caryking said:

---

hokiewolf said:

---

Gulfstream4 said:

---

Civilized said:

---

Mike Johnson hasn't shared a plan because Republicans have no plan other than owning libs.

MARGE ON MAHER: “Dems passed Obamacare, Republicans have never done anything to correct the problems… I don’t think it’s easy to fix, but we should have a plan — and @SpeakerJohnson for a month now can’t give me a single policy idea.” pic.twitter.com/WqnhtHcbl6

— The Tennessee Holler (@TheTNHoller) November 1, 2025

---

You are really digging on Marge. What changed?

---

Shes saying one thing rational. We have to celebrate that just like maybe one day one of the squad will do so as well......nah!

---

I didn't watch the MTG video; however, she has been clear that the Pubs don't act with solid legislation. Whether one agrees with the policy/plan that she might advise, she atleast wants to do something, because what we have isn't sustainable.

I'm not a fan of Obamacare, because of all the incentives that insurance providers received within the program. Also, the whole concept that Obamacare was a Free Market solution is absurd, in my opinion. A Free Market solution wouldn't need subsidies. A free Market Solution wouldn't be managed through the government.

Now, I know we have a segment of our population that needs support, that our people will provide through our taxes and the Government will manage. Personally, I would like to see a more strenuous overview put on qualifications and see what happens. So, why do I think we need a more strenuous approach is purely based on the fact that 42 M people receive SNAP support. That's purely crazy! Something is missing in our economy that allows for that many people to be on benefits, payed for by the tax payers!

---

Is the insurance someone gets from their employer considered "free market"? Because the dirty little secret is that employer insurance is just as subsidized by the government. ACA market plans would be at a huge disadvantage if they weren't also subsidized.

At a simple, conceptual level, though, how is a "free market" health care solution that you and Hokie fantasize about even supposed to work in the first place? Does anyone ever get health care where they discuss the prices up front? Or do you always get health care first, and then find out how much you were billed later? Maybe if hospitals posted a huge menu on the front door that people could use to shop around then market forces might actually come into play, but as we understand health care now it's just not the case.

hokiewolf said:

---

I agree with a lot of what you have said, but 42M people is 12% of the population and of that 42M are 16M children, 8M seniors, and 4M people with disabilities.

So, we should figure out who these 16M who seem able bodied or abled bodied with children and figure out the why, and engage community support to give these folks hope through treating them with dignity. Get your dignity back, your motivation comes back. Your motivation comes back, you're off SNAP.

Now, this is far from an easy problem, but Republicans treat these people as lazy, and Democrats treat them as unable. That paradigm needs to shift on both sides

---

Why are you assuming that the 16M are experiencing some kind of moral failing. Maybe some are, but maybe we should figure out what percentage of Wal Mart employees are working significant hours and are still on SNAP benefits in order to survive? Maybe there are some CEOs experiencing moral failings also, supplementing their own bottom lines by assuming their employers will just get public assistance to make up the difference.

SmaptyWolf said:

---

caryking said:

---

SmaptyWolf said:

---

caryking said:

---

SmaptyWolf said:

---

caryking said:

---

SmaptyWolf said:

---

Cthepack said:

---

SmaptyWolf said:

---

TheStorm said:

---

caryking said:

---

SmaptyWolf said:

---

caryking said:

---

Civilized said:

---

It's positively wild how angry some people on here are, at total strangers, for no good reason.

And how they attack those strangers with personal insults online because they have a different political opinion.

This is a message board. It's not real life. We talking 'bout practice. Practice, man.

I'll never get it.

---

Ok, take a look at your boy Smapty…. He is full-on personal insults with people he thinks is beneath him, intellectually. Just ask him…

---

Civ has the patience of Job. Me not so much. I try, but I'm more than happy to point out when someone is a rage-filled moron spewing demonic, anti-American opinions and blindly nodding along to obvious cons.

Unfortunately I get daily opportunities around here.

---

So, who do you equate that opinion with?

---

That's easy. Everybody but Civ... he even torches hokie whenever he slightly steps out of line.

---

No, I've never "torched" Hokie. We disagree on a lot of things, but he's one of the few conservatives on here (there are a small handful) that actually just debates ideas like an adult.

Unfortunately the majority of you guys are emotionally and intellectually stunted and are clearly unable to debate anything. Hilariously you think Hokie is a lefty (not even close) exactly because he's able to think about things for himself and doesn't just fling crap.

Back in the good ol' days when a person didn't actually have a clue they just kept their head down, because they didn't want to look stupid. But not you guys! You're in a constant state of reading a tweet that's "awful, if true" (hint: they're never true), and then raging about it at the top of your lungs. For the sake of the country, you deserve all of the condescension that can possibly be heaped on you.

---

Curious why you do not just keep your head down?

Just for reference, what you were attempting to debate me on you had no clue. You were just doing inter web searches. I posted numerous times you are embarrassing yourself but you did not "put your head down", you continued to look stupid.

I am an expert on the topic you tried to debate me on. I lecture at universities about it (including NC State). I have published on the topic. I do a couple conferences a year where I speak about the topic.

So again, I am cureioius why you did not just keep your head down?

---

Ugh, this again? Lol, oh now you're a renowned expert on the topic? You were making a lot of ludicrous assertions for a renowned expert. I'm still trying to figure out how you don't consider your own consulting services "pure waste".

---

Smapty, no offense... wanting to debate you and/or discuss topics is not a desired challenge for anyone. I know you think you're smarter than everyone here; so, why do you feel it necessary to engage un-worthy adversaries?

---

No offense, but I'd guess that 80% of the IPS community is smarter than almost everyone who frequents the Water Cooler. It's a really low bar.

Anyway, like I said, for the most part I'm not really engaging with you. I'm not sure that's actually possible. But we live in an era where MAGA has gone to war with reality in order to get what they want, and it's very important that everyone else push back and remind other people trying to figure out what's going on that reality still exists.

---

You know, with you being the smartest person in the room, I'm sure you already know that 80% of IPS is smarter. Hey, atleast you admit that you're not engaging with me. The smartest person in the room doesn't lower himself to my level.

ok…

BTW, I just like winning. Something my team is doing a lot of, recently…

---

I've actually tried to engage with you more than a few times. Like I said, having an actual conversation where you respond without instantly changing the subject, and don't quickly revert back to to sh**posting, doesn't seem to be possible.

---

Smapty, I'll accept your criticism. Let's start new. I'll stop calling you an "it" and you stop railing on MAGA. Let's just keep it to policy and differences.

i was getting ready to post an IG post about liberals…. I'm going to refrain.and stay above water with rhetoric. You up to it?

---

Those two things aren't equal. How about you stop calling me "it" and I'll stop calling you "gay". Except I've never done that, because that kind of personal attack is what small minded people fall back on when they're really mad but don't actually have an argument.

I'm actually perfectly fine with you calling me an idiot. Just back it up with an actual attempt at a cogent argument. You think liberals are degenerates because they aren't bothered by trans people? Cool! At least we know where we stand. I happen to think MAGA are mostly a bunch of degenerates exactly because they slavishly cheer on a con man, nod along to some truly awful things, and are generally incapable of explaining any of their beliefs without 3rd grade name calling.

But anyway, yeah, if you want to shift gears and try cogent arguments, I'm here for it!

---

Ok, let me clear up a couple of things. I think liberals are a little misguided, for sure. I think Trans people have a mental issue that needs dealing with, as opposed to just automatically accepting the position.

Smapty, I have a cousin that did a full transition, from female to male, back around 1980 to 1982 (I don't remember). There has been some strife between our families for some time, because of other family issues. This past week, we had an uncle pass away and my cousin was asked to do an eulogy 15 minutes before the funeral. My brother said he was very nervous; however, was absolutely awesome. Afterwords, my brother went up and spoke with him…. My brother said the eulogy was fantastic. Now, maybe to counter your sentiment, my brother said the following: I miss seeing you all, I love you! Our cousin started crying with joy.

You know… I can disagree with a persons lifestyle, and at the same time, Love them. I wasn't at the funeral, as I was on vacation, out of the country; however, when my brother told me the story, it meant a lot to me, as he is my cousin, and I love them.

I don't think liberals are degenerates at all. I just disagree with them. That's the same way you disagree with me and people with my belief structure. Are there some liberals that I think are flat out liars? Yes! As you know by now, you probably should recognize that I feel the same about Pubs as well.

Regarding Trump, I certainly understand what people don't like him. That said, I'm not one of those people. Smapty, here comes my Christian belief again:

John 8:7 "Let him who is without sin among you be the first to throw a stone at her"

that's a tough standard to live up to; however, I do my best. Sometimes, I fall short. For me, certain norms have been pushed so far, that it's going to feel very uncomfortable for some, as the norms get moved back. I sure know how it feels as I've lived this 59 years watching norms move further away from something that just appears to be out there…

BTW, what demographic of people do you think I'm supporting when I say I want more manufacturing by in the States? My hunch tells me they vote similar to you and not me. So, why would I want something that didn't align with my political beliefs? That's easy. I want something for US citizens, regardless of politics.

In summary, I think you have a misconception of who I really am. Perhaps, joining us for lunch, one day, would break the ice.

