• @[email protected]
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    22 years ago

    it’d be great if this was caused by too many forest fire 2.5 pm particulates breaking into the brain. Climate change karma.

      • @[email protected]
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        232 years ago

        Bernie, Joe, and the other guy are all within 4 years of age with each other. Bernie is the only one in that group who’s decided NOT to run, so I’m not sure why you’re singling him out. ¯⁠\⁠_⁠(⁠ツ⁠)⁠_⁠/⁠¯ Generally the opinion I’ve seen from his supporters is that he can do better from his current position and that his chance at the presidency has passed.

      • Drusas
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        2 years ago

        When there’s only one politician of any consequence out there who represents your views…

      • @[email protected]
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        512 years ago

        Term limits empower lobbyists and career staffers and encourage legislators to give less of a shit about their constituents. I know “career politician” is often considered a dirty word, but having competent, knowledgeable elected officials is a good thing.

        • candyman337
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          12 years ago

          There is definitely reasonable legislation that can have the best of both worlds here. That’s a poor argument against them

          • @[email protected]
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            72 years ago

            We have about 25 years worth of experiments with it in various states, so it’s been well studied. Legislating is a skill that needs to be developed, just like anything else, and a bