J.C.MacSwell

I can understand your frustration, but when faced with statements such as "it's nearly impossible for Republicans to lose" (or even for more reasonable claims against Republicans, which tend to predominate ones against Democrats in this Forum), I'm more likely to give a counterargument than "sing to the choir", given that my positions tend to be moderate and my view that much of the political rhetoric generally is self defeating, especially when overstated or simply inaccurate. I do realize it does motive many on both sides to get out and vote, but it loses credibility with moderates, and often motivates potential voters on the other side. Are you are against speaking more nicely to the Right on principle, even if it could reduce, in part at least, making it "nearly impossible for Republicans to lose"?

Thanks. With it being behind a paywall I'm not going to understand the context of that abstract as written, but it seems they've concluded that while both Parties lawmakers are often not aligned with there constituents when voting, Republicans are even more tolerant of their lawmakers voting against their wishes, or at least the majority wishes of their districts. Shouldn't that indicate untapped potential for the Democrats, if they toned down the vitriol toward voters to the right of them? (Also indicating room for a third party to make some headway if one were to form) Were you able to read the article or just the abstract?

The link doesn't seem to work.

Yes. Happy Birthday Yusef, and may Cyclical Theory apply!

Still many paths available at that point...but all end up at the center as you pointed out. All must have an inward radial component.

Obviously no one is unbiased, we all have our personal experiences. But this would make MigL a somewhat rare Canadian. As a Canadian I just don't see it in his posts. I see him stating his opinions in reply to mostly Democrat posters and being read by same. I expect he has many views right across the political spectrum, mostly within the Canadian political spectrum. If I had to bet I would say he's voted Liberal more often than not, though I'm far from certain, but that would put him Left of the "old school Democrats" for whatever that's worth. Just my $0.02 (probably overpriced as I don't think I have a brother just like him...😀 )

When it's that close, many factors can be the difference, even on their own.

When I want to know what you think makes INow say something...I'll be sure to ask.

Why have you not simply condemned the bigotry against a group of rural Americans and moved on? Maybe to participate in the thread? How about attacking my ideas rather than me personally? (If Clinton had simply done that, she most likely would have been POTUS. It was that close in 2016.)

What makes you say that? This seems like a personal attack based on something I haven't addressed to your satisfaction. Are we discussing me...or how "the deplorables" might think and act? I had hoped that would be sufficient to this point in the discussion.

Some "racist behaviour" is clearly just that. Other "racist behaviour" is simply not conforming to other's agenda driven, and often intolerant, ideas on how they should act, sometimes to the point of absurdity and social bullying. I suspect that more Trump voters were rejecting the latter, than supporting the former. Maybe I'm just naive.

A lot of salt in that swamp...with the tide still coming in as fast as going out Must be some kind of global warming effect...

If this is in context to the coming vaccines I hope you this means so far, currently, and for not too many months in the future.

I'm neither denying or confirming that I am on the list at this time. Darn, looks like they are all Americans...I might as well admit I'm not on it. Great article. I had never heard of him.

Here is an article that considers the effects of having some Neanderthal DNA. While it really is about that, it does mention agreement on your point about socioeconomic factors: ""We can't blame Neanderthals for Covid. That's a damaging response, and that's why I want to emphasize so much the social and environmental factors are the real things that people should be worrying about," said Tony Capra, a geneticist at the University of California, San Francisco's Bakar Computational Health Sciences Institute." https://www.cnn.com/2020/12/09/health/neanderthal-genes-human-health-covid19-scn-wellness/?hpt=ob_blogfooterold Not that I would consider actual blame in any case. If some groups had DNA that made them more susceptible to getting Covid, that should weigh in on their risk reduction efforts, and when they might be vaccinated as vaccines become available.

Hot air balloons can be quite small. So presumably since they can be large, you can design something in between with appropriate heat source and materials. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sky_lantern You just need to heat the air enough that the air inside is lighter than the air it displaces by as much or more than the mass of the rest of your balloon and anything it might carry.

Has the climate been saved?

What if you are woman with a healthy fetus, one week before due date? Amazingly in some places a woman in this state has a right to choose to end the life of the fetus, but not her own. The argument being in the first case that she has the right to control her own body, and no one has the right to intervene against her will, and in the second quite the opposite rationale.

They'd be looking for delicacies to set themselves apart from the commoners....never underestimate the power of elite alien snobbery.

I could be wrong, but I think with the eyes of America on Georgia, and Senate control hanging in the balance, the turnout could be every bit as high as it was in the Nov 3 election. Different set of problems or opportunities, but I think it could be both good and bad for Biden either way it goes.

There is. Trump himself is on another level, though unfortunately far from alone. That's the excuse. You can always fall back on that when none was made, with no concern whether it is accurate or not, because reasons. I didn't claim Biden was as bad as Trump. As bad as he may be at times he's not even close. Adam Schiff is a better comparison to Trump. Both are supported by their respective parties, though one is in a far less powerful position, for now...

A lot of that helpful "reasonable hyperbole" going around. Another name for it is lies. But that's okay because the GOP does it more, correct?

"Why is Joe Biden so quickly forming a Cabinet when my investigators have found hundreds of thousands of fraudulent votes, enough to “flip” at least four States, which in turn is more than enough to win the Election? Hopefully the Courts and/or Legislatures will have the COURAGE to do what has to be done to maintain the integrity of our Elections, and the United States of America itself. THE WORLD IS WATCHING!!!" Donald J. Trump Nov 21, 2020 I don't know Donald...maybe because there's still a remote chance he could become President?

Instead of claiming Mitt Romney would put African Americans back in chains?

It would be good if Trump would concede the obvious for the sake of America, even if he doesn't owe that to the Democrats.