Election 2024

[sear]

Trump blames Ukraine's Zelenskiy for starting war with Russia​

By Gram Slattery / October 17, 20241:57 PM GMT-5
WASHINGTON, Oct 17 (Reuters) - Donald Trump on Thursday blamed Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy for helping start that nation's war with Russia, a comment that further suggests Trump is likely to radically shift U.S. policy toward Ukraine if he wins the Nov. 5 election.
The Republican former president has frequently criticized Zelenskiy on the campaign trail, repeatedly calling him "the greatest salesman on Earth" for having solicited and received billions of dollars of U.S. military aid since the war broke out in 2022.
Trump has also slammed the Ukrainian leader for failing to seek peace with Moscow, and he has suggested Ukraine may have to cede some of its land to Russia to make a peace deal, a concession Kyiv considers unacceptable.
Trump's comments on the PBD Podcast on Thursday with Patrick Bet-David went a step further than his previous criticism. He said Zelenskiy was to blame not just for failing to end the war, but for helping start it, even though the conflict broke out when Russia invaded Ukrainian sovereign territory.

https://www.reuters.com/world/trump-blames-ukraines-zelenskiy-starting-war-with-russia-2024-10-17/

Trump's fondness for dictators is no secret. “We fell in love.” President Trump commenting on his attitude toward NK/KJU

Trump's own commitment to dictatorship "on day one" may help explain Trump's appreciation for role models like Kim Jong Un, and Vlad Putin.

The risk to U.S. sovereignty of Trump's sympathies with Russian territorial conquest is, as Russia expands Russia gains power. We've seen this progression in Europe before. It was called "World War Two".

The best and easiest time to snuff out a wildfire is while it's still on the match. Allowing it to expand to a million acre conflagration complicates extinguishing it.

Rewarding Putin / Russia by agreeing to surrender parts of Ukraine to Russia fuels that flame. Bad idea. Harris / Walz understand that.

Either Trump doesn't understand that, or Trump does understand it, but doesn't care. U.S. voters disinterested in Ukraine may still need to consider this, for Trump's lack of judgment on Ukraine extends far beyond Ukraine itself.

 

[Shiftless2]

 

[sear]

"... WAKE UP, AMERICA!" #562

Rip Van Winkle

U.S. voters:
Awaken, or prepare for a nightmare of potentially terminal duration.

 

[sear]

Homepage US October 18, 2024 · 3:33 PM GMT-5 This report produced by Freddie Joyner.
Billionaire Cuban stumps for Harris as Musk hits trail for Trump
Billionaires Mark Cuban and Elon Musk hit the campaign trail in battleground states for Kamala Harris and Donald Trump, respectively, as the November 5 presidential election draws closer.

https://www.reuters.com/

Has Musk sewn up the rocket scientist vote?

 

[Shiftless2]

 

[Shiftless2]

Elon Musk offers $1M daily prize to voters who sign petition​

Elon Musk has handed over the first $1-million check to an individual in Pennsylvania who signed his petition. The billionaire Tesla and SpaceX boss has been courting Trump voters as election day nears.

Elon Musk offers $1M daily prize to voters who sign petition – DW – 10/20/2024

Elon Musk has handed over the first $1-million check to an individual in Pennsylvania who signed his petition. The billionaire Tesla and SpaceX boss has been courting Trump voters as election day nears.

www.dw.com

Elon Musk says he’s giving away $1 million a day to voters. Is that legal?​

Musk’s “lottery” is only available in swing states and seems meant to appeal to potential Trump voters.

Elon Musk says he’s giving away $1 million a day to voters. Is that legal?

Musk’s “lottery” is only available in swing states and seems meant to appeal to potential Trump voters.

www.vox.com

Elon Musk’s daily $1 million giveaway to registered voters could be illegal, experts say​

https://www.cnn.com/2024/10/20/politics/elon-musk-voter-giveaway-legal-questions/index.html

 

[sear]

​

Two weaks to go?

