Obama thought gay marriage was a bridge too far. I can't even see Domestic Partnerships in my rearview mirror now.

Yep, as late as 2012 Democrats formally opposed gay marriage, let alone trannies, let alone transing kids.

Posted by: 18-1 at July 13, 2025 01:24 PM (t0Rmr)

99 The DooM is strong here today. I may need to step up the manufacture of fainting couches.

Posted by: Somewhere South of I-80 at July 13, 2025 01:26 PM (89Sog)

100 We had a perennial also-ran GOP candidate in Illinois named Jim Oberweis, who eventually got the clue and relocated to a red state. At least he could say he was the ice cream magnate of Illinois.

The Illinois GOP has completely collapsed since the halcyon days of Jim Edgar. Could not believe I lived to see the collar counties go freaky tattooed MILF AWFL commie.

Posted by: Big Fat Meanie at July 13, 2025 01:28 PM (qwx/I)

101 Barack Obama thought gay marriage was a bridge too far. I can't even see Domestic Partnerships in my rearview mirror now.

Yep, as late as 2012 Democrats formally opposed gay marriage, let alone trannies, let alone transing kids.

That's what happens when you're utterly devoid of principles other than power. There are no natural stopping points, no governors.

Posted by: Archimedes at July 13, 2025 01:28 PM (Riz8t)

102 Here's a video of Gavin's "apology" for having an extramarital affair with his best friend/campaign manager's wife when he was SF Mayor.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KKir3tFsTAM
After 8 years as SF mayor, 8 years as Lt. Guv and 8 years as Guv, the dysfunction/corruption and mismanagement of the Golden State can be laid right at his feet.

Posted by: proudvastrightwingguy at July 13, 2025 01:29 PM (Ovc06)

103 True story, back when the push was on for gay marriage/the then Domestic Partnerships, I went to a Town Hall for our Rep and got to speak on the subject. As you may recall it was all 'Oh, we can't even visit our loved ones in the hospital' and such shite. So I asked the Rep to nip this in the bud by making it so that anyone can legally name anyone as their Next of Kin. That would have taken care of all their plaints without giving away the store.

He listened and then started giving me advice on what I and 'Your Partner' could do. I was in the Seinfeld I'm-not-gay skit.

Posted by: toby928 at July 13, 2025 01:30 PM (ptgc5)

104 The good news is the left is fighting against reality itself and that always ends eventually.

The bad news is they've spent 30 years or so making the US Federal government the primary tool of spreading their woke religion to the world.

Eventually doesn't necessarily mean in our life times.

But it largely comes down to three things:

1) Finding and supporting political leaders that can and will fight...and win. Like Lincoln we should be aggressively deposing leaders that can't/won't fight AND those that just don't win...

2) Building explicitly right wing political and social organizations, and again removing leaders here that don't lead.

3) Waking up the normies. Given a choice between woke and normal, they'll choose normal. But they don't want to make choices and they don't want to follow politics. MAKE them choose and find ways that mesh with their interests to get them some understanding of what is going on.

Posted by: 18-1 at July 13, 2025 01:31 PM (t0Rmr)

105 Not that there's anything wrong with that.

Posted by: toby928 at July 13, 2025 01:32 PM (ptgc5)

106 From Instapundit - retard leftist is so offended by by an SAS (??) gathering that he stops to heckle and challenge people to fight him. Looks somewhat gym-bro-ish at the beginning, but then he starts walking towards the person filming:
https://is.gd/3btiSo

Posted by: Helena Handbasket at July 13, 2025 01:32 PM (ULPxl)

107 The GOP state senator, Senate minority leader in Sacramento, signed a letter a few weeks ago to DHS begging for non-enforcement of immigration law in "critical industries". Not making this up (though I might have some non-material details wrong). Along with 5 other elected GOP from around the state.

This is pretty illustrative of the CA GOP's quality and potential. Even in 2025, stunning and pathetic.

Posted by: rhomboid at July 13, 2025 01:34 PM (1m82a)

108 It's a mistake to compare political eras like that...the demographics, values, economic structure, culture, etc are completely changed since 1974.

Hell, it's completely changed since 2008. I was backing Rudy in 2008 and was told here that he wouldn't be viable in the South because of gun rights.

Posted by: Big Fat Meanie at July 13, 2025 01:34 PM (qwx/I)

109
The Illinois GOP has completely collapsed since the halcyon days of Jim Edgar. Could not believe I lived to see the collar counties go freaky tattooed MILF AWFL commie.

Look at it from a different perspective. Imagine you are someone who has had some success in business, or the military, or any non-political organization, you are politically right leaning, and you think you could make a good politician but you live in a blue area.

If you enter you will probably lose the race. And when you enter that political race most of your former business/etc colleagues will disown you. And after you lose you can fall back on...what?

So why take that risk? This is why I argue we need right leaning organizations for those people to fall back on and support themselves. Instead that money and position goes to fund Jonah Goldberg's hotdog budget and Bill Kristol's cabin boy fund.

Posted by: 18-1 at July 13, 2025 01:35 PM (t0Rmr)

110 91 I go back and forth on this. If their purpose is to be the secret leftists that always lose to the out and proud Marxists, what would they do differently? - toby928

Some, indeed, may be leftist plants, but I think most are just complacent timeservers, exemplars of Babbitry, small-minded people who have no vision and no sense of existential danger. They're embarrassed by the zeal of the genuine conservatives in the party because they have no firm principles themselves and resent their constituents' sometimes noisy insistence that their constitutional rights be respected. They are mere stickmen on whom we cannot rely.

Posted by: Paco at July 13, 2025 01:37 PM (mADJX)

111 Barack Obama thought gay marriage was a bridge too far. I can't even see Domestic Partnerships in my rearview mirror now.

And yet, the Dems are apparently looking at Obama to pull them out of the ditch. Do it. DO ITTTTT!!!!

https://is.gd/Hz4qBJ

Posted by: Archimedes at July 13, 2025 01:37 PM (Riz8t)

112 The Delmarva is red except for Delaware. Kegans barely won because of the urban area around Virginia Beach. Local news might as well be NYC for all the shootings.

Posted by: Accomack at July 13, 2025 01:38 PM (oERdd)

113 Can't find a soul I'm Delaware who foisted Sundowner onto the country

Posted by: Skip at July 13, 2025 01:41 PM (+qU29)

114 103 So I asked the Rep to nip this in the bud by making it so that anyone can legally name anyone as their Next of Kin. - toby928

I, too, thought that something like that would have been a decent compromise. Why not small "voluntary civil associations", not limited to sexual relationships, that would share most of the same rights as families?

Posted by: Paco at July 13, 2025 01:41 PM (mADJX)

115 Speaking of governor races, Iowa's is going to get interesting. We were driving and I saw a sign for an unfamiliar name for governor. I was pretty sure we're not in an election year, so I had to look it up. Turns out I was right, Rob Sands from the Democrat party is throwing his hat into the ring suuuuuper early. Kim Reynolds is not running for re-election, and this Dem is the only Dem at a statewide level (state auditor). I'm not thrilled about any of the prospective GOP nominees, and I certainly don't want our congressman to run because we *need* him Congress.

Keep an eye on this one, it could get wild, since the state GOP doesn't love Trump but the voters do.

Posted by: pookysgirl, resting from vacation at July 13, 2025 01:42 PM (Wt5PA)

116 It's a mistake to compare political eras like that...the demographics, values, economic structure, culture, etc are completely changed since 1974.
-
Because the Left and their backers have constantly pushed across the board for "Change!" while the Right was mainly concerned with making the stock market numbers bigger.

Posted by: Methos at July 13, 2025 01:43 PM (zLwRl)

117 Newt was the the last gasp of even pretend fiscal conservatives among the Republican leadership. At this point we are so far past the debt event horizon I can't even imagine a solution that doesn't involve default, either de jure with repudiation, or de facto with inflation.

Posted by: toby928 at July 13, 2025 01:43 PM (ptgc5)

118 And yet, the Dems are apparently looking at Obama to pull them out of the ditch. Do it. DO ITTTTT!!!!

I'm not as sure as you and the writer of that article seem to be that Obama would be a minus for the Dems. Certainly we all think he's a loser but we were in the minority for two elections with that view. I think he still holds a lot of sway within the party and a not insignificant amount in the country as a whole. And of course the MFM would relish any opportunity to break out the halo pics again.

Posted by: Oddbob at July 13, 2025 01:44 PM (/y8xj)

119 So yeah, fiscal doom. I just want the New Dollar to Reagan on it and not Obama.

Posted by: toby928 at July 13, 2025 01:44 PM (ptgc5)

120 Really, Skip? The only place I ever saw Biden signs/flags was in Delaware. I did see more Trump signage than Biden along that route, up 113 to the DMB. I never take 13

Posted by: Accomack at July 13, 2025 01:46 PM (T1QkV)

121 I, too, thought that something like that would have been a decent compromise. Why not small "voluntary civil associations", not limited to sexual relationships, that would share most of the same rights as families?
Posted by: Paco at July 13, 2025 01:41 PM (mADJX)

How about "adopted sibling"? Might be useful for single elders, too, for tax and inheritance reasons.

Posted by: Alberta Oil Peon at July 13, 2025 01:46 PM (75bSB)

122 But, then again, you are SE Pa and Wilmington.

Posted by: Accomack at July 13, 2025 01:47 PM (T1QkV)

123 There's nothing wrong with two confirmed bachelors adopting each other as brothers.

Posted by: toby928 at July 13, 2025 01:48 PM (ptgc5)

124 113 Can't find a soul I'm Delaware who foisted Sundowner onto the country

Nor a German in Munich who was a Nazi.

Posted by: Archimedes at July 13, 2025 01:50 PM (Riz8t)

125 > And yet, the Dems are apparently looking at Obama to pull them out of the ditch. Do it. DO ITTTTT!!!!
---------
Yea, the guy whose junta put thousands of deep state ticks in FedGov to dick up the works for anyone but leftists. Ticks that are still there. Many in black robes. Others in FedGov manager's offices.

No thanks.

Posted by: Martini Farmer at July 13, 2025 01:50 PM (Q4IgG)

126 It's mid eighties, sun's out, and golf almost over, new kid looks to win, that's always nice.
Rose of sharon and butterfly bush, and daisies in full bloom, I will go sit among them soon and wallow in the food thread. For which I got nothing.

Posted by: From about That Time at July 13, 2025 01:50 PM (n4GiU)

127 And yet, the Dems are apparently looking at Obama to pull them out of the ditch. Do it. DO ITTTTT!!!!

I'm not as sure as you and the writer of that article seem to be that Obama would be a minus for the Dems. Certainly we all think he's a loser but we were in the minority for two elections with that view. I think he still holds a lot of sway within the party and a not insignificant amount in the country as a whole. And of course the MFM would relish any opportunity to break out the halo pics again.

The problem with being a fad is that fads inevitably die. Obama was a celebrity, not a politician. He has been revealed as feckless, dishonest, and selfish. The MFM would certainly try, but I think they'd be flogging a dead horse's skeletal ghost.

Posted by: Archimedes at July 13, 2025 01:51 PM (Riz8t)

128 If Microsoft wants more H1B workers, then move the jobs to India and stop the pretense. Just admit you won't consider having Americans to work for you, by moving the jobs outright.

Posted by: Hour of the Wolf at July 13, 2025 12:58 PM

Microsoft has been moving a lot of jobs to India. There are around 10k direct employees in the country. In the latest round of mass layoffs it was almost all US jobs. India was pretty much untouched. Along with Eastern Europe which is kinda the new India as far as tech outsourcing goes.

The majority of employees is still US based but the ratio of US: Non-Us is shrinking every year.

Posted by: Its Go Time Donald at July 13, 2025 01:03 PM

The same has been happening in the US auto industry since COVID. Ford, GM and FCA/Stellantis have pushed out probably 50% of their local engineers / management and replaced them with cheap labor in India, Mexico and people from India living in Canada (mostly Toronto, which seems to be majority Muslim and dot-Indian now). Almost all American companies have used the move to remote work to eliminate their American workforce and replace with remote cheap labor in India, Mexico and Canada.

Posted by: Clyde Shelton at July 13, 2025 01:51 PM (P5BPp)

129 Not to short change FWP or nothing, but got to tie up the tomato plants some before breaking out the tablet out back.

Posted by: From about That Time at July 13, 2025 01:53 PM (n4GiU)

130 I'm eating six day old smoked pork with chili Fritos. My wife won't eat leftovers that are more than 2 days old so I have to deal with about 3lbs of barbeque.

Posted by: toby928 at July 13, 2025 01:56 PM (jc0TO)

131 I have to deal with about 3lbs of barbeque.
Posted by: toby928 at July 13, 2025 01:56 PM (jc0TO)

That sucks.

Posted by: Reforger at July 13, 2025 01:58 PM (lPvx2)

132 That sucks.
Posted by: Reforger at July 13, 2025 01:58 PM

Yeah, FWP and cooking thread content combined.

Posted by: toby928 at July 13, 2025 01:58 PM (jc0TO)

133 My wife won't eat leftovers that are more than 2 days old so I have to deal with about 3lbs of barbeque.

Ten day's from when cooked if kept in cold fridge. Seven days is better, but ten usually won't make you sick. Meats, veggies don't last.

Posted by: From about That Time at July 13, 2025 01:59 PM (n4GiU)

134 My wife calls me goat child.

Posted by: toby928 at July 13, 2025 01:59 PM (jc0TO)

135 I grew up in a family where wasting food was considered an actual sin.

Posted by: toby928 at July 13, 2025 02:00 PM (jc0TO)

136 Meat better have been green before you threw it way, and even then it went to the dog.

Posted by: toby928 at July 13, 2025 02:01 PM (jc0TO)

137 1ST WORLD NOOD

Posted by: Skip at July 13, 2025 02:01 PM (+qU29)

138 Well, the new kid golfer won, Rory second. His name's Gotterup.
He Gotterup a while back, he finally got 'er 'ome in Scotland.

Posted by: From about That Time at July 13, 2025 02:02 PM (n4GiU)

139 MSFT pays about 1/3 for people in India as in the US. It is good for stockholders I suppose, but not for Americans.

Posted by: 18-1 at July 13, 2025 01:07 PM

Same for US auto industry. Stellantis pays 1/3 to 1/2 wages to cheap labor "engineers" in India as they do for a local American direct employee in the same position. My position when I was a direct employee was at $108k. The cheap labor "engineers" working remotely in India, Mexico and people from India working remotely in Canada are making about half that.

Not to mention, since they are contracted cheap labor, Stellantis does not have to pay for their health insurance, 401(k) or profit sharing.

And then there are those of us who were laid off last year who were forced to take a pay cut down to $83k if we could get back in to our former positions. But Stellantis has a policy in place that for every local American engineer hired, the department has to hire 3-4 BCCs (Best Cost Country cheap labor "engineers").

In my dept., prior to COVID, we were 100% local engineers, with probably a 75-25 split in direct vs contract. Over the past 5 years, the dept. is 80% remote BCCs with only 20% local engineers.

Posted by: Clyde Shelton at July 13, 2025 02:02 PM (P5BPp)

140 Yesterday, I'm sure it won't be official, but here in NW Nevada 4 out of my 5 thermometers around the yard broke 110°f. The one that didn't was 104. Wifes car said 119 at one point about 5pm.
Today looks worse.

Posted by: Reforger at July 13, 2025 02:02 PM (lPvx2)

141 If we have to have cheap Indian labor, I'd rather it be Indians in India than H1-B tribalists running the tech companies. I acknowledge the overgeneralization.

Posted by: Blonde Morticia at July 13, 2025 01:07 PM

Indians in India are being given all the engineering jobs in the auto industry. Wonder why the quality in auto industry has gone to shit, it's because of the 72 average IQ Indian "engineers" that have been hired over the past 5 years in the auto industry who are completely incompetent with zero work ethic. Trust me, I have been working with these idiots for the past 3 years.

Posted by: Clyde Shelton at July 13, 2025 02:04 PM (P5BPp)

142 Until the Corporate Republican Party recognizes that it is not business as usual
-------------

They are blinded by lack of character and willingly led by money and little children.

Posted by: Braenyard - some Absent Friends are more equal than others _ at July 13, 2025 02:05 PM (KFYyV)

143 Not just no process for politicians, but no process for building a movement. The left has billions of dollars for setting up grassroots groups. This is how within a week you get 1000 No Kings protests organized. That doesn’t just happen by luck. It happens because there is a vast network in place to make it happen.

Posted by: Its Go Time Donald at July 13, 2025 01:08 PM

Yep, I found out about Discover the Networks about 10-12 years ago. And when I did, it was shocking and depressing. Then there is all the power and influence the WEF has, not to mention companies like Vanguard and Blackrock. Conservatives have nothing even close to any of that.

The left also has something in mass amounts that conservatives do not have... plenty of do-nothing losers who are willing to be paid activists. Conservatives are busy actually working and raising families and living normal lives, while the left makes their lives all about activism.

Discover the Networks: https://bit.ly/3CkMrr1

Posted by: Clyde Shelton at July 13, 2025 02:09 PM (P5BPp)

144 The GOPe is seriously lacking in situational awareness. If it were a single person, it would be the sort that gets caught unawares, and totally unprepared, by a grisly bear.
Posted by: Paco at July 13, 2025 01:18 PM (mADJX)

They're the ones that try stand by a wild water buffalo to take a selfie.

Posted by: Dr. Pork Chops & Bacons at July 13, 2025 02:19 PM (g8Ew8)

145 Barack Obama thought gay marriage was a bridge too far. I can't even see Domestic Partnerships in my rearview mirror now.

Yep, as late as 2012 Democrats formally opposed gay marriage, let alone trannies, let alone transing kids.

Posted by: 18-1 at July 13, 2025 01:24 PM

According to Grok, Barack Obama publicly expressed his support for same-sex marriage on May 9, 2012, during an interview with ABC News.

So during the 2012 Presidential campaign, the Democrat party officially came out in support of same-sex "marriage". He also opposed Prop 8 in 2008:

"Barack Obama opposed Proposition 8 in California, which sought to ban same-sex marriage. During the 2008 presidential campaign, he expressed his opposition to the measure, stating that he believed marriage should be between a man and a woman but also opposed Proposition 8 because it was discriminatory and unnecessary. However, his stance on same-sex marriage itself evolved later, as he announced his support for it in 2012."

Posted by: Clyde Shelton at July 13, 2025 02:22 PM (P5BPp)

146 Yesterday, I'm sure it won't be official, but here in NW Nevada 4 out of my 5 thermometers around the yard broke 110°f. The one that didn't was 104. Wifes car said 119 at one point about 5pm.
Today looks worse.
Posted by: Reforger at July 13, 2025 02:02 PM (lPvx2

Wow. Who would've thought that Nevada was hot?

Posted by: Dr. Pork Chops & Bacons at July 13, 2025 02:23 PM (g8Ew8)

147 If wishes were fishes, beggars would complain about having to eat seafood all the time.

Posted by: Jon at July 13, 2025 02:40 PM (0wBhX)

148 My dad said that pretty frequently. Back in the day.

Posted by: NC Ref at July 13, 2025 03:21 PM (846VF)

149 144 The GOPe is seriously lacking in situational awareness. If it were a single person, it would be the sort that gets caught unawares, and totally unprepared, by a grisly bear.
Posted by: Paco at July 13, 2025 01:18 PM (mADJX)

They're the ones that try stand by a wild water buffalo to take a selfie.
_____

Or falling asleep in their car which they parked astride an active railroad track.

Posted by: THE Grand Old Pussies at July 13, 2025 03:57 PM (qUkBO)

150 "[T]the GOPe, or failed Republican Party, or whatever you want to call them is still a powerful force in many states, and their sclerotic vision for America has created significant issues for the Trump Doctrine."

John Hinderaker of Power Line - whose Republican Party Country Club blazer is always smartly pressed - has announced that it's certain the Democrats will regain a majority in the House of Representatives in 2026.

Posted by: LibertyDefender at July 13, 2025 06:08 PM (Z+Yyx)

151 There may be some closer-to-the-grassroots changes going on in Joisey.
-- Oddbob at July 13, 2025 12:05 PM (/y8xj)

8 It's pronounced, "Jersey". Brooklyn people say "Joisey". Even people I know from Hoboken and JERSEY City don't say Joisey. Sheesh. I'm sure Fen will agree.
--thatcrazyjerseyguy at July 13, 2025 12:11 PM (5xuJ/)

* * *

There might be a slight "AR" inflection but yeah, it's pronounced "Jersey."

Posted by: LibertyDefender at July 13, 2025 06:13 PM (Z+Yyx)

152 13 Scott Pressler is all-in on that [NJ Governor] race.
Posted by: geewhiz at July 13, 2025 12:12 PM (wn50e)

That is very good news.

Posted by: LibertyDefender at July 13, 2025 06:16 PM (jnSxx)

153 15 There are many parts of NJ that are conservative.

Sadly, the state is dominated by the cities, and the squishy suburbs of NYC and Philly.
Posted by: CharlieBrown'sDildo at July 13, 2025 12:12 PM (VTAje)

* * *

Similarly, many parts of Virginia are conservative, but the Commonwealth is dominated by the deep staters and govt contractors in northern Virginia.

NoVaMoMes are great there, though.

Posted by: LibertyDefender at July 13, 2025 06:21 PM (jnSxx)

154 23 Between the state and teachers unions, they, in most cases, have the elections sewn up tight.
Posted by: thatcrazyjerseyguy at July 13, 2025 12:18 PM (5xuJ/)

And of course the teachers' union members are govt/state employees.

I wonder what %age of NJ teachers know that "to secure these [individual civil] rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed."

Posted by: LibertyDefender at July 13, 2025 06:29 PM (jnSxx)

155 38
But Republicans winning the year after Trump won? Not gonna happen.
Posted by: Its Go Time Donald at July 13, 2025 12:20 PM (ImXfC)

This due to Republican and conservative voters being fat, dumb and happy. They need not participate in elections (self-government is TOO HARD) because, well, we have our King.
Posted by: Cow Demon at July 13, 2025 12:24 PM (vm8sq)

This is why it's such good news that Scott Pressler is working in New Jersey.

Posted by: LibertyDefender at July 13, 2025 06:35 PM (jnSxx)

156 46 Tons of apartments are being built in every town that has a railroad station, especially Woodbridge, New Brunswick, Edison, Bound Brook, Somerville, and towns along the shore RR line.
Posted by: thatcrazyjerseyguy at July 13, 2025 12:30 PM (5xuJ/)

Metuchen?

Posted by: LibertyDefender at July 13, 2025 06:38 PM (jnSxx)

157 78 Purging the Republican Party of RINOs and GOPe rent seekers is a long-term process. . . . success outside of the Minneapolis/St. Paul, . . . areas. . . . The GHW Bush New England Country Club Republicans are aging out, but they have done everything in their power to cripple the reshaping of the Republican Party to becoming something that can actually turn this country around.
Posted by: Assassin6 at July 13, 2025 01:10 PM (grnGK)

Is John Hinderaker's Power Line blog in a death spiral? He keeps his Republican Party Country Club blazer smartly pressed.

Posted by: LibertyDefender at July 13, 2025 06:48 PM (jnSxx)

158 Traditional politicians are traditional politicians. They didn't go into politics to fix the country. They went in to make a lot of money and be big shots. The money is not in fixing things, it is in making interests happy. Joe Regular can't pay you, make sure you get a cushy job, or steer you to big opportunities, or put their finger on something so you make bank. Making government less overreaching lowers a politician's leverage to get paid. D & R are just marketing terms and perhaps somewhat determining which segment of the real world they grift from.

Posted by: azjaeger at July 13, 2025 08:48 PM (3/XaG)

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Posted by: Trusted O-Dsmt Suppliers For Research at July 13, 2025 08:56 PM (/XGaJ)

160 defunding USAID also defunded the Democrats ground machine ... all the NGO's are foot soliders for the Dems ...

they are in full retreat and now is the time to ride them down and finish them off ...

Posted by: The Dark Lord at July 14, 2025 04:27 PM (DBAaD)

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