Neo

I have a joyful assignment! On to 68! I played with the EC and Amendment 14 in my head, although it was long ago. Is that a mature conversation that's gone on for years, or one you've mulled over in your head, alone?

Merrick Garland is worthy. Not my guy, as I said, but that says more about me than Garland. I also saw the Garland nomination as Obama offering compromise while being true to his Progressive beliefs. I wish I'd seen more offers, but I'll not forget this one. The Washington Post gets it right .... https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/the-gops-shameful-gamble-on-merrick-garland-pays-off/2016/11/10/05f79dd2-a780-11e6-8fc0-7be8f848c492_story.html

You gave me Carl Orff the other day. I'm grateful. I had no idea.

I'm having fun saying "Haidt hate" out loud. Not because I agree or disagree, but because it rhymes. I'm a simple man enjoying simple pleasures!

Between my ears and in my eyes: Cult icons, yes. Just like Putin, no. I don't see Putin dealing with an "obstructionist" Congress the way an iconic President Obama had to ... or the way an iconic FDR had to as he looked to pack the Supreme Court. New Topic: I've not seen much written, yet, on the election's implications for the President's Merrick Garland nomination. Garland may not have been my guy, but he and Obama and Progressives deserved an up/down vote. The Senate failed to serve me, even though I may get a jurist I like better.

Our people are so "same". Our leaders are so "different". I'm so "bumfuzzled".

Agreed.

I believe we're finding the same things. I'll substitute "out of character" for "too stupid".

I took you the right way. I'm researching your very question as we converse. I'd always heard the sentence following "get what they deserve" was "the Russian people will always be enslaved." I haven't found the text ... yet.

I took her seriously enough to post! Also, see my edit to add, above.

I'm considering the ramifications of her insight. I'm nowhere near finished. In short, she wears shoes I don't, so I learn. My ramifications consideration is delayed, though. I'm starting with "what her shoes" means. Russian humanity fascinates me. There's so much history of overwhelming art, literature, beauty, individual courage and fortitude, national strength ... juxtaposed with acquiescence to authoritarian rule, be it in the form of czars or dictators. There's a cynicism in the national character that's as charming as it is confusing when I look. So, I'm still considering the following: "she's interesting; her point's interesting; how much of her view is accurate and how much is it Russian cynicism?" I don't know if she's right. She made me think. Edit to add: de Maistre's oft referenced quote "every nation gets the government it deserves" comes from his letter addressing developments in Russia (amateur historian alert; I can be informed, here).

Oksana Baiul. And, I greatly enjoyed the figure skating / man card exchanges!

Your assumption is correct, regarding the voting. My "I don't mind it" goes back well before "my guy" won because of it and would stand even if "my guy" lost. States matter, to me. I see your wink! By the way, every President since JFK has been my President!

In the words of Charlie Babbitt ... I don't mind it.

I can say it no better than thank you, and your families, for your sacrifice and service. To "Legacy" ... A heartfelt "you make me proud."

Anecdote alert-- I had an interesting lunch yesterday with a woman from the Ukraine. She brought up the election and we had the usual "no good choices" conversation. The conversation turned toward Russia's alleged involvement, and the supposition that Russia would prefer Trump. I asked her if she thought this was true, and, if so, why. She said with conviction that Russia and Putin wanted Trump to win. She told me some family members had impromptu little house parties when the results were announced. "Why?", I asked, "both candidates talked tough and both were likely to spend on the military. Wouldn't Russia, or any adversary, prefer the known quantity that is Clinton to the unknown quantity that is Trump?" "Who runs Russia?", she asked. I paused, knowing she wasn't trying to see if I knew Putin's name, reflected until the bulb went off, and said "ahhhhh." "Ten men. Maybe five. The oligarchs. Billionaires in industry who make deals all over the world. Trump's one of them, their man. The oligarchs are thrilled. The common Russian, who's lived under this model, think America finally got it right."

Bigot: A person who strongly or unfairly dislikes other people, ideas, etc.; a person who hates or refuses to accept the members of a particular group such as a racial or religious group. The bigotry I see is directed toward Trump supporters. HRC didn't get it, the media didn't get it, the pollsters didn't find it, this board is missing it. His constituents aren't bigots at the core. We label that with which we disagree. The bigotry is here.

Awesome

Erratum ... I was wrong ... I typed what I thought I heard a talking head say. Lesson ... research first, report second.

Historic. We shared the sausage making amongst ourselves. Grateful! The King is dead, long live the King.

Clinton gets Nevada ...

With a lot of rural to come in .... according to the NYT Live page.

Bad night so far for .... HRC, yes ... President Obama and legacies ... Paul Ryan and not playing along ... Kasich with Ohio, anyway ... Cruz with ... my message wins, but delivered by the other guy Republican establishment who didn't "come home" Bernie Sanders and ... populism wins, but I was locked out of contention ...

It ain't over, of course ... I make no predictions ... but the enormity of the Presidency, House and Senate in Republican hands ... We've seen that before, of course, but it's never felt like such a 180 degree turn to me ...

I'd go back to Google ...