Pinellas County's congresswoman, Anna Paulina Luna, is a MAGA STAR patriot. She's out front on most all national security and corruption issues.

FOLLOW THE MONEY—
until the HEAD of the SNAKE is CUT OFF.
U.S. Military and Intelligence regime change operations are no longer limited to foreign soil. They’re being used on American citizens, to rig elections, control narratives, and seize power—while you unknowingly pay for it… pic.twitter.com/xUtBzDwzZJ

— QThestorm (@17QStorm) October 29, 2025

SmaptyWolf said:

---

hokiewolf said:

---

I agree with a lot of what you have said, but 42M people is 12% of the population and of that 42M are 16M children, 8M seniors, and 4M people with disabilities.

So, we should figure out who these 16M who seem able bodied or abled bodied with children and figure out the why, and engage community support to give these folks hope through treating them with dignity. Get your dignity back, your motivation comes back. Your motivation comes back, you're off SNAP.

Now, this is far from an easy problem, but Republicans treat these people as lazy, and Democrats treat them as unable. That paradigm needs to shift on both sides

---

Why are you assuming that the 16M are experiencing some kind of moral failing. Maybe some are, but maybe we should figure out what percentage of Wal Mart employees are working significant hours and are still on SNAP benefits in order to survive? Maybe there are some CEOs experiencing moral failings also, supplementing their own bottom lines by assuming their employers will just get public assistance to make up the difference.

---

I don't think 16M have a moral failing. Like I said it's a complex problem and there are many different reasons why folks are on Snap. And yes, some of that is due to pay and underemployment. However, I seriously doubt a fully employed person with health benefits from a company is also on SNAP. Now part time, you could sell me on that.

I think what it boils down to me is when I'm given something (like all my spoiled life, thanks Mom and Dad!) I don't feel fulfilled. But when I earn it ( which I never have and never will) it's much more rewarding and I want to take that next step to better myself.

If we keep throwing money and benefits at the problem, it's been proven that doesn't work too well pulling people out of poverty. There has to be a different solution.

Gulfstream4 said:

---

Civilized said:

---

Mike Johnson hasn't shared a plan because Republicans have no plan other than owning libs.

MARGE ON MAHER: “Dems passed Obamacare, Republicans have never done anything to correct the problems… I don’t think it’s easy to fix, but we should have a plan — and @SpeakerJohnson for a month now can’t give me a single policy idea.” pic.twitter.com/WqnhtHcbl6

— The Tennessee Holler (@TheTNHoller) November 1, 2025

---

You are really digging on Marge. What changed?

---

What changed regarding her positions on key issues? Everything. She's completely breaking with MAGA on health care, tariffs, Argentina, and other issues and taking very centrist and sensible and pragmatic positions.

Aside from simply agreeing strongly with her on several of these positions, like I've said in the past with Liz Cheney and others, I also have significant respect for politicians that break from their party's positions, often to their own professional or political or personal detriment, to take principled stands on things. That takes a lot of courage and selflessness.

Why her change of heart/strategy? No idea but she's certainly coming off as authentic.

I'm guessing it's some combination of her maternal instinct/caring for people in her community or constituents, political opportunism to differentiate herself, and real concern that Trump administration actions and positions in recent months are going to weaken Republicans electorally in 26 and 28.

I'm not suspecting she'll stop being too conspiracy-oriented and I'll definitely disagree completely with her on other issues especially any sort of recurrent Stop the Steal election fraud conspiracy fever dreams, but on a umber of key issues right now I'm in full agreement with her.

#Nappy can't wait to get back to NYC and pay JIZYA taxes under Mamdani's new Sharia Law.

When Islam holds sway, there are three choices for non-believers.
Convert to Islam, follow the Shariah & do as you're told.
Become a 2nd class citizen, pay the Jizya & do as you're told.
Don't pay the Jizya, become virtual slaves (abeed) & do as you're told, on pain of death. https://t.co/EjlHdJThoz

— Brian Firth, Born & Bred Here 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 (@LordBriRobert1) November 1, 2025

caryking said:

---

hokiewolf said:

---

caryking said:

---

hokiewolf said:

---

I agree with a lot of what you have said, but 42M people is 12% of the population and of that 42M are 16M children, 8M seniors, and 4M people with disabilities.

So, we should figure out who these 16M who seem able bodied or abled bodied with children and figure out the why, and engage community support to give these folks hope through treating them with dignity. Get your dignity back, your motivation comes back. Your motivation comes back, you're off SNAP.

