Starting to wonder... after the mid-terms, the next election cycle will start... read that as November 9th 2022 the Presidential campaigns for 2024 will kick off in full swing!
What does everyone think? Where does everyone stand?
Will Trump try and run again? Or will it be DeSantis or another Super-Star Hollywood outsider like Dwayne Johnson that the GOP will nominate?
I know it's a little early, and honestly, while things can always be better... they don't seem to be too bad right now... but I say this as a business owner who has recently received emergency pandemic aid from the SBA. While inflation was biting, and still is... at least I can still afford the basics of what are needed, and my outlook on the future is perhaps more positive than it has ever been.
In contrast towards the end of Trump's tenure we were all locked down... chaos and division was at an all time high... Liberals were losing their shit and Republicans were happier than pigs eating shit! While I'm still a Republican, I cannot deny that I felt a little shunned at times by the Republican party, even by Trump himself by way of his Hotel there in Las Vegas. I won't even get into the fundraising arm of politics, but I assume this will be the case with either party. This will never change because it's not cheap to win elections. I think all too often people take up politics much like they do with a sports team... this perhaps is a bad way to view politics since we should all want the person doing the best job to win, because that is what will be best for all of us...
Even if the Secret Service Easter Bunny can wisp our President away from reporters, I am starting to think that the GOP needed a 24/7 Easter Bunny to wisp Trump away from running his fat mouth 90% of the time and perhaps we wouldn't be the minority right now in congress. It's conflicting because I don't think transgender men should be competing in womans sports any more than I think any transgender men should be able to use the Womans bathroom... I still feel that the USA is the best nation on Earth, and I don't understand why people like Omar seem to think we should cede our courts to some internation court... then again she did marry her brother... I really don't see what kind of Americans would re-elect that woman, but if you ask me she's not doing Democrats any favors heading into mid-terms on my ballot, and she isn't even going to be on my ballot! That says a lot about how I COULD vote in 2024, because honestly I think Democrats need to kick out these radicals and find people who genuinely LOVE America, regadless of their sex or race! Same could be said about some Republicans, I won't name any but McConnel seems to have really lost his way... all the trouble he caused while Trump was President and now he seems to be eating out of his hand?
Since I'm a voter, and not a Politician - I can only say my loyalties are to my family, friends and to other patriotic Americans... It would be nice if everyone went back to the polls this election, if only because once they can say nobody is using them, it will be just like paperless statements from your credit card company... I've never gotten a reciept for my vote indicating who I voted for, or any control number assosiated with it... although there is a list at my polling location and they do request identification, we should still have some kind of confermation. We cannot allow the faith of our elections to errode any further! The last one was a shit show! Looking back, with so many locked down and suffering from COVID under Trump, it's not any real surprise that he lost. Hind sight is 2020, right?
All that said, who do you think will run for President in 2024? I know it's a ways off, and many are predicting a red-wave in the 2022 election... but what do you think? I only ask because I have had some Democrats express dissatisfaction with Biden, which is VERY rare, but considering where we were under Trump in his last days as President, would you even trust Trump in 2024? Could we trust he wouldn't shut down the country for virus scare, or start WWIII? Am I the only Republican that wonders these things? Or the only one who asks?
-- Edited by SELLC on Tuesday 19th of April 2022 01:02:26 PM
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What is to give light must endure burning -- Viktor Frankl
"Only an alert & knowledgeable citizenry can compel the proper meshing of the huge industrial & military machinery of defense with our peaceful methods & goals, so that security & liberty may prosper together". Dwight D.Eisenhower.
I don't know how many there will be in 2024, but the last one Trump went toe-to-toe with some big names in politics... He was an outsider and I think that is what helped him beat the big names... It was no small feat for Trump to beat names like Clinton and Bush, he should have been much more humble, but that wore off in a few weeks... Trump chose a lot of people who turned out to be bad choices, then of course his WORST failure was not firing Fauci on live TV when he pitched that whole "Two weeks to flatten the curve" bullshyte... That cost him the farm.
Trump had no competition for the 2020 Republican Primary, but Joe Biden also went toe-to-toe with A LOT of big name competition for his 2020 Democrat Primary... Of course the Biden name was the biggest, and he not only beat out everyone in his party, but also Trump.
If Democrats were to loosen lending requirements and allow for more people to qualify for loans it would go a long way in helping get people over the hump... A lot of people right now just don't have the income numbers due to the pandemic to get a fair loan from a regular bank... most of it no fault of their own! Something should be done about this now before it becomes a problem! The answer to keeping inflation in check with higher interest rates will be to loosen the requirements and allow for use of pre-pandemic income statements as a basis for qualifications... I am not suggesting that anyone who can fog a mirror get a loan for however much they want, but if they have a home and assets it's better to keep them in their homes than to have an onslaught of bankruptcy and foreclosure! The only people that helps are the banks (who are often times insured anyway) and foreign cash buyers who do nothing but pay pennies on the dollar to become slum lords as they rent the distressed properties out for years without paying taxes and then the process starts all over!
The ONLY way inflation can be controlled by raising interest rates is if more people are able to borrow... The current 5% on mortgages is still a WHOLE LOT better than the near 35% interest credit card companies are charging!
Plus we must also factor in the fact inflation is here to stay! People will need more to get by the same way they did pre-pandemic...
If Biden allows the Fed to create a recession, then it's all over... there is no pulling out of that... recessions tend to stay their course for awhile, and if that arrives at Americans doorstep in 2024 it could be a serious problem for Biden and the Democrats.
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What is to give light must endure burning -- Viktor Frankl
2016 was a nut show for number of primaries, 2020 was a dem nut show with no one worth 2 cents.
I'm askert to see what Biden crime regime is going to do,,, about anything. Like Obama said "leave it to Joe to fuck things up". Obama wouldn't even endorse him until he had to, at the last minute. And that was the best they got???
What they say, 8% inflation? My ass. Whatever, people will get by or not. I will.
Inflation has been closer to 100% in many cases, at least for small items costing a few dollars... many $1 menu food items have more than doubled in cost and STILL shrunk in portion size!
I have been humble since the Business got it's SBA loan, but the reality of it is that every penny must be repaid... at the end of the three year payment differment the tax payers will have made back every cent of the $10,200 they forgave under the PPP program and will have even pocketed a nice little profit! I have always felt that was the best way and made the most business sense for the tax payers. Very thankful for the program, and while I know it was a program set up under Republicans, they didn't make it very accessible for "real" small business. I'd have much rather not had to shut down the country for two years and gotten a private mortgage on my own... but that is just not the kind of economy that Trump and the Republicans could deliver.
People will get by, or not... I will, but that's only because my kids are moving out and my expenses are really coming down in the food and child related expenses. It's much cheaper to not have kids than it is to have them and rely on tax credits to help make ends meet. It's a noble job that replenishes the earth with it's next generation, so I don't regret it.
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What is to give light must endure burning -- Viktor Frankl
Of course, looking back it's clear that the SBA giving the business a loan, instead of me having to refiance my home, was a MUCH better route... and it's at an even lower rate than what I'm currently paying on my home!
Even on my private conventional mortgage, before the ink was even dry, they sold it to the government and now the lender only services the loan...
Not all of us can get a small loan of a few million from family...
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What is to give light must endure burning -- Viktor Frankl
Inflation has been closer to 100% in many cases, at least for small items costing a few dollars... many $1 menu food items have more than doubled in cost and STILL shrunk in portion size!
Exactly. I'm seeing 100% on many things. 8% is bullshit, few months ago they said 26%. Liberal twist as usual. Like Obama in 2008, " cost of living " did not increase so no COLA for 3 years."
"Hmmmm, lookie. Bacon; a pound, (16oz for the libs) was $4 a pound last week,,, now it's going up $5 a pound. Shit, we can't admit to 25% inflation. Lets just make bacon in 12 oz packs, sell it for $4 and the sheep will be happy. See, no inflation, told you so"
More liberal thought process. "gee I bought this car in Trumps last few months for $1000. A year into Bidung I can sell it for $1250. Isn't pootus sharticus great?" Never admitting now that $1000 car cost $1500 to replace.
Bacon around here is going for about $6.99 a pound! Sometimes you can find a sale for buy-one get-one for $12 but if you want less expensive bacon you'll have to buy the crap ass Smithfield Chinese bacon and that stuff is NASTY!
Cars are more expensive too, but honestly I could never figure out why people would sell cars for $500-$1000 before and I'd usually buy them. Good deals are still out there to be had but usually thru private party sales between friends and family... otherwise if you have to go on the lot, look out! Even your Facebook and Craigslist sellers have lost their marbles with regards to asking prices! Usually a few times a month I'll check the local adds for cars and just be shocked at what kind of money they are asking for outright pieces of junk.
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What is to give light must endure burning -- Viktor Frankl
Just an example with the bacon price, pretty pricy here too. Best is at the butcher!
Haven't heard of any good car or truck deals here, small Jap trucks out of sight. I could use a spare whatever. Wifes Toy 2001 4x4 tundra been in the shop since dec 11. Tranny. Got it back a month ago, in 10 miles started slipping and no reverse. Got the best trans guy and a good mechanic. The trans was "toy dealer compromised" Replaced her frame cross plumbed radiator to trans cooler. Then mech says "hey you got radiator fluid in your trans and atf in your radiator" Now trans rebuilt, sorta I believe a simple thing is up, replaced transfer case, oil cooler was shot and had water so new one and lines flushed. 4x4 button no workie either, on order, or say backorder from toy.
I'm not a big fan of the thicker bacon that is usually found at the butcher unless I'm camping because it takes much longer to cook... I like the thin sliced Oscar Mayer bacon the best lately, as it cooks quickly and has the best flavor. I'm pretty picky when it comes to how it's cooked too, I can't stand hard or crispy bacon, I like it cooked to perfection, which to me is enough to where it's straight and flat when you pick it up, but still able to be rolled into your mouth without it breaking... that's the best bacon to me, but everyone has their own preferences.
That's hard news on the 2001 Toyota... "Oh what a feeling"
Still it's a 20+ year old truck and as such, not even Japanise cars last forever... sure they can go a good long time without service but once they get up there in the miles they will require service and be more expensive to fix.
Sounds like perhaps that cooler was cross leaking causing your transmission to to take on coolant... that will smoke a trans every time! I normally find transmission cooler lines fail (rust out) and then unknown to the driver the transmission will run low and that will usually kill the the transmission. In your case the cooler seperated allowing cross contamination of fluids... that really sucks, and it's really rare too!
Overall I'd stick with a GM truck if I were you... if you want something a little more fancy you could get a Ford but they can be just like anything else - EXPENSIVE. Trucks right now are still pulling a premium on the market, even with gas prices soaring! You might do well to buy some cheap POS or running the Toyota a little longer as sooner or later these prices will have to come down... when? That is the million dollar question! Sounds like at this point with all the money you have put into the Toyota it owes you many more years of service, however that can be expensive too because other things can crop up between now and then... Is the Toyota all fixed now and back on the road? If so you might just want to run with that until all this BS blows over!
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What is to give light must endure burning -- Viktor Frankl
I like the thin bacon for wrapping scallops. Generally I put heavy duty foil on a pizza pan and do it in the oven. Flip it half way thru cooking. Easy cleanup, no spatter
Back when toy was replacing frames or cars the dealer fucked everything up. I'd a had a lawsuit but she didn't. Took a year. Body sat in a mud puddle a year, brakes didn't work, 4x4 didn't work, crossed coolers and more. Didn't even wash it before they tried to give it back after sitting in a puddle, looked like they went mudding. So they washed it, left the lot, no brakes. It's a shit kid inherited a dealership around Norton Ma.
I have a 2003 F350 4x4. Less than 80K on it. What a good truck. I'm OK with GM too, had several. Still got my Vette, C5, Anniversary Z06.
Toy still in shop. Picked up Dec 11. Tried to take it home Mar 15, 10 miles started slipping (like it did), noisy shifts, no reverse. Back to shop been sitting a month waiting for the rebuilder to drive the 2 miles to the shop and try it out, may be simple, hope so. Candy been without her truck over 4 mo now. For a tranny? If I knew I would have put a junkyard trans in. Yes it will have to be a keeper now. Very good truck. I expect things to go at that age and 170K. Just didn't expect so long to fix!
Have had a major bug for a Mini for quite some time. Got to be a manual of course and hardtop so I can put the Brit flag on top >:)
Are bacon wrapped scallops be considered "Surf and turf" or at least a form of it? Sound pretty interesting, and easy clean up too!
