Wednesday Morning Rant

Entitlement

With the primaries more or less over and the general election now peeking over the horizon, everybody's favorite silly season pastime is getting ready to kick into high gear: polling. Yes, "polls are for strippers" and I don't much care what public polling says. This is especially true given some of the, ahem, "interesting surprises" in various primaries (especially in California and Minnesota) that seem to indicate that polling won't reflect reality even if polling itself could be a reliable indicator of reality. Nevertheless, we persist in one of our preferred national distractions.

Although I do not find polling to be interesting or particularly meaningful, I do sometimes find interest in reporting about polling. Regardless of what any given poll says, its coverage will help reveal what the establishment's opinion is or provide additional clarity about establishment attitudes. Fox News recently provided a good example of what I find interesting about poll coverage. They were covering a Marquette poll that included questions about Trump's job approval.

The Fox News coverage is interesting in its framing:

Fox News Power Rankings: As Democrats turn left, Black voters tap the brakes
Two-thirds of young Americans and 71% of Hispanics disapprove of Trump, but Black voters haven't fully returned

The headline and subheadline alone tell the story, but the article removes any ambiguity about the framing:

Black voters haven't come all the way home yet. One in five Black Americans approves of Trump, but only 69% say they'll support a Democrat in their district. That’s 21 points below Biden's 2020 share of the Black vote, when he thanked those voters for delivering his victory.

Note the language. Black voters have yet to "fully return" or "come home" to the Democrats in terms of candidate support. You see, black voters belong to the Democrat Party. They are Party property. They may have strayed over the past couple of years, but they'll return home eventually. Just like a lost pet. As one of the least sophisticated press outlets, Fox News is more foolish than most in inadvertently saying the quiet part out loud, but this is still a somewhat dramatic example of the phenomenon.

The establishment attitude is pretty clear: black people are owned by the Democrats. Any deviation is merely a temporary condition, and it is fully expected for them to come to their senses and quit stepping out with their Republican side-pieces. It matters not what the Parties do, the Democrats are entitled to black voters. They own black voters. It just can't be any other way. As Paul Anka put it, "That's just the f**king way it is." Only an establishment so comfortable in its status quo could be so nakedly contemptuous while describing who is entitled to who's votes.

This is how the political class views Americans, and is the root point of identity or other interest-group politics. One Party or another is entitled to racial votes, to education-level votes, to geographic votes, to _______ votes. Any skew between reality and expectation is reality's fault, and the aggrieved party didn't lose, he was merely cheated out what was his by right. This attitude is deeply cynical, defined by contempt and extremely distasteful. They fret over polls if it shows they're being cheated by voting blocs they rightfully own, and fawn over them when it shows everybody on the plantation where they belong. It's as grotesque as it is pervasive, although it is usually better-couched than Fox News managed.

Every election, there is always at least some squawking from somewhere about "entitlement reform." I'm all for it, and it should start in the Parties. None of them are entitled to anything or anyone - and their naked contempt for the voter is getting more than a little bit old.

Posted by: Joe Mannix at 11:00 AM

Comments

(Jump to bottom of comments)

1 FIRST!!!!!

Posted by: Sponge - F*ck Cancer at August 19, 2026 11:00 AM (2YhKe)

2 MANNIX!!!!

not a cop........

Posted by: Sponge - F*ck Cancer at August 19, 2026 11:01 AM (2YhKe)

3 Off to lum, NOOD.

Posted by: Sponge - F*ck Cancer at August 19, 2026 11:01 AM (2YhKe)

4 Done.

Posted by: Sponge - F*ck Cancer at August 19, 2026 11:02 AM (2YhKe)

5 Polls sre for strippers & fire houses.

Posted by: rickb223 at August 19, 2026 11:02 AM (RqFM6)

6 All organizations that aren't explicitly right-wing eventually become left-wing:

The falloff is real. The Economist is now writing about how Paw Patrol “promotes authoritarian capitalism” 😅

Posted by: The ARC of History! at August 19, 2026 11:03 AM (aD4fx)

7 Fox News calls Arizona for Kumswalla......

Posted by: Sponge - F*ck Cancer at August 19, 2026 11:03 AM (2YhKe)

8 The Democrats never accepted not being allowed to own blacks.

Posted by: Brother Tim (102mm/W59), Keeper of the Tim Continuum at August 19, 2026 11:03 AM (OUMaO)

9 Democrats. Soooooo good, you must be brainwashed to support them.

Posted by: Sponge - F*ck Cancer at August 19, 2026 11:04 AM (2YhKe)

10 I guess the MSM took LBJ at his word then.

Posted by: Oddbob at August 19, 2026 11:05 AM (vTZFs)

11 Plantation became a dirty word, but the Dems love to keep they pets on it. With our money.

Posted by: I'm Tired, Boss... at August 19, 2026 11:05 AM (JM9I6)

12 The establishment attitude is pretty clear: black people are owned by the Democrats. Any deviation is merely a temporary condition, and it is fully expected for them to come to their senses and quit stepping out with their Republican side-pieces. It matters not what the Parties do, the Democrats are entitled to black voters. They own black voters.

Once a slave owner, always a slave owner?

Posted by: Sponge - F*ck Cancer at August 19, 2026 11:05 AM (2YhKe)

13 MONKEY!

Posted by: Formerly Virginian at August 19, 2026 11:05 AM (XHO5P)

14 Polls are today's headline writers. Simply there to stimulate mouse clicks and page views.

Posted by: Quarter Twenty at August 19, 2026 11:05 AM (2Ez/1)

15 Seems to me, all pollsters should be investigated and any participating in fraud should be charged with Election Tampering and tried accordingly.

Posted by: Sponge - F*ck Cancer at August 19, 2026 11:06 AM (2YhKe)

16 Biden declared “If you don’t vote for me, you’re not really black”. That’s pretty damn vile, but that’s what passes for leftist political speech these days.

Posted by: Common Tater at August 19, 2026 11:07 AM (dLnkr)

17 Just type in Median Strategies to see how bad polling is in the US.
Polling in the US Political Systems is the equal to Arday at Cambridge.

Posted by: r hennigantx at August 19, 2026 11:07 AM (/+uur)

18 5 Polls sre for strippers & fire houses.
Posted by: rickb223

I loved Emergency!, but was always sad Station 51 was one story with not a pole to be seen.

Posted by: Slide For Life at August 19, 2026 11:07 AM (JM9I6)

19 It's interesting that after 2020, Fox got rid of some, but certainly not all, of their worst offenders when it came to bias, starting with Chris Stirewalt, Chris Wallace, and Shepherd Smith.

I guess they were unable to find better quality replacements, though, since it appears not much has changed. It's almost as if they didn't want to change because their upper level managers and owners agreed with the people they canned.