Elon Musk’s daily $1 million giveaway to registered voters could be illegal, experts say #566

"Illegal"? Apparently.
An obstacle to the Trump campaign?
From the link:

“We want to try to get over a million, maybe 2 million voters in the battleground states to sign the petition in support of the First and Second Amendment. … "
https://www.cnn.com/2024/10/20/politics/elon-musk-voter-giveaway-legal-questions/index.html

Revealing location for a line in the sand.
Trump lies prolifically. The first amendment doesn't validate lies, but might seem to provide some comfort to a compulsive liar.
And when violent insurrection is the president's agenda, the second amendment might seem convenient.

note:
This 2024 presidential race may be a focus of psychological study for generations into the future. Normal is not a point on the spectrum, but a band within the spectrum.
By multiple criteria, manifest by numerous acts, Trump is outside that normal band. And with two weeks to go, the race is considered a dead heat.
Thus Trump an interesting character study.
Perhaps substantially more alarming, the millions of registered voters that support Trump. - gosh -

 

[sear]

The Trumpies are making issue of candidate VP Harris' work history, including disputed employment at fast food giant McDonalds. McD's makes "clear", it's not taking sides.

McDonald’s issues statement after Trump campaign stop at Pa. location​

Brian Niemietz, New York Daily News / Mon, October 21, 2024 at 5:38 PM EDT

Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump’s Sunday visit to a Pennsylvania McDonald’s prompted the fast food restaurant to make clear it isn’t taking sides in the 2024 race.

“McDonald’s does not endorse candidates for elected office and that remains true in this race for the next President,” the company said in a memo obtained by CNN and posted by a social media user claiming to be a McDonald’s franchise operator. “We are not red or blue — we are golden.”

McDonald’s issues statement after Trump campaign stop at Pa. location

Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump’s Sunday visit to a Pennsylvania McDonald’s prompted the fast food restaurant to make clear it isn’t taking sides in the 2024 race. “McDonald’s does not endorse candidates for elected office and that remains true in this race for the next...

news.yahoo.com

Trump is sufficiently media s a v v y to understand by reducing the race to squabbling about irrelevant detail including entry level employment history, it takes Trump's Democrat opponent off message, including protection from Russia, China, and Republican anti-choicers. 2 weeks

 

[Shiftless2]

Here's a look at Musk's contact with Putin and why it matters​

DAVID KLEPPER and LISA MASCARO

Elon Musk, the billionaire owner of major government contractor SpaceX and a key ally of Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump, has been in regular contact with Russian President Vladimir Putin for the last two years, The Wall Street Journal reported.

A person familiar with the situation, who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss the sensitive matter, confirmed to The Associated Press that Musk and Putin have had contact through calls. The person didn't provide additional details about the frequency of the calls, when they occurred or their content.

Musk, the world's richest man who also owns Tesla and the social platform X, has emerged as a leading voice on the American right. He's poured millions of dollars into Trump's presidential bid and turned the platform once known as Twitter into a site popular with Trump supporters, as well as conspiracy theorists, extremists and Russian propagandists.

Musk's contacts with Putin raise national security questions, given ....

Here's a look at Musk's contact with Putin and why it matters

Elon Musk, the billionaire owner of major government contractor SpaceX and a key ally of Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump, has been in regular contact with Russian President Vladimir Putin for the last two years, The Wall Street Journal reported. A person familiar with the...

www.yahoo.com

 

[sear]

Musk's contacts with Putin raise national security questions, given .... #569

As do Trump's.

What's Musk's interest in November's election outcome?
Musk is heavily involved in government contracts, both revenue & obstacle.
For example:
- Musk faced, had to overcome extended environmental issues before SpaceX was permitted to operate.
- Tesla, also complicated by government regulations.
- Trump's social media platform "X" receives some First Amendment protections. BUT !!

"No right is absolute. Conversely, no government authority is absolute." lawyer, law Professor and former ACLU head Nadine Strossen

For these reasons among others Musk hopes to relieve some of the regulatory burdens that have enabled
Musk to reportedly become the wealthiest man on Earth. It seems Musk thinks he needs more $money, and is willing to spend a $million a day to get it.

Musk's contacts with Putin raise national security questions, given .... #569

In the olden days "rocket scientists" in the United States were NASA employees.
The private sector is cheaper, more innovative.
Here, Musk's SpaceX lower stage rocket not only returns to Earth for reuse.
Unlike NASA dumping it in the ocean, Musk's rocket comes to rest suspended from a fork on a tower.



Avarice is one of the 7 "deadly sins" Elon. You & Trump, Tweedle smart, & Tweedle dumb.

 

[Shiftless2]

GOP is criticizing Harris for something Trump says often. Tapper rolls the tape​

 

[Shiftless2]

Trump NC STUNT in DISASTER ZONE Goes VERY WRONG​

 

[sear]

At Trump's recent Madison Square Garden rally, the following:
"... there's literally a floating island of garbage in the middle of the ocean right now. yeah
I think it's called Puerto Rico." identified by AP News as stand-up comic Tony Hinchcliffe

Hinchcliffe's setup alludes to a huge mid-ocean patch of floating debris. But,
it's in the Pacific ocean: https://education.nationalgeographic.org/resource/great-pacific-garbage-patch/

Puerto Rico is in the Caribbean.
As popular comedians including Kevin Hart acknowledge, "safe" comedy is prone to be dull.
Consequently successful comedians that toe the line occasionally cross the line.
As quoted above, Hinchcliffe crossed the line, insinuation Hinchcliffe is successful, inadvertent.

The good news:
The Madison Square Garden "entertainment" was ostensibly to help benefit presidential candidate Trump [R-FL]
particularly in electoral swing States where the race is too close to call.

The following from CBS-TV The Late Show :



Paradoxically, Hinchcliffe may have helped save humanity from a 2nd Trump presidency, by tilting
this large & potentially decisive voting block to Harris / Walz.

 

[sear]

In this year's election campaigns there's a shameful amount of media bias in the U.S.
With FOX the hero is Trump.
With CNN Captain Kamala to save the world!
So here's a snapshot of U.S. news from off-shore.

Now Trump, a convicted felon, has Bannon, an ex-con, campaigning. Gosh bless America ?

US & Canada News | Today's latest from Al Jazeera

Stay on top of US & Canada latest developments on the ground with Al Jazeera’s fact-based news, exclusive video footage, photos and updated maps.

www.aljazeera.com

 

[Shiftless2]

Both sides are bad in the sense that stealing a key chain and murder are both bad ....

 

[sear]

Both sides are bad in the sense that stealing a key chain and murder are both bad .... #575

MAGA's bedrock is a string of lies. - We won the election by "a lot". Trump

piffle

"The entire MAGA cult movement are TRAITORS to America." TP #575

Who can persuasively refute this?

Rove: Trump will win White House with either Georgia, Pennsylvania or Michigan victory​

Filip Timotija / Tue, October 29, 2024 at 3:25 PM EDT

Karl Rove: Trump will win White House with either Georgia, Pennsylvania or Michigan victory
Republican strategist Karl Rove predicted on Tuesday that former President Trump would win the White House with either a Georgia, Pennsylvania or Michigan victory.

https://thehill.com/

 

[Shiftless2]

Register, verify you're registered, and get all the info needed for voting at:⭆ ⭆ https://VOTE.gov

 

[Shiftless2]

Ballots are being tallied across the nation as the race for the presidency enters its final days. However, the voters' tactics have seemed to step off the debate stage between candidates and bleed into threatening moves in the Texas Hill Country.

Flyers signed by a "Trump Klan" member have some voters on edge as they feel the pressure. The San Marcos Police Department is investigating intimidating flyers attached to campaign signs that have slowly spread throughout the city.

The department first notified the public of the intimidation flyers on Friday afternoon, October 25, with two reports. Within 24 hours, the department shared that the tactic had spread to several local neighborhoods.

Officials say the flyers claimed to have identified readers and now input their information into a "National Database of miscreant Harris supporters." The flyers go on to say that "once the magnificent Donald Trump assumes the Presidency again," the reader will be audited by the IRS, going back to their first tax return, and "at a minimum --- 4 years of painful misery and attorney's fees."

The flyer credits the identification of the Kamala Harris supporters through observation of "social interactions with your neighbors who are on our investigations team, or by yard signs, or vehicle bumper stickers."

City officials told MySA police have collected evidence from two incidents and are currently investigating for Coercion of a Voter, which is a Class A misdemeanor. They are "actively working to identify the suspect or suspect(s) involved so that a case can be presented to the Hays County District Attorney’s Office for consideration of applicable charges."

Any resident who finds a flyer on a sign in their yard is encouraged to contact SMPD, which emphasizes the importance of leaving the flyer in place for officers to come to remove it.

“It’s a crime in the state of Texas to try to influence or coerce or even prevent a voter from voting,” San Marcos Police Chief Stan Standridge said in a statement. “When we identify the suspect or suspects, then we will present that to the district attorney’s office for consideration of applicable charges.”

Rain, crashes delay morning commutes in San Antonio

Rainy weather is set to loom over San Antonio for the rest of the week. Combined with several crashes on major highways, morning commutes are delayed.

www.mysanantonio.com

 

[Shiftless2]

 

[sear]

I know the electoral college boinks it up.
But nationally, care to predict a points spread?

Governor Christy predicted a Harris win, but about a week later began hedging.
Karl Rove predicts a Trump win.