I got mud going over here at the moment... can't do nothing about it in the spring time! Although my puddles usually dry up within a day or two...
Did not know you had a 2003 F350! You may have mentioned it in the past but I just don't recall... What engine you got in it? Gas or Diesel?
I could never forget your Z06! What a machine! It's hard to compete with them LS engines!
Sorry to hear the truck is still in limbo! I know it's no help, but I've also been WAY behind over here too! I'm sure they are dealing with the same kinds of problems too! Nothing worse than transmissions because you're more or less counting on someone else for the warranty... not many places will rebuild them anymore, or the ones that do just bench them... I don't get into transmissions here because it's a whole different sort of game that requires special tools that are just not justifiable unless you're rebuilding them every day.
I honestly have two jobs here still from last year! One of them might not roll until June or even July! But that is a much bigger job than just a transmission... turned into a damn mini-resto on me! Help has been a challenge too, can't get anyone worth a damn! You get someone who don't know what they are doing, or just doesn't care and it can cost you more than anything... I bet the shop you're dealing with is running into parts cost increase overruns... or the place they sent the transmission does not want to stand behind the warranty... if they found coolant in the transmission, by rights it was not the rebuilders fault... rather the installer who did not notice the coolant in the pan before, or by damaging the cooler itself during removal or installation. This could be what it taking so long as they dance to figure out who is going to do what...
A lot of people like the Mini... it's a cute car! I myself wouldn't mind having a Union Jack E-Type like in the AP movie! LOL, but the same could be said of the G2 American Flag Corvette seen in other parts of said movie.
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What is to give light must endure burning -- Viktor Frankl
Are bacon wrapped scallops be considered "Surf and turf" or at least a form of it? Sound pretty interesting, and easy clean up too!
I got mud going over here at the moment... can't do nothing about it in the spring time! Although my puddles usually dry up within a day or two...
Did not know you had a 2003 F350! You may have mentioned it in the past but I just don't recall... What engine you got in it? Gas or Diesel?
I could never forget your Z06! What a machine! It's hard to compete with them LS engines!
Sorry to hear the truck is still in limbo! I know it's no help, but I've also been WAY behind over here too! I'm sure they are dealing with the same kinds of problems too! Nothing worse than transmissions because you're more or less counting on someone else for the warranty... not many places will rebuild them anymore, or the ones that do just bench them... I don't get into transmissions here because it's a whole different sort of game that requires special tools that are just not justifiable unless you're rebuilding them every day.
I honestly have two jobs here still from last year! One of them might not roll until June or even July! But that is a much bigger job than just a transmission... turned into a damn mini-resto on me! Help has been a challenge too, can't get anyone worth a damn! You get someone who don't know what they are doing, or just doesn't care and it can cost you more than anything... I bet the shop you're dealing with is running into parts cost increase overruns... or the place they sent the transmission does not want to stand behind the warranty... if they found coolant in the transmission, by rights it was not the rebuilders fault... rather the installer who did not notice the coolant in the pan before, or by damaging the cooler itself during removal or installation. This could be what it taking so long as they dance to figure out who is going to do what...
A lot of people like the Mini... it's a cute car! I myself wouldn't mind having a Union Jack E-Type like in the AP movie! LOL, but the same could be said of the G2 American Flag Corvette seen in other parts of said movie.
Nah surf and turf is seafood and meat combo plate. Get good scallops, big real ones. Half slice bacon wrapped and toothpick. Bake em till bacon edible. Don't over cook.
I got the gasser in the Ford. Been a wonderful truck. Vette is the LS6. Fun watching the mileage change when you stomp it. I actually average 22-26 combined. Low single digits when on it.
Got the best trans guy around, it's not his work. He is retired but my mechanic has an in and brought it to him. The switched oil and coolant was back about 8 years plus ago but upon diss the mechanic found more, like in the trans cooler which is replaced and flushed now so should be good. Life is slower here, I've adapted. It's OK I got the best people, it will be fixed right now.
Hard to find a mini without 150K on it. Hear clutches only make 30K, I dunno. Had a bug for one all my life. Didn't see the movie, a Jag? Cous had a 1968 XKE, plenty extra cylinders. Got it new for HS grad!