Posted by: Archimedes at August 19, 2026 11:07 AM (Riz8t)

20 seem to indicate that polling won't reflect reality

They wouldn't be permitted if they did that!

Posted by: t-bird at August 19, 2026 11:07 AM (6eubQ)

21 Biden declared “If you don’t vote for me, you’re not really black”. That’s pretty damn vile, but that’s what passes for leftist political speech these days.
Posted by: Common Tater at August 19, 2026 11:07 AM (dLnkr)

"If you don't know whether you're voting for him or me, well, then you ain't black."

Posted by: Sponge - F*ck Cancer at August 19, 2026 11:07 AM (2YhKe)

22 I like a good poll.

https://tinyurl.com/yjytbjav - Safe for work

Posted by: I used to have a different nic at August 19, 2026 11:08 AM (ExV1e)

23
I loved Emergency!, but was always sad Station 51 was one story with not a pole to be seen.

Posted by: Slide For Life at August 19, 2026 11:07 AM (JM9I6)

*peeks in*

*waves*

Posted by: Peter North at August 19, 2026 11:08 AM (2YhKe)

24 Polls sre for strippers & fire houses.
Posted by: rickb223 at August 19, 2026 11:02 AM (RqFM6)
----
If only there was some way to combine the two...

Posted by: "Perfessor" Squirrel at August 19, 2026 11:08 AM (FZ29D)

25 Just type in Median Strategies to see how bad polling is in the US.
Polling in the US Political Systems is the equal to Arday at Cambridge.

I'm still trying to figure out their angle here. Was it an academic research project? Was it a stalking horse for how much BS they could spew and still be believed? What were they really doing?

Posted by: Archimedes at August 19, 2026 11:08 AM (Riz8t)

26 I think the media's narrative of an ascending Socialist takeover of the country is overblown horseshit.

They may want it (they do) and a fringe demographic of the Democrats want it. But wanting it to be true doesn't make it true.

YMMV

Posted by: Martini Farmer at August 19, 2026 11:09 AM (2Cry5)

27 Biden declared “If you don’t vote for me, you’re not really black”. That’s pretty damn vile, but that’s what passes for leftist political speech these days.

Posted by: Common Tater at August 19, 2026 11:07 AM (dLnkr)

Same general scripted psychological trick as Piker calling voters in MI Islamophobes and then it going "viral". It works on Democrats and the weak-minded (BIRM).

Posted by: ... at August 19, 2026 11:09 AM (Kr1pO)

28 ----
If only there was some way to combine the two...
Posted by: "Perfessor" Squirrel at August 19, 2026 11:08 AM (FZ29D)

Seems a bad idea. No one would leave the station.

Posted by: Sponge - F*ck Cancer at August 19, 2026 11:09 AM (2YhKe)

29 I love tuning into MS Now and hearing about President Trump's historic unpopularity.

I always wonder how he's polling outside their office building.

Speaking of stupid stuff...

MSNow - Florida results
CNN - Midterms
FoxNews - Presidet Trump picks doing very well
CBC - tariffs delayed. Your maple syrup supply is safe.

Posted by: Stateless - keeping 15 year Ralphy happy and alive. Puppy at heart at August 19, 2026 11:09 AM (Sco7b)

30 Yes, Poles are for strippers. We are very pro-stripper.
— horny dudes in Warsaw and Cracow

Posted by: Bulg at August 19, 2026 11:09 AM (77rzZ)

31 What were they really doing?
Posted by: Archimedes at August 19, 2026 11:08 AM (Riz8t)

Poll Numbers are used to create a idea, not measure the idea itself.

Posted by: r hennigantx at August 19, 2026 11:09 AM (/+uur)

32 I'm willing to bet most polls nowadays are simply AI-generated models based on previous sample data.

Posted by: "Perfessor" Squirrel at August 19, 2026 11:10 AM (FZ29D)

33 I think the media's narrative of an ascending Socialist takeover of the country is overblown horses***.

Agreed. You only have to look at what the rest of the party is saying about the commies. They know the deluge is coming.

Posted by: Archimedes at August 19, 2026 11:10 AM (Riz8t)

34 I get ten robocalls a day, each one from a different city in this state. It starts promptly at 08:00. Never a message or text. I'm sure I'm really missing out, when I don't answer them.

Posted by: Rev. Wishbone at August 19, 2026 11:10 AM (tvdD1)

35 Come on... Are you telling me I can't set my hair on fire ? Where's the fun in that?

Posted by: It's me donna at August 19, 2026 11:11 AM (sBAWt)

36 Come on... Are you telling me I can't set my hair on fire ? Where's the fun in that?

I keep a stock of wigs on hand for just that purpose.

Posted by: Archimedes at August 19, 2026 11:11 AM (Riz8t)

37 "If you don't know whether you're voting for him or me, well, then you ain't black."
Posted by: Sponge - F*ck Cancer at August 19, 2026 11:07 AM

Iirc, that was preceded by something like "the black voters already know who they're voting for, so..."

Inartful way of saying that the black vote was sewn up, but still vile to assume that all black people were voting for Biden. The Dems do love them their pets, don't they?

Posted by: RedMindBlueState at August 19, 2026 11:14 AM (bFu5X)

38 My phone (probably the service provider) labels robocalls as "spam risk." They must use a phone bank because the numbers change, but they're all labeled the same.

Posted by: Martini Farmer at August 19, 2026 11:15 AM (2Cry5)

39 Hair fire priority/safety list.
arms > head > pits > nostrils > pubes

Posted by: gp at August 19, 2026 11:16 AM (Jr5Lq)

40 Posted by: Archimedes at August 19, 2026 11:08 AM (Riz8t)

I think Median Strategies was the guy that posts as Spiccoli.

Posted by: Waylon Smithers at August 19, 2026 11:16 AM (wGerL)

41 You Are Here in the DNC DSA psy op: "We establishment Democrats are at **WAR** with the crazy DSA!!" and "Actually you know, socialism IS kinda popular with young people..."

These are the mid-20's versions of "Hey did you hear a random lady ate a sick bat in China, and now a few people appear to be getting sick?" and "Hmm, they actually might have to close a city...".

If you don't see it yet, you will.

Posted by: ... at August 19, 2026 11:16 AM (Kr1pO)

42 39 You left out “ears.”

Posted by: Bulg at August 19, 2026 11:17 AM (77rzZ)

43
Inartful way of saying that the black vote was sewn up, but still vile to assume that all black people were voting for Biden. The Dems do love them their pets, don't they?
Posted by: RedMindBlueState at August 19, 2026 11:14 AM (bFu5X)

"We'll get them n****rs voting democrat for generations."