Now, this is far from an easy problem, but Republicans treat these people as lazy, and Democrats treat them as unable. That paradigm needs to shift on both sides

---

Hokie, some are lazy; however, my hunch is that they lost their jobs to outsourcing. This comes back to my continuous complaints about people sitting on their porch, in High Point, then see the factories shut down.

i know we don't agree on this…. I believe we sold out Americans to outsourcing and now we complain about them being lazy or on the dole. I'm confident that my opinion isn't a fix-all solution; however, I'm confident it fixes a good amount of our ills…

what's funny is all the video, now popping up of Ross Perot during the Presidential debate with Bush Sr and Clinton saying…

that sucking sound… it's our jobs leaving.

i wish I would have listened to him more, back then.

---

Do you feel like some of your thoughts are a bit nostalgic? The jobs are there still they are just different. The failure of the '90s was these towns not recognizing that they need to adapt. The ones that did are thriving and don't have people sitting on their porches.

---

Actually, I don't think this is about nostalgia at all. Not everyone wants to be in a high-tech or white collar position.they just enjoy the manual work. Think about the artisans in woodworking we used to have; the quality of that work; now, we have less the desirable quality, in dang near everything.

We recently bought new furniture for our Beach House. Most everything I bought is still assembled in NC. Now, that was a concerted effort to do. What was there (I'm sure was China Made) I had re-covered, by a company down in Newport. Local business doing the manual work. I find those people extremely fascinating! The quality of their work was outstanding!

if you want to call nostalgic, then so be it…. I find the quality to be just better, atleast in this case.

---

there are 100's of thousands of service jobs that fit the niche of manual work. They've always been there and they are at greater numbers with better pay.

They are also in jeopardy because of tariff policies.

How fortunate she must feel.

"Sooooo, turns out I'm Muslim!"

This American woman realized she's "technically a Muslim" after reading the Quran. In other videos, she explains that her journey to embracing Islam began when a friend invited her to a Halal food festival.

Much love!🫶 pic.twitter.com/NSFrMobn8y

— dahlia kurtz ✡︎ דליה קורץ (@DahliaKurtz) August 26, 2025

A 55-year-old Muslim, married to his 14-year-old wife of five years, is pleased with life, thanks to Mohammed setting an example to follow. He beats her only once a month as per Quranic instruction 4:34 because he loves her.
- @Bala_mirr pic.twitter.com/xaCtLmwP4k

— Imtiaz Mahmood (@ImtiazMadmood) June 2, 2025

Civilized said:

---

Gulfstream4 said:

---

Civilized said:

---

Mike Johnson hasn't shared a plan because Republicans have no plan other than owning libs.

MARGE ON MAHER: “Dems passed Obamacare, Republicans have never done anything to correct the problems… I don’t think it’s easy to fix, but we should have a plan — and @SpeakerJohnson for a month now can’t give me a single policy idea.” pic.twitter.com/WqnhtHcbl6

— The Tennessee Holler (@TheTNHoller) November 1, 2025

---

You are really digging on Marge. What changed?

---

What changed regarding her positions on key issues? Everything. She's completely breaking with MAGA on health care, tariffs, Argentina, and other issues and taking very centrist and sensible and pragmatic positions.

Aside from simply agreeing strongly with her on several of these positions, like I've said in the past with Liz Cheney and others, I also have significant respect for politicians that break from their party's positions, often to their own professional or political or personal detriment, to take principled stands on things. That takes a lot of courage and selflessness.

Why her change of heart/strategy? No idea but she's certainly coming off as authentic.

I'm guessing it's some combination of her maternal instinct/caring for people in her community or constituents, political opportunism to differentiate herself, and real concern that Trump administration actions and positions in recent months are going to weaken Republicans electorally in 26 and 28.

I'm not suspecting she'll stop being too conspiracy-oriented and I'll definitely disagree completely with her on other issues especially any sort of recurrent Stop the Steal election fraud conspiracy fever dreams, but on a umber of key issues right now I'm in full agreement with her.

---

Fair enough. How do you feel about John Fetterman? I don't recall you liking him very much?

Oldsouljer said:

---

The administration needs to look at prioritizing entrance for lovely young ladies from overseas.

https://redstate.com/wardclark/2025/10/31/german-anti-greta-climate-skeptic-now-seeks-asylum-in-us-n2195716

I AM SEEKING ASYLUM IN THE U.S. 🇩🇪🇺🇸

My name is Naomi Seibt,

I am the 1st German applying for asylum under President Trump due to political persecution.

As a free speech advocate and supporter of the AfD party, I am the target of
• intelligence surveillance
• state media… pic.twitter.com/rdsj4Qg4BB

— Naomi Seibt (@SeibtNaomi) October 29, 2025

---

This is what was lying in store for American sovereign citizens if Trump had not 1st won in 2016 and when Too-Big-To Rig turnout prevented a 2024 steal. Good find: now we can watch Europe and see what was in store for us from a distance, across the pond.

She is WASTED.

KAMALA: "I think we should lower the voting age to 16."

Then she rambles on about the climate hoax that even bug eating Bill Gates debunked.

America would be so fucked right now if she won. pic.twitter.com/9ul5mVvDze

— Sara Rose 🇺🇸🌹 (@saras76) October 30, 2025

^

Today, I met with and reviewed documentation regarding @SeibtNaomi’s asylum case. It is clear that, due to her support for President Trump and her refusal to conform to leftist ideology, she has been targeted and could face imprisonment/physical danger if she returns to… pic.twitter.com/RvsLEsjSkr

— Rep. Anna Paulina Luna (@RepLuna) October 30, 2025

WE have #Nappy, #Sieve and #Gobbler types to thank for this.

Attention America: Muslim woman says she sees the same Muslim leaders she fled in Egypt now leading our protests right here in America. They are members of The Muslim Brotherhood

"I came here expecting that I left the bad guys behind. But unfortunately, what I found here is that the bad guys are already here, and they include many of the people I knew from 15 years ago or 20 years ago when I was a student, an undergraduate student.

Now they are leading the protestors that are happening all over the country. I know they are members of the Muslim Brotherhood, although many of them deny that they are.

They even organized the protestors in the same manner that they were doing back then, 15 and 20 years ago, the same way of mobilization, the same flags, the same narrative, even the same dependence on Al Jazeera, footage and news stories. It's like a deja vu for me, everything is happening, but in the United States.

That's why I'm here today with the hope that we can find a way to prevent what happened to my home country Egypt from happening here to the United States.

Because for me, the United States embodies all the important values that I've been fighting for all my life, including human rights, women's rights, and democratization.

I don't want to see this going away under by any means. So I hope today we can come up with an offensive strategy that can help us make this happen before it's too late.

Attention America 🚨 Muslim woman says she sees the same Muslim leaders she fled in Egypt now leading our protests right here in America. They are members of The Muslim Brotherhood

“I came here expecting that I left the bad guys behind. But unfortunately, what I found here is… pic.twitter.com/WVN7HhJcEo

— Wall Street Apes (@WallStreetApes) October 31, 2025

#Sieve, I promised you military tribunals........and Military Tribunals is what you'll get. Count on it, friend ;-)

“People are starting to get grand jury subpoenas. I’ve been talking to defense lawyers and about 20 to 30 have gone out in the last couple of weeks. The big conspiracy is now being put together.” 💥

Very interesting interview between John Solomon & Steve Bannon yesterday. Due… pic.twitter.com/L2GMh9oW7V

— TheStormHasArrived (@TheStormRedux) October 31, 2025

Gulfstream4 said:

---

Civilized said:

---

Gulfstream4 said:

---

Civilized said:

---

Mike Johnson hasn't shared a plan because Republicans have no plan other than owning libs.

MARGE ON MAHER: “Dems passed Obamacare, Republicans have never done anything to correct the problems… I don’t think it’s easy to fix, but we should have a plan — and @SpeakerJohnson for a month now can’t give me a single policy idea.” pic.twitter.com/WqnhtHcbl6

— The Tennessee Holler (@TheTNHoller) November 1, 2025

---

You are really digging on Marge. What changed?

---

What changed regarding her positions on key issues? Everything. She's completely breaking with MAGA on health care, tariffs, Argentina, and other issues and taking very centrist and sensible and pragmatic positions.

Aside from simply agreeing strongly with her on several of these positions, like I've said in the past with Liz Cheney and others, I also have significant respect for politicians that break from their party's positions, often to their own professional or political or personal detriment, to take principled stands on things. That takes a lot of courage and selflessness.

Why her change of heart/strategy? No idea but she's certainly coming off as authentic.

I'm guessing it's some combination of her maternal instinct/caring for people in her community or constituents, political opportunism to differentiate herself, and real concern that Trump administration actions and positions in recent months are going to weaken Republicans electorally in 26 and 28.

I'm not suspecting she'll stop being too conspiracy-oriented and I'll definitely disagree completely with her on other issues especially any sort of recurrent Stop the Steal election fraud conspiracy fever dreams, but on a umber of key issues right now I'm in full agreement with her.

---

Fair enough. How do you feel about John Fetterman? I don't recall you liking him very much?

---

I've never had super strong feelings on Fetterman.

I agree with virtually his entire platform and he's his own guy, which I always have a fondness for.

His policy positions are sometimes hard to predict but he's not a contrarian for contrarian's sake or just to try to accumulate power like Manchin.

Civilized said:

---

Gulfstream4 said:

---

Civilized said:

---

Gulfstream4 said:

---

Civilized said:

---

Mike Johnson hasn't shared a plan because Republicans have no plan other than owning libs.

MARGE ON MAHER: “Dems passed Obamacare, Republicans have never done anything to correct the problems… I don’t think it’s easy to fix, but we should have a plan — and @SpeakerJohnson for a month now can’t give me a single policy idea.” pic.twitter.com/WqnhtHcbl6

— The Tennessee Holler (@TheTNHoller) November 1, 2025

---

You are really digging on Marge. What changed?

---

What changed regarding her positions on key issues? Everything. She's completely breaking with MAGA on health care, tariffs, Argentina, and other issues and taking very centrist and sensible and pragmatic positions.

Aside from simply agreeing strongly with her on several of these positions, like I've said in the past with Liz Cheney and others, I also have significant respect for politicians that break from their party's positions, often to their own professional or political or personal detriment, to take principled stands on things. That takes a lot of courage and selflessness.

Why her change of heart/strategy? No idea but she's certainly coming off as authentic.

I'm guessing it's some combination of her maternal instinct/caring for people in her community or constituents, political opportunism to differentiate herself, and real concern that Trump administration actions and positions in recent months are going to weaken Republicans electorally in 26 and 28.

I'm not suspecting she'll stop being too conspiracy-oriented and I'll definitely disagree completely with her on other issues especially any sort of recurrent Stop the Steal election fraud conspiracy fever dreams, but on a umber of key issues right now I'm in full agreement with her.

---

Fair enough. How do you feel about John Fetterman? I don't recall you liking him very much?

---

I've never had super strong feelings on Fetterman.

I agree with virtually his entire platform and he's his own guy, which I always have a fondness for.

His policy positions are sometimes hard to predict but he's not a contrarian for contrarian's sake or just to try to accumulate power like Manchin.

---

I see similarities between him and the late Scoop Jackson.

Civilized said:

---

Gulfstream4 said:

---

Civilized said:

---

Mike Johnson hasn't shared a plan because Republicans have no plan other than owning libs.

MARGE ON MAHER: “Dems passed Obamacare, Republicans have never done anything to correct the problems… I don’t think it’s easy to fix, but we should have a plan — and @SpeakerJohnson for a month now can’t give me a single policy idea.” pic.twitter.com/WqnhtHcbl6

— The Tennessee Holler (@TheTNHoller) November 1, 2025

---

You are really digging on Marge. What changed?

---

What changed regarding her positions on key issues? Everything. She's completely breaking with MAGA on health care, tariffs, Argentina, and other issues and taking very centrist and sensible and pragmatic positions.

Aside from simply agreeing strongly with her on several of these positions, like I've said in the past with Liz Cheney and others, I also have significant respect for politicians that break from their party's positions, often to their own professional or political or personal detriment, to take principled stands on things. That takes a lot of courage and selflessness.

Why her change of heart/strategy? No idea but she's certainly coming off as authentic.

I'm guessing it's some combination of her maternal instinct/caring for people in her community or constituents, political opportunism to differentiate herself, and real concern that Trump administration actions and positions in recent months are going to weaken Republicans electorally in 26 and 28.

I'm not suspecting she'll stop being too conspiracy-oriented and I'll definitely disagree completely with her on other issues especially any sort of recurrent Stop the Steal election fraud conspiracy fever dreams, but on a umber of key issues right now I'm in full agreement with her.

---

Civ, you've mentioned her changing on certain policies. What has she said about health care?

hokiewolf said:

---

caryking said:

---

hokiewolf said:

---

caryking said:

---

hokiewolf said:

---

I agree with a lot of what you have said, but 42M people is 12% of the population and of that 42M are 16M children, 8M seniors, and 4M people with disabilities.

So, we should figure out who these 16M who seem able bodied or abled bodied with children and figure out the why, and engage community support to give these folks hope through treating them with dignity. Get your dignity back, your motivation comes back. Your motivation comes back, you're off SNAP.

Now, this is far from an easy problem, but Republicans treat these people as lazy, and Democrats treat them as unable. That paradigm needs to shift on both sides

---

Hokie, some are lazy; however, my hunch is that they lost their jobs to outsourcing. This comes back to my continuous complaints about people sitting on their porch, in High Point, then see the factories shut down.

i know we don't agree on this…. I believe we sold out Americans to outsourcing and now we complain about them being lazy or on the dole. I'm confident that my opinion isn't a fix-all solution; however, I'm confident it fixes a good amount of our ills…

what's funny is all the video, now popping up of Ross Perot during the Presidential debate with Bush Sr and Clinton saying…

that sucking sound… it's our jobs leaving.

i wish I would have listened to him more, back then.

---

Do you feel like some of your thoughts are a bit nostalgic? The jobs are there still they are just different. The failure of the '90s was these towns not recognizing that they need to adapt. The ones that did are thriving and don't have people sitting on their porches.

---

Actually, I don't think this is about nostalgia at all. Not everyone wants to be in a high-tech or white collar position.they just enjoy the manual work. Think about the artisans in woodworking we used to have; the quality of that work; now, we have less the desirable quality, in dang near everything.

We recently bought new furniture for our Beach House. Most everything I bought is still assembled in NC. Now, that was a concerted effort to do. What was there (I'm sure was China Made) I had re-covered, by a company down in Newport. Local business doing the manual work. I find those people extremely fascinating! The quality of their work was outstanding!

if you want to call nostalgic, then so be it…. I find the quality to be just better, atleast in this case.

---

there are 100's of thousands of service jobs that fit the niche of manual work. They've always been there and they are at greater numbers with better pay.

They are also in jeopardy because of tariff policies.

---

Hokie, you and I will completely disagree on this one. I'm a pro jobs in the US for most things. We can do it, if we had the will. I know it's not going to happen overnight; however, let's start!

BTW, dang near all compounds for generic drugs are made in India or China. As I understand, those compounds are not as rigorously checked for foreign contamination as done in the US, meaning cheaper to produce. I just talked a close friend about this yesterday, who has worked in that industry for 30 years. He provided me this info.

#Sieve, how many voters do you think you'll lose? Who's the threat to democracy, #Sieve?

🚨 BREAKING: Elon Musk says Democrats shut down the government because they are TERRIFIED of losing their illegal alien voter base after President Trump cut off welfare for illegals... pic.twitter.com/qHvvsH2n2C

"The Democrat Party will lose a lot of voters."

ROGAN: And they have…

— Eric Daugherty (@EricLDaugh) October 31, 2025

Can we start to agree this is a stupid policy?

As usual, it's "Tariffs for thee, but not for me." https://t.co/1f92vSZnJM

— Scott Lincicome (@scottlincicome) November 1, 2025

hokiewolf said:

---

Can we start to agree this is a stupid policy?

As usual, it's "Tariffs for thee, but not for me." https://t.co/1f92vSZnJM

— Scott Lincicome (@scottlincicome) November 1, 2025

---

Yes, you, civ, smapty, and your fellow TDS friends can agree. The rest of intelligent society can understand a president trying to negotiate to benefit his country. Keep swinging for that tds win though.

packgrad said:

---

hokiewolf said:

---

Can we start to agree this is a stupid policy?

As usual, it's "Tariffs for thee, but not for me." https://t.co/1f92vSZnJM

— Scott Lincicome (@scottlincicome) November 1, 2025

---

Yes, you, civ, smapty, and your fellow TDS friends can agree. The rest of intelligent society can understand a president trying to negotiate to benefit his country. Keep swinging for that tds win though.

---

LOL, comical isn't he.

Do the Russians or the Chinese really want this fight?

A Wagner-linked Russian Il-76 just landed in Venezuela. Moscow moves fast as Caracas seeks support from Russia, China & Iran. While Washington looks east, the Kremlin plants its flag in the Americas — a quiet but bold return to the U.S. backyard. #Geopolitics #Venezuela pic.twitter.com/FDzUqYJl5x

— Café no Front (@SagranCarvalho) November 1, 2025

Gonna smack Maduro upside the head......then decapitate him.

🚨 ¡ÚLTIMA HORA!
¡EE. UU. guarda silencio sobre posible ataque a Venezuela!
El Secretario de Guerra Pete Hegseth evitó confirmar operaciones militares:
‼️🗣️ “Por supuesto, no compartiríamos detalles operativos de lo que pueda o no ocurrir… Tenemos muchas opciones y capacidades… pic.twitter.com/6ewbx9aJTf

— Fabian Dicosta (@fabiandicosta) November 1, 2025

That winter vacation in Curacao looks like a no-go for #daSieve.

🇻🇪 Venezuela:
Estados Unidos declaró una zona aérea de defensa nacional en Ceiba, Puerto Rico, justo frente al Caribe venezolano, restringiendo todo vuelo civil hasta marzo de 2026. Según el Miami Herald y el Wall Street Journal, los ataques contra instalaciones militares en… pic.twitter.com/WUyGCm3TNZ

— Checho Sangui. (@chechosangui) October 31, 2025

"Inside the Wire" time.

A storm is coming….

🚨BREAKING - Top Trump Officials are moving to Military Bases due to “Safety Threats”

🔻 Stephen Miller, Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth—have relocated to secure on-base housing at… pic.twitter.com/xQ6ojRrnE6

— MJTruthUltra (@MJTruthUltra) October 30, 2025

On November 3rd, 2019, a nuclear device was to be set off in Seattle, and it would be blamed on a missile from NK. A rail car right next to the Seattle Seahawk stadium, thwarted it twas. Anything can happen, my friends.

South Africa's Ramapoza is next, after Maduro. Ramapoza was put into office via Venezuela election hackers via Serbia. By the way, our unnamed ally directly involved in the election theft there and in the 71 other countries including the US, is the UK and MI6, Soros, Rothschild, British Crown, Venezuelans, Cuban Intelligence, Iran, China, CIA and Serbia. The building housing the servers there in Belgrade was jointly owned by wealthiest man in Serbia and #Sieve's FAV Obama official, #JohnBrennan. Take it to the bank.........

Does Ramapoza believe his own lies? https://t.co/eEziua1Hxm

— daoriginalgforce (@originalgforceG) May 23, 2025

hokiewolf said:

---

SmaptyWolf said:

---

hokiewolf said:

---

I agree with a lot of what you have said, but 42M people is 12% of the population and of that 42M are 16M children, 8M seniors, and 4M people with disabilities.

So, we should figure out who these 16M who seem able bodied or abled bodied with children and figure out the why, and engage community support to give these folks hope through treating them with dignity. Get your dignity back, your motivation comes back. Your motivation comes back, you're off SNAP.

Now, this is far from an easy problem, but Republicans treat these people as lazy, and Democrats treat them as unable. That paradigm needs to shift on both sides

---

Why are you assuming that the 16M are experiencing some kind of moral failing. Maybe some are, but maybe we should figure out what percentage of Wal Mart employees are working significant hours and are still on SNAP benefits in order to survive? Maybe there are some CEOs experiencing moral failings also, supplementing their own bottom lines by assuming their employers will just get public assistance to make up the difference.

---

I don't think 16M have a moral failing. Like I said it's a complex problem and there are many different reasons why folks are on Snap. And yes, some of that is due to pay and underemployment. However, I seriously doubt a fully employed person with health benefits from a company is also on SNAP. Now part time, you could sell me on that.

I think what it boils down to me is when I'm given something (like all my spoiled life, thanks Mom and Dad!) I don't feel fulfilled. But when I earn it ( which I never have and never will) it's much more rewarding and I want to take that next step to better myself.

If we keep throwing money and benefits at the problem, it's been proven that doesn't work too well pulling people out of poverty. There has to be a different solution.

---

According to the GAO, 70% of all of the working age adults on SNAP work full time.

We may have a "companies are paying poverty wages" problem.

https://www.gao.gov/products/gao-21-45

SmaptyWolf said:

---

hokiewolf said:

---

SmaptyWolf said:

---

hokiewolf said:

---

I agree with a lot of what you have said, but 42M people is 12% of the population and of that 42M are 16M children, 8M seniors, and 4M people with disabilities.

So, we should figure out who these 16M who seem able bodied or abled bodied with children and figure out the why, and engage community support to give these folks hope through treating them with dignity. Get your dignity back, your motivation comes back. Your motivation comes back, you're off SNAP.

Now, this is far from an easy problem, but Republicans treat these people as lazy, and Democrats treat them as unable. That paradigm needs to shift on both sides

---

Why are you assuming that the 16M are experiencing some kind of moral failing. Maybe some are, but maybe we should figure out what percentage of Wal Mart employees are working significant hours and are still on SNAP benefits in order to survive? Maybe there are some CEOs experiencing moral failings also, supplementing their own bottom lines by assuming their employers will just get public assistance to make up the difference.

---

I don't think 16M have a moral failing. Like I said it's a complex problem and there are many different reasons why folks are on Snap. And yes, some of that is due to pay and underemployment. However, I seriously doubt a fully employed person with health benefits from a company is also on SNAP. Now part time, you could sell me on that.

I think what it boils down to me is when I'm given something (like all my spoiled life, thanks Mom and Dad!) I don't feel fulfilled. But when I earn it ( which I never have and never will) it's much more rewarding and I want to take that next step to better myself.

If we keep throwing money and benefits at the problem, it's been proven that doesn't work too well pulling people out of poverty. There has to be a different solution.

---

According to the GAO, 70% of all of the working age adults on SNAP work full time.

We may have a "companies are paying poverty wages" problem.

https://www.gao.gov/products/gao-21-45

---

You should suggest to your employer how you would rather make less in salary so someone under you could make more.

Lead by example