Sometimes you hear something that hits the mark

I recently heard on a podcast or TV, I can't quite remember where, but I found it to be profound.

"Donald Trump is the white man's OJ Simpson."

Shocking visit to America

Those of you who have read my past posts know that I live most of the year (50 weeks) in the Central Philippines. I am retired, 71 years old and have been married to a 68-year-old Filipina for over 20 years.

The other 2 weeks of the year I come back to Boston. I get a medical checkup, do my taxes and see some old friends. Also, as much as I love Iloilo City in the Philippines, Boston has some very good restaurants. Capital Grill for Steak, the Warf for Lobster and the local Italian Restaurant.

Well, anyway, the conversations with my contemporaries have been disheartening. I concede that white men without a college education, over 55 years old and their white wives of the same age are a specific demographic that's Trump cultists. I also concede that they were for Trump in 2016 and 2020, so there's no net gain. In addition, this is the Boston area and their votes in Massachusetts make no significant difference. But many of these people (75% for Trump and 25% for Biden) are OK with a dictatorship. I don't want to recount all the conversations I've had because it depresses me.

I can't wait to get back to my home in the Philippines. I leave the US on Wednesday.

Self Delete

MAGA Cultists ask: "why should we fight for Ukraine's democracy...

...when we don't even want democracy in America?"

To my surprise, Drudge is more accurate than CNN

I like to read or view the other side. Admittedly, I can't watch FOX for more than 10 minutes. The lies are just too much for me.

But I've been reading the Drudge report for years and initially recognized the web site as right wing. But over the Trump years and especially more recently, he really has become anti-Trump.

While the MSM took Adolf Trump's abortion video and made it seem like he was moderating his position, Drudge has a red, screaming headline that Arizona is dragging its citizens back to 1864, with a sketch from that era with woman from thar era. Under that screaming headline, it says "and Trump agrees".

I don't know if people here click on to Drudge, but I can attest it's not like it was 8 years ago. It's certainly not DU or MSNBC, but it has moved to position that it gives me better information than most other media outlets like CNN and the NY times.

Speaker Johnson is safe

MAGA Mike Johnson has two choices on funding Ukraine. (A). A motion that satisfies his more moderate Republicans and most Democrats or (B) one that doesn't (which includes no motion at all on the subject).

If he chooses (A) he will not face a motion to vacate. If he chooses (B), which is most likely, the Democrats will provide the sufficient votes to table the motion to vacate.

Everyone is biased

In the purest sense of the word, every juror, every judge, every witness in every case about Trump or about any unknown defendant has bias in every level of every case. Bias exists in life.

The question when headed to trial for everyone involved is if you can set your inherent bias aside and act fairly?

Let's take the judges in Trump's assorted cases, for example. Of course, they're political and probably members of their families are, also. How do we test for bias effecting their judgements? Appeals. If a decision from the bench is appealed and the Judge is sustained over and over again, a reasonable person can discern that bias did not affect his or her decisions. On the other hand, if a Judge's discissions are constantly made favoring one side over the other, and numerous decisions are overturned on appeal, a reasonable person can discern that her bias has not been adequately set aside, and she must be replaced.

That's my opinion.

Foreign Prescriptions vs. USA

I live 50 weeks a year in the Central Philippines, just outside of Iloilo City. I'm 71 years old, retired and a 13a visa holder (similar to a US green card).

I have 5 different prescriptions that need to be filled monthly. When I worked in the US, I had the best healthcare. Now I'm on Medicare, which I can't use here, so I only have A & B, not D. Before I left the US, the prescriptions would have cost me $5,100 for a 90-day supply. Naturally, I passed.

Those same prescriptions here in the Philippines for a 30-day supply of all 5 prescriptions cost me about $85 per month. Same pills, which are just as effective. That $85 price tag is very similar to my deductible costs with a Cadillac healthcare plan before I retired.

On edit: here's the price list from my local pharmacy. Price is per pill (or unit). Conversion rate is 55 PHP to 1 USD. Example: 1000 Mg Metformin pill is 8.5 PHP per tablet. 30-day supply is 255 PHP. That's less than $5 USD per month. And I receive a 20% senior citizen discount.

Link:
https://medicalpinas.com/mercury-drug-price-list-of-medicines-2023/

Do I not understand political math, or CNN?

I just saw CNN at 11:00 EDT lead in with "Biden gets a warning from Wisconsin Democrats". With about 85% of the vote counted, Biden had about 88% of the primary vote. "Uninstructed" had about 9% and other candidates had the remainder.

On the Republican side, Trump had just 78%, or 10% less than Biden. The participation rate at this writing seems close to equal on each side., with Biden leading Trump in raw numbers (it's close, so that could change).

Am I mistaken, but is 88% more than 78%?

So, in reality, which candidate has the bigger problem?

Built in advantages for President Biden in many key swing states

What do Arizona, Wisconsin, Michigan and Pennsylvania have in common?

Well, other than being key swing states, each one has a Democratic Governor and a Senatorial race in which the Democratic candidate is the favorite. This helps turnout and makes it more difficult for the cultists to cheat.

Add North Carolina to the list, as there is a Democratic Governor who is term limited and the open seat is contested by a mainstream, moderate, normal Democrat against a fucking raving lunatic on the Republican side. In 2020, Biden lost North Carolina by a little more than a point. The Democratic Party has a stronger infrastructure in all of these key states and more resources.


I like the recent polling trend line. I like Joe Biden's more aggressive and enthusiastic campaigning. In addition, Adolf Trump is obviously becoming more and more unhinged, as the political and legal pressure mounts.

And Florida. Every single election since Roe was overturned has gone our way. The Court allowing that referendum on the ballot and prohibiting an abortion after 6 weeks has to boost turnout. In fact, the election rule that Florida needs a 60% majority to amend the State Constitution works to our political advantage. In order for the pro-choice side to prevail we need to work all the harder and get the vote out. I don't know if Florida is in play for Biden, but it sure became interesting.

I have been pessimistic for the past couple of months. I'm far more optimistic now. I realize we are quite a way out from election day and the casting of the first early votes. But I have not been shy in pointing out the Democratic Party's disadvantages on this site. I'd just like to point out some advantages. I'm not taking anything for granted, but I like our current position and our political progression.