Posted by: Sponge - F*ck Cancer at August 19, 2026 11:18 AM (2YhKe)

44 Well, this change in tribal affiliation is, IMO, driving the dims to embrace the muzlimbs.

Posted by: man at August 19, 2026 11:18 AM (W2zcl)

45 The establishment attitude is pretty clear: black people are owned by the Democrats.
__

Not this one.

Not now, not ever.

Posted by: SMH at God's mercy at August 19, 2026 11:18 AM (1FnQf)

46 Please, please don’t let Rosa DeLauro or Stacey Abrams show naked contempt for the voters.

Posted by: Kam Fong as Chin Ho at August 19, 2026 11:18 AM (dk1uA)

47
"We'll get them n****rs voting democrat for generations."
Posted by: Sponge - F*ck Cancer at August 19, 2026 11:18 AM (2YhK

LBJ

Posted by: It's me donna at August 19, 2026 11:18 AM (sBAWt)

48 Al Sharpton was always good for speaking for the monolithic voting block. Do people still do that? I'd just as soon put a boot in Al's ass than have him speak for me.

Commies, muslims and socialists are another creature.

Posted by: Rev. Wishbone at August 19, 2026 11:19 AM (tvdD1)

49 Hey Sponge.

Posted by: SMH at God's mercy at August 19, 2026 11:19 AM (1FnQf)

50 Maybe some of the DSA candidates are winning because the establishment Dems suck.

I knew NOTHING about Haley Stevens in Michigan but loathed the bitch from the first commercial. And sure, Abdul wants me dead, but his commercials were great.

Remember when Jeb Bush was next in line.
Screw that.

Posted by: Stateless - keeping 15 year Ralphy happy and alive. Puppy at heart at August 19, 2026 11:20 AM (Sco7b)

51 Are you telling me I can't set my hair on fire ? Where's the fun in that?"

Some of us are folically challenged...

Ergo, ready to light pitchforks.

Posted by: man at August 19, 2026 11:20 AM (W2zcl)

52 Please, please don’t let Rosa DeLauro or Stacey Abrams show naked contempt for the voters.
Posted by: Kam Fong as Chin Ho at August 19, 2026 11:18 AM (dk1uA)

Buy my romance novels!

Posted by: Tank Abrams at August 19, 2026 11:20 AM (2YhKe)

53 Polls sre for strippers & fire houses.
Posted by: rickb223 at August 19, 2026 11:02 AM (RqFM6)
----
If only there was some way to combine the two...
Posted by: "Perfessor" Squirrel

We'd never get the firemen to leave!

Posted by: rickb223 at August 19, 2026 11:20 AM (RqFM6)

54 Hey Sponge.
Posted by: SMH at God's mercy at August 19, 2026 11:19 AM (1FnQf)

*hugs*

Posted by: Sponge - F*ck Cancer at August 19, 2026 11:20 AM (2YhKe)

55 "Biden declared “If you don’t vote for me, you’re not really black”.
Posted by: Common Tater "

Which, according to Dems, will also mean they will become polite, on-time, motivated and punctual.

Posted by: Ripley at August 19, 2026 11:20 AM (GUOwU)

56
Which, according to Dems, will also mean they will become polite, on-time, motivated and punctual.

Posted by: Ripley at August 19, 2026 11:20 AM (GUOwU)

You forgot 'articulate.'

Posted by: Sponge - F*ck Cancer at August 19, 2026 11:21 AM (2YhKe)

57 Nothing will happen.

Posted by: That Guy at August 19, 2026 11:21 AM (0sNs1)

58 Which, according to Dems, will also mean they will become polite, on-time, motivated and punctual.

Posted by: Ripley at August 19, 2026 11:20 AM (GUOwU)

And better tippers!

Posted by: Washington Nearsider: Gotterdammerung at August 19, 2026 11:22 AM (PGK1w)

59 I think you might be over analyzing this.

Let’s’ say middle aged white married men who attend church were at 55% support for Republicans. They’d say the same thing, this group has not returned to the Republican Party. That’s because religious middle aged white married men are like 75% Republican.

Political reporting loves to put people in easy to define categories. Black = Democrat. Married man = Republican. College educated = Democrat. southerner = Republican, etc. It’s also accurate for the most part. Stereotypes exist for a reason after all.

So when any group slightly deviates from the conventional wisdom they treat it like “when will this group go back home” because something is un-natural in the universe.

Posted by: Sandy Cocazio Ortez at August 19, 2026 11:23 AM (qDa2L)

60 Remember when Jeb Bush was next in line.
Posted by: Stateless - keeping 15 year Ralphy happy and alive. Puppy at heart at August 19, 2026 11:20 AM

Miss me yet?

Posted by: Jeb! at August 19, 2026 11:23 AM (0sNs1)

61 Realty is a cruel mistress.

Posted by: Eromero at August 19, 2026 11:23 AM (LHPAg)

62 I prefer aluminum. Has a good strength to weight ratio.

Posted by: Frank Costanza at August 19, 2026 11:23 AM (2Ez/1)

63 Oh, nice. Walgreens flu shot advert. Couple of color, sitting on sofa, tv news says "time to get flu shot"... and they did.

Very sad.

Posted by: man at August 19, 2026 11:24 AM (W2zcl)

64 There's nothing more bitter than an entitled politico like Jeb or Hillary who's been kicked to the proverbial curb by the public.

Posted by: Martini Farmer at August 19, 2026 11:24 AM (2Cry5)

65 I love how we're JUST now finding out "some" poll results are fake. Some! You can't trust polls I guess? Who knew???

Leave it to the crusading media crusading honest crusaders at the LA Times to unearth this one. The real heroes!

The whole world is one big mindfuck.

Posted by: ... at August 19, 2026 11:24 AM (Kr1pO)

66 Miss me yet?
Posted by: Jeb! at August 19, 2026 11:23 AM (0sNs1)

prease crap

Posted by: r hennigantx at August 19, 2026 11:25 AM (/+uur)

67 Realty is a cruel mistress.

Posted by: Eromero at August 19, 2026 11:23 AM (LHPAg)

Adulting sucks......

Posted by: Sponge - F*ck Cancer at August 19, 2026 11:25 AM (2YhKe)

68 What about us?

Posted by: Purple haired overweight tattooed tackle box faced baristas at August 19, 2026 11:26 AM (2Ez/1)

69 Miss me yet?

Posted by: Jeb! at August 19, 2026 11:23 AM (0sNs1)

Al Bundy - "With every bullet so far."

Posted by: Stateless - keeping 15 year Ralphy happy and alive. Puppy at heart at August 19, 2026 11:26 AM (Sco7b)

70 Ear hair is weird. I go to bed, everything's normal. I wake up, and there's a single long-ass hair sprouted off the edge of a lobe, wrapped around my neck. Things they don't warn you about regarding old age.

Posted by: gp at August 19, 2026 11:26 AM (Jr5Lq)

71 57 Nothing will happen.
Posted by: That Guy

Giving consideration to having that engraved on my tombstone.

Posted by: Auspex at August 19, 2026 11:26 AM (Y8DZL)

72 There's nothing more bitter than an entitled politico like Jeb or Hillary"

Or the entire shrub family...

Posted by: man at August 19, 2026 11:26 AM (W2zcl)

73 Oh, nice. Walgreens flu shot advert. Couple of color, sitting on sofa, tv news says "time to get flu shot"... and they did.

Very sad.
Posted by: man at August 19, 2026 11:24 AM (W2zcl)

Never got a flu shot. Never will.

ESPECIALLY since they've mRNA'd it. I'm guessing all other 'vaccinations' will become that bullshit.

I'll never get another vaccine ever again.

Posted by: Sponge - F*ck Cancer at August 19, 2026 11:26 AM (2YhKe)

74 I loved Emergency!, but was always sad Station 51 was one story with not a pole to be seen.
Posted by: Slide For Life at August 19, 2026 11:07 AM (JM9I6)

They had to get a female Dalmatian.

Posted by: Alberta Oil Peon at August 19, 2026 11:27 AM (1z8ji)

75 Now that I'm awake I'm less grouchy

Got a few nibble-backs from applications this week.

No interviews yet.. but they seem legit-ish. For whatever that's worth...

Posted by: RandomDave (if you can spare a bit, please click) at August 19, 2026 11:27 AM (aJQbY)

76
Giving consideration to having that engraved on my tombstone.
Posted by: Auspex at August 19, 2026 11:26 AM (Y8DZL)

I eagerly await seeing how many vehicles arrive at the TxMoMe with that scrawled on the rear window.

Posted by: Sponge - F*ck Cancer at August 19, 2026 11:27 AM (2YhKe)

77 ". . . and their naked contempt for the voter is getting more than a little bit old.

***
Getting? Getting? It's BEEN old for a long time.

Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at August 19, 2026 11:28 AM (wzUl9)

78 Never got a flu shot. Never will."

*tips cap

Posted by: man at August 19, 2026 11:28 AM (W2zcl)

79 No interviews yet.. but they seem legit-ish. For whatever that's worth...

Posted by: RandomDave (if you can spare a bit, please click) at August 19, 2026 11:27 AM (aJQbY)

🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻

Posted by: ... at August 19, 2026 11:28 AM (Kr1pO)

80 "Got a few nibble-backs from applications this week."

Excellent! Good luck to you.

Posted by: gp at August 19, 2026 11:28 AM (Jr5Lq)

81 No interviews yet.. but they seem legit-ish. For whatever that's worth...
Posted by: RandomDave (if you can spare a bit, please click) at August 19, 2026 11:27 AM (aJQbY)

Go man go!

Posted by: Sponge - F*ck Cancer at August 19, 2026 11:29 AM (2YhKe)

82 "We'll get them n****rs voting democrat for generations."
Posted by: Sponge - F*ck Cancer at August 19, 2026 11:18 AM

That SOB, Johnson....

Posted by: RedMindBlueState at August 19, 2026 11:29 AM (bFu5X)

83 DeepState operative Megyn Kelly neutralized Roger Ailes before exiting.

Posted by: Braenyard - some Absent Friends are more equal than others _ at August 19, 2026 11:29 AM (AJWch)

84
That SOB, Johnson....

Posted by: RedMindBlueState at August 19, 2026 11:29 AM (bFu5X)

But Dems aren't racist.

Posted by: Sponge - F*ck Cancer at August 19, 2026 11:30 AM (2YhKe)

85 I eagerly await seeing how many vehicles arrive at the TxMoMe with that scrawled on the rear window.
Posted by: Sponge at August 19, 2026 11:27 AM

Duly noted.

Posted by: Quarter Twenty at August 19, 2026 11:30 AM (2Ez/1)

86 - They knew, she new that she was a short timer after offing Ailes.

Posted by: Braenyard - some Absent Friends are more equal than others _ at August 19, 2026 11:30 AM (AJWch)

87
I guess the MSM took LBJ at his word then.
Posted by: Oddbob

200 years

Posted by: Bertram Cabot, Jr. at August 19, 2026 11:30 AM (Cqx++)

88 "We'll get them n****rs voting democrat for generations."

Whether they go to the polls on Tuesday or not.

Posted by: Ruby Freeman at August 19, 2026 11:32 AM (6eubQ)

89 I have never (that I recall) gotten a flu shot. Weirdly? I don't get the flu!

Posted by: RandomDave (if you can spare a bit, please click) at August 19, 2026 11:32 AM (aJQbY)

90 Trump's making a deal with Canada.
Keystone pipeline re-opening is part of the deal.

Posted by: Braenyard - some Absent Friends are more equal than others _ at August 19, 2026 11:32 AM (AJWch)

91 Ear hair? What about the hair on the *outside* of your nose?

Posted by: Yes, we are way into TMI territory at August 19, 2026 11:33 AM (PiwSw)

92 I'm willing to bet most polls nowadays are simply AI-generated models based on previous sample data.
Posted by: "Perfessor" Squirrel at August 19, 2026 11:10 AM (FZ29D)

Rush Limbaugh did numerous discussions about the lies that poles propagate. His conclusions was that polls are used to advance a narrative (usually favoring Dems). They were also used to fill out news content.

Posted by: Dr. Pork Chops & Bacons at August 19, 2026 11:33 AM (g8Ew8)

93 8 Never got a flu shot. Never will."

*tips cap
Posted by: man at August 19, 2026

***
Same here. Though, after my bout with shingles in '24, I have to wonder if I should accept that vaccine.

Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at August 19, 2026 11:34 AM (wzUl9)

94 I guess they were unable to find better quality replacements, though, since it appears not much has changed. It's almost as if they didn't want to change because their upper level managers and owners agreed with the people they canned.
Posted by: Archimedes

Of course they do. To them, like Tom Friedman wrote, the world is flat. That means they have more in common with foreign ruling class than they do with their own countrymen. And authoritative capitalism like China is just fine and dandy with them as it the Sultanates of places like Dubai.

Literally cloud people whose wealth shields and floats them above the rain and storms on the dirt eating peasants below. And those rain and storms often come from the inane and evil policies of the WEF and other transnational groups.

Posted by: whig at August 19, 2026 11:34 AM (E4rtv)

95 Trump's making a deal with Canada.
Keystone pipeline re-opening is part of the deal.

Posted by: Braenyard - some Absent Friends are more equal than others _ at August 19, 2026 11:32 AM (AJWch)

Carney will find a way to fuck that up.

Posted by: Alberta Oil Peon at August 19, 2026 11:34 AM (1z8ji)

96 >>>Never got a flu shot. Never will.

ESPECIALLY since they've mRNA'd it. I'm guessing all other 'vaccinations' will become that bullshit.

I'll never get another vaccine ever again.

Posted by: Sponge - F*ck Cancer

>None of these people are about curing ailments, it's about moving product. The body takes care of itself.

Posted by: Rev. Wishbone at August 19, 2026 11:34 AM (tvdD1)

97 Nice to see that colored gal win her primary in Floriduh. She should be a barrel of laughs as she hollers and screams in ebonics and blackanese about communism, wallermelon and President Trump.

Posted by: Stepin Fetchit at August 19, 2026 11:35 AM (9WAJE)

98 The link to the poll doesn't go to the poll. Odd.

If you look at the full article at Fox, it also says that black support for Democraps is also down significantly across the board. If support for everyone is going down, then who is going up?

So what to make of this poll? Toilet paper. I can't see the underlying data or even questions.

This poll is probably garbage summer noise where everyone surveyed has a bug up their ass about something.

So: toilet paper.

Posted by: Elric The Blade at August 19, 2026 11:35 AM (iFTx/)

99 91 so long as it doesn't merge into your moustache, you're fine...

Posted by: RandomDave (if you can spare a bit, please click) at August 19, 2026 11:35 AM (aJQbY)

100 Polling - the only Magic ( defective ) 8 Ball we have. Really just a conversation stimulus for political junkies - not that there are any of That Lot here at the HQ.

Posted by: tubal at August 19, 2026 11:35 AM (Gqar8)

101 They were also used to fill out news content.

Back when communication was harder, they could be used to indicate Party intent to the newsrooms.

Posted by: t-bird at August 19, 2026 11:36 AM (6eubQ)

102 Thx Joe.
Fox news pollsters are former Dem/Hillary pollsters. Try explaining that your basic leftist band you my as well be speaking Klingon

Posted by: Smell the Glove at August 19, 2026 11:36 AM (rp63B)

103 100?

Posted by: Eromero at August 19, 2026 11:36 AM (LHPAg)

104 I have never (that I recall) gotten a flu shot. Weirdly? I don't get the flu!
Posted by: RandomDave (if you can spare a bit, please click) at August 19, 2026

***
I've had an attack of the flu from time to time over the years. But never very often. I can recall a bout in '87, in '98 (new germ pool in Denver), and certainly the rough-ish one in December of 2019 (which might have been The Coof). Plus a milder go-round in June '22.

Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at August 19, 2026 11:36 AM (wzUl9)

105 I've been getting flu shots for about 15 years, after I had a couple of seasons catching the bad flu. Guess I need to read up on the new mRNA hotness. In related news, PFE is up 12% this month, and I don't see a good reason why. Maybe buyer flight from growth (AI/tech) to value (dividends.) I dunno.

Posted by: gp at August 19, 2026 11:37 AM (Jr5Lq)

106 You see, black voters belong to the Democrat Party. They are Party property.

Until blacks prove the party wrong, they do belong to it, and everyone, not just the establishment, knows it. You could accurately say the same thing about several other groups. They're longstanding members of the Kill Whitey and Give Me His Stuff Coalition. Lots of whites of a certain vintage can't see this because they were raised on colorblindness and the rejection of tribalism.

Posted by: bear with asymmetrical balls at August 19, 2026 11:38 AM (pbDcz)

107
93 8 Never got a flu shot. Never will."

*tips cap
Posted by: man at August 19, 2026

***
Same here. Though, after my bout with shingles in '24, I have to wonder if I should accept that vaccine.
Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at August

-------

I recommend the shingles vaccine. It is not some concoction like mRNA. AND I have seen firsthand the devastating effects of a shingles attack, one that went on for a whole year.

Posted by: JM in Illinois at August 19, 2026 11:38 AM (c7xGr)

108
>None of these people are about curing ailments, it's about moving product. The body takes care of itself.
Posted by: Rev. Wishbone at August 19, 2026 11:34 AM (tvdD1)

They need customers, not cures.

Yes. My wife is cancer free. She was on chemo for 6 months, once a week. Each round was over $6k.

And it was all basically 'precautionary' because she had 2 out of 3 lymph nodes removed showing it spread a bit.

Posted by: Sponge - F*ck Cancer at August 19, 2026 11:38 AM (2YhKe)

109 Any thread about polling deserves a reference to this post:

https://ace.mu.nu/archives/411870.php

Posted by: Quarter Twenty at August 19, 2026 11:39 AM (2Ez/1)

110 About the only vaccines I can recall getting were as a kid: the polio and smallpox vaccines. They didn't have the measles one yet, and I'd already had that disease when the shot arrived; and the same for German measles and chickenpox. There were plenty of colds over the years in school -- other kids bringing their little germ factories to class and sharing them generously with us.

Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at August 19, 2026 11:39 AM (wzUl9)

111 105 I've been getting flu shots for about 15 years, after I had a couple of seasons catching the bad flu. Guess I need to read up on the new mRNA hotness. In related news, PFE is up 12% this month, and I don't see a good reason why. Maybe buyer flight from growth (AI/tech) to value (dividends.) I dunno.
Posted by: gp at August 19, 2026 11:37 AM (Jr5Lq)

Never had a flu shot. Not judging you or anyone else, BTW. And yes, I get the flu or something every so often. But mostly, not. To each, their own.

Posted by: tubal at August 19, 2026 11:39 AM (Gqar8)

112 I had chicken pox as a kid, so they're telling me I'll have shingles.

A bud's son got shingles when he was a kid, but they don't remember him having chicken pox.

I'm not getting that vaccine either.

Posted by: Sponge - F*ck Cancer at August 19, 2026 11:41 AM (2YhKe)

113 100 Polling - the only Magic ( defective ) 8 Ball we have. Really just a conversation stimulus for political junkies - not that there are any of That Lot here at the HQ.
Posted by: tubal at August 19, 2026 11:35 AM (Gqar8

Polling, and pollsters, exist to inform the uniformed what the officical approved opinion should be. Like popular ‘culture’, all lies. How else could the left prevail?

Posted by: Eromero at August 19, 2026 11:41 AM (LHPAg)

114 I'm turning down the flu shots nowadays. Even though I'm 29+.

Posted by: JM in Illinois at August 19, 2026 11:41 AM (c7xGr)

115 "Never got a flu shot. Never will."

Got 1 flu shot. Got the flu. [shifty eyes]

Posted by: Dark Lixtiquatal at August 19, 2026 11:42 AM (DZ9Lv)

116 I recommend the shingles vaccine. It is not some concoction like mRNA. AND I have seen firsthand the devastating effects of a shingles attack, one that went on for a whole year.
Posted by: JM in Illinois at August 19, 2026

***
How likely are side effects of the shot?

Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at August 19, 2026 11:42 AM (wzUl9)

117
Posted by: "Perfessor" Squirrel at August 19, 2026 11:10 AM (FZ29D)

Posted by: Dr. Pork Chops & Bacons
===
From X today,

OSZ@OpenSourceZone
CNN: Republicans are leading in the Senate generic ballot in the swing states

Sen Generic Ballot (swing states): 🔴 R+6
===
And this response from Seth Keshel

Let me explain just how stupid polling is in yet another way.

Simultaneously we are to believe that in NC, Cooper leads polling by an average of 8.5%, Brown by 0.6%, Jackson by 2.3%, Talarico by 1.2%, Hinson (R) by 1.7%, and Peltola by 2.0% - verifiable on the RCP aggregates.

Yet in those states, in which only one (R) leads, it’s the GOP leading by SIX on average.

That would require either all six states to have a lead of 6% for the GOP candidate on the nose, or for some states to have GOP leads of 12% while others are tied or the GOP candidate is behind (like Whatley is thought to be).

Posted by: whig at August 19, 2026 11:42 AM (E4rtv)

118 I'm turning down the flu shots nowadays. Even though I'm 29+.
Posted by: JM in Illinois at August 19, 2026 11:41 AM (c7xGr)

One of the last times my dad was in the hospital, they wouldn't let him leave until they issued him the flu vaccine. I was shocked by that. I'm sure he or his wife could've rejected that, but they didn't and the guy implied there wasn't a choice.

Posted by: Sponge - F*ck Cancer at August 19, 2026 11:43 AM (2YhKe)

119 Posted by: Sponge - F*ck Cancer at August 19, 2026 11:38 AM (2YhKe)

$6k per week? Yikes, that's a lot of money.

Damn.

Posted by: dantesed at August 19, 2026 11:43 AM (Oy/m2)

120 Got 1 flu shot. Got the flu. [shifty eyes]
Posted by: Dark Lixtiquatal at August 19, 2026 11:42 AM (DZ9Lv)

Same here. Never again.

Posted by: Dr. Pork Chops & Bacons at August 19, 2026 11:43 AM (g8Ew8)

121 It seems that shingles vaccine became "a thing" in the last decade or so. How did people survive shingles before ??

Posted by: runner at August 19, 2026 11:43 AM (g47mK)

122 And this,

Patricia 🇺🇸
@1109Patricia
·
1h
Polls cheat to get Donor $

Polls aren’t always measuring public opinion. Sometimes they’re manufacturing it.

We’ve watched the same pattern for years: poll after poll suddenly shows a socialist or far-left candidate “surging” or “in the lead.” Media runs with it. Donors open their wallets. Moderate opponents get pressured to drop out. Voters are told the “momentum” is real.

Then Election Day arrives and the numbers collapse.
Just look at the recent Democratic primaries. Polls dramatically overstated support for socialist-aligned candidates in places like Wisconsin and Michigan.

One outfit even admitted its “polls” showing big leads for progressive candidates were completely fabricated as a “social experiment” and those fake numbers still got shared by campaigns and outlets.

Posted by: whig at August 19, 2026 11:43 AM (E4rtv)

123 About the sidebar and the "Black Dahlia" case. My theory was always that they could have found the killer, but didn't want to.

The media went hysterically sensationalist from the moment the body was found. They deliberately hid evidence from police, and manufactured theories, suspects, and motives.

I'm not even sure at this point the the crime scene ever really was as it was reported.

If it was, then my theory has always been pretty simple: who carves up bodies like that and puts them on display? Drug cartels. I suspect she was murdered by a drug cartel for some unknown transgression, or possibly to send a message to someone else.

The media always fantasized that it was a surgeon who dissected the body. It's always more sensationalist when the accused is some high-status person, rather than a lowly drug dealer. Same as Jack the Ripper. Anyone with any hunting experience could have cut her in half like that.

Posted by: Elric The Blade at August 19, 2026 11:44 AM (iFTx/)

124
His conclusions was that polls are used to advance a narrative (usually favoring Dems).

That was the genesis of my sometimes alter-ego "In before the troll". One of our regular trolls (who like all trolls, sucks cock by choice) was getting slammed for citing polls, and switched to citing Intrade before they were shut down by the Feds. So I had quite a bit of fun mocking him.

Posted by: IllTemperedCur at August 19, 2026 11:44 AM (iqcvy)

125
That would require either all six states to have a lead of 6% for the GOP candidate on the nose, or for some states to have GOP leads of 12% while others are tied or the GOP candidate is behind (like Whatley is thought to be).
Posted by: whig at August 19, 2026 11:42 AM (E4rtv)

Investigate the pollsters. Arrest them for election tampering. Try and convict them to prison, or firing squad for treason. Whatever fits.

Posted by: Sponge - F*ck Cancer at August 19, 2026 11:44 AM (2YhKe)

126 The flu vaccines are concocted yearly on best guess estimates of what the rampant virus will be, yes?

Posted by: tubal at August 19, 2026 11:44 AM (Gqar8)

127 They are Party property.

-----------

I prefer the phrase "House Property."

-- Hakeem "The Scream" Jeffries

Posted by: ShainS at August 19, 2026 11:45 AM (txtSn)

128 About the sidebar and the "Black Dahlia" case. My theory was always that they could have found the killer, but didn't want to.

===

Was it Prince Albert Edward Victor again ? Coverup ??

Posted by: runner at August 19, 2026 11:45 AM (g47mK)

129 And this as a back story from last week,

Patrick Ruffini
@PatrickRuffini
🚨 NEW: Deep dive investigation into 3,000+ Senate polls over the last 4 cycles. They've overestimated Democrats in all 4 cycles, 73% of polls overstate the Democrat, and it's worse right now, in the summer.

The average polling error across all polls was D+3.7, and 73% of polls released overstated the Democrat relative to the election result. Again, that’s across more than 3,000 polls, so that’s hardly just statistical noise.

Posted by: whig at August 19, 2026 11:45 AM (E4rtv)

130 121 It seems that shingles vaccine became "a thing" in the last decade or so. How did people survive shingles before ??
Posted by: runner at August 19, 2026 11:43 AM (g47mK)

Everyone died, according the shingles vaccine makers.

Posted by: tubal at August 19, 2026 11:45 AM (Gqar8)

131 Any poll includes NY and CA is not valid. They choc full of illegals and thus skew any "national" poll of Latinos and blacks.

Posted by: Field Marshal Zhukov at August 19, 2026 11:46 AM (bX16E)

132 The flu vaccines are concocted yearly on best guess estimates of what the rampant virus will be, yes?
Posted by: tubal at August 19, 2026 11:44 AM (

It was mentioned earlier that the pharma's would come up with multiple strain vaccines and Dr.'s would choose what was relevant or some such.

Hillary f*cked that up and now the government dictates what the pharms will produce each year, regardless of whether it's even close to what comes.

Posted by: Sponge - F*ck Cancer at August 19, 2026 11:46 AM (2YhKe)

133 One of the last times my dad was in the hospital, they wouldn't let him leave until they issued him the flu vaccine. I was shocked by that. I'm sure he or his wife could've rejected that, but they didn't and the guy implied there wasn't a choice.
Posted by: Sponge - F*ck Cancer at August 19, 2026 11:43 AM (2YhKe)

That's when you should pull all the tubes out, get dressed, and just leave. No one has the authority to stop you.

Posted by: Dr. Pork Chops & Bacons at August 19, 2026 11:46 AM (g8Ew8)

134 It matters not what the Parties do, the Democrats are entitled to black voters.

------------

"Not to mention black candidates."

/Larry Elder, "The Black Face of White Supremacy"

Posted by: ShainS at August 19, 2026 11:46 AM (txtSn)

135 The flu vaccines are concocted yearly on best guess estimates of what the rampant virus will be, yes?
Posted by: tubal at August 19, 2026

***
So I understand. Thus the vaccine is always running behind the latest mutation or variant. It might protect you (more or less) or it might not.

Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at August 19, 2026 11:47 AM (wzUl9)

136
Warren Buffet has given millions to see that Canadian oil is shipped on the Burlington Northern Santa Fe instead of some pipe that runs over sacred Indian burial grounds and is icky and makes the animals cry. It's a fact, Jack.

Posted by: Auspex at August 19, 2026 11:47 AM (Y8DZL)

137 People finally coming around and realizing polls are just another form of propaganda.

Not enough people realizing this, but hopefully it grows.

Posted by: Martini Farmer at August 19, 2026 11:47 AM (2Cry5)

138
The average polling error across all polls was D+3.7, and 73% of polls released overstated the Democrat relative to the election result. Again, that’s across more than 3,000 polls, so that’s hardly just statistical noise.
Posted by: whig at August 19, 2026 11:45 AM (E4rtv)

There's a Metallica album out there somewhere for this situation........

Posted by: Sponge - F*ck Cancer at August 19, 2026 11:47 AM (2YhKe)

139 Both Patrick Ruffini and Seth Keshel are hard numbers political analysts. Seth spends his time on voter registration numbers and early voting and Ruffini on elections.

So, if you must watch media shitshows or read political news crap, then ignore everything until a week or so after Labor Day. And this is a pattern that has existed since even the Carter years in politics with a few exceptions--Obama in 2008 as one of them.

Posted by: whig at August 19, 2026 11:48 AM (E4rtv)

140 Ear Hair helps keep the mosquitoes and gnats out of my ears. I cultivate them.

Posted by: 10-10-10 at August 19, 2026 11:48 AM (JM9I6)

141 Polls showing Mamdani ahead and winning NYC were pretty accurate. Timing matters. But polling world is interesting, it's like reading between the lines with any propaganda vehicle.

Posted by: runner at August 19, 2026 11:48 AM (g47mK)

142 Head to Baltimore, MD and its immediate suburbs and teach the locals that those employing prayer rugs in schools and loud speakers for come to prayer invitations several times a day are not Jews.

And then do the same teaching in and around other urban areas.

Posted by: L - No nic, another fine day at August 19, 2026 11:49 AM (NFX2v)

143 121 It seems that shingles vaccine became "a thing" in the last decade or so. How did people survive shingles before ??

the answer is, the chicken pox vaccination for babies.

basically varicella vaccination is recent, and other countries don't do it, because it will and does trigger latent chicken pox virus (in adults who had chicken pox like most of us).

when my kids were small my husband and then my mom got shingles, most likely from the babies' vaccinations.

it was so bad and so obvious that other countries discontinued varicella vaccination of children. of course we didn't

but we should.

so yeah, tons of adults will get their dead chicken pox latent virus reactivated by exposure to a fresh chicken-pox-vaccinated kid.

Posted by: Black Orchid (j+aD2) at August 19, 2026 11:49 AM (j+aD2)

144 tubal -

More often than not they're horribly wrong guesses, but as I understand it, yes.

Posted by: RandomDave (if you can spare a bit, please click) at August 19, 2026 11:49 AM (aJQbY)

145 It seems that shingles vaccine became "a thing" in the last decade or so. How did people survive shingles before ??
Posted by: runner at August 19, 2026
*
Everyone died, according the shingles vaccine makers.
Posted by: tubal at August 19, 2026

***
Mine was disturbing, for sure. (I had to go to a work function one evening during the attack. Sat there the whole time wishing I'd called in sick.) The lidocaine in topical Aspercreme lowered the pain quite a bit, and the urgent care doc gave me an Rx to battle the virus.

Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at August 19, 2026 11:49 AM (wzUl9)

146 Polls showing Mamdani ahead and winning NYC were pretty accurate. Timing matters. But polling world is interesting, it's like reading between the lines with any propaganda vehicle.
Posted by: runner at August 19, 2026 11:48 AM (g47mK)

Reasonably easy when there's no voter ID and mail in voting can create whatever situation they want.

Posted by: Sponge - F*ck Cancer at August 19, 2026 11:49 AM (2YhKe)

147 @trump_repost
13h
I have paused the 50% Tariffs against Canada, that were scheduled to kick in tomorrow morning for a three day period, based on the fact that Canada and the U.S.A., subject to the finalization of documents, have a DEAL! The great Keystone XL Pipeline, long ago killed by Sleepy Joe Biden, may be awoken from the grave! Thank you for your attention to this matter. President DONALD J. TRUMP

https://tinyurl.com/33htpcmj
-----------

Posted by: Braenyard - some Absent Friends are more equal than others _ at August 19, 2026 11:49 AM (AJWch)

148 One Party or another is entitled to racial votes, to education-level votes, to geographic votes, to _______ votes.

-------------

"Ill take 'Illegal Alien (AKA Future Democrat)' for $64 trillion, Alex!"

Posted by: ShainS at August 19, 2026 11:49 AM (txtSn)

149 polls are PR

media is PR

news is PR

it's all fake

Posted by: Black Orchid (j+aD2) at August 19, 2026 11:49 AM (j+aD2)

150 And, I was not speaking talking about people without at least an undergrad degrees and decent jobs.

Posted by: L - No nic, another fine day at August 19, 2026 11:50 AM (NFX2v)

151 There's a Metallica album out there somewhere for this situation........
Posted by: Sponge
========
Our fake elites and wannabees ruling class numbers should be depleted is what this is telling us. Close the fake and gay leftist churches and monasteries which we call colleges and graduate schools, take their endowments to pay off Uncle Sam for student loans, etc. Defund NGOs and sow those places with salt. Etc. Etc.

Only solution for an overproduction of elites.

Posted by: whig at August 19, 2026 11:51 AM (E4rtv)

152 1,000 U.S. police and public safety agencies now hold the regulatory clearance needed to launch autonomous drone-as-first-responder programs —

AI-piloted drones carrying thermal cameras, automated license plate readers, and in some cases cell-site simulators — can peer into backyards, follow vehicles from 2,000 feet, and be launched from a smartphone before a patrol car leaves the lot.

https://tinyurl.com/52dj3wyk

Posted by: Braenyard - some Absent Friends are more equal than others _ at August 19, 2026 11:51 AM (AJWch)

153 121 It seems that shingles vaccine became "a thing" in the last decade or so. How did people survive shingles before ??
Posted by: runner at August 19, 2026 11:43 AM (g47mK)

----‐
A much more effective shingrix vaccine came out 2017.
My GF got shingles in 2000 ( from my woman at work, she believes). It was so bad she had to quit her job

I believe Admiral Halsey got a bad case.during world war two. Took him out of action for a while

Posted by: JM in Illinois at August 19, 2026 11:51 AM (c7xGr)

154 121 Anyone I've known who has had shingles has suffered. The shot has been around for a long while and has been improved and refined.

It is considered.safe.and.effective.

Posted by: Field Marshal Zhukov at August 19, 2026 11:51 AM (bX16E)

155 People who do not believe the polling don't seem likely to also eager on political outcomes when they feel polls show their favs losing.
I put money on Dems winning the House about 5 months ago
Will anyone here be willing to admit they put their money on the GOP holding the house???

Posted by: Paul at August 19, 2026 11:51 AM (EEscb)

156 Never got a flu shot. Never will.

ESPECIALLY since they've mRNA'd it. I'm guessing all other 'vaccinations' will become that bullshit.

I'll never get another vaccine ever again.
Posted by: Sponge - F*ck Cancer at August 19, 2026 11:26 AM (2YhKe)

Last vaccine I received was at Fort Dix in 1967. Guess my immune system is still up to snuff. The Magyar DNA probably scares everything away.

Posted by: thatcrazyjerseyguy at August 19, 2026 11:51 AM (hmYU4)

157 None of them are entitled to anything or anyone - and their naked contempt for the voter is getting more than a little bit old.

------------

It was already more than a little bit old back in the late 60s.

Posted by: ShainS at August 19, 2026 11:51 AM (txtSn)

158 145

Mine was disturbing, for sure. (I had to go to a work function one evening during the attack. Sat there the whole time wishing I'd called in sick.) The lidocaine in topical Aspercreme lowered the pain quite a bit, and the urgent care doc gave me an Rx to battle the virus.
Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at August 19, 2026 11:49 AM (wzUl9)

A little personal, but where on your body did it manifest? My sister got it, pretty young, and it was on her torso. She was not amused.

Posted by: tubal at August 19, 2026 11:51 AM (Gqar8)

159 I used to put a lot of stock in polls.

USED to.

Posted by: Francesca Hong at August 19, 2026 11:52 AM (2Ez/1)

160 Mine was disturbing, for sure. (I had to go to a work function one evening during the [shingles] attack. Sat there the whole time wishing I'd called in sick.)
Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at August 19, 2026

***
On the other hand, I wished the same thing every year when I went to the annual event. This time was just *more* troublesome than usual.

Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at August 19, 2026 11:52 AM (wzUl9)

161 Posted by: Black Orchid (j+aD2) at August 19, 2026 11:49 AM (j+aD2)

See me at 41. You might appreciate

Posted by: ... at August 19, 2026 11:52 AM (Kr1pO)

162 149 polls are PR

media is PR

news is PR

it's all fake

Posted by: Black Orchid
---

Yup

Posted by: Braenyard - some Absent Friends are more equal than others _ at August 19, 2026 11:53 AM (AJWch)

163 Where's that f*ckin' TJM guy?!??

Posted by: Sponge - F*ck Cancer at August 19, 2026 11:53 AM (2YhKe)

164 Black Orchid -

Oh! Finally an explanation that makes some sense, thank you!

Too bad the answer is 'you need a vax to deal with someone else's vax', but at least it makes sense..

I had an insane case of chicken pox as a kid. Like, dense as an Irish gal's freckles in the Texas sun, dense.

Posted by: RandomDave (if you can spare a bit, please click) at August 19, 2026 11:53 AM (aJQbY)

165 The flu vaccines are concocted yearly on best guess estimates of what the rampant virus will be, yes?

Remarkable how these non-living things mutate once per year and always remain flu viruses, isn't it? Ooh! Just got an email from a Nigerian prince...

Posted by: t-bird at August 19, 2026 11:53 AM (6eubQ)

166 See me at 41. You might appreciate

I do.

There is however a sort of "war" going on within the D party. I'm here for it.

but again, don't trust any messaging. it exists to twist your brain.

Posted by: Black Orchid (j+aD2) at August 19, 2026 11:54 AM (j+aD2)

167 I used to get a flu shot every other year. When COVID hit, I started taking Invermectin apple flavored horse paste.

I don't trust them to not try to slip in some mRNA shit into the flu shot. So I haven't had one in since.

Posted by: no one of any consequence at August 19, 2026 11:54 AM (qFwJc)

168 One of the last times my dad was in the hospital, they wouldn't let him leave until they issued him the flu vaccine. I was shocked by that. I'm sure he or his wife could've rejected that, but they didn't and the guy implied there wasn't a choice.
Posted by: Sponge - F*ck Cancer at August 19, 2026 11:43 AM (2YhKe)

"Go ahead and try to stop me", would be my reply. Followed by all Hell breaking loose.

Posted by: thatcrazyjerseyguy at August 19, 2026 11:55 AM (hmYU4)

169 This calls for some rippin' Aldo Nova guitar.........

https://youtu.be/y1NYhbiiiFw

Posted by: Sponge - F*ck Cancer at August 19, 2026 11:55 AM (2YhKe)

170 Then there's the occasional wayward long gray chest hair that manages to find it's way above the neck of a T-shirt or through the placket of a golf shirt...

Posted by: Quarter Twenty at August 19, 2026 11:56 AM (2Ez/1)

171 If you're gonna distrust a poll that says your guy is losing, you also have to doubt a poll that says your guy is winning

fair is fair

IMO

Posted by: Don Black at August 19, 2026 11:56 AM (ZxPkt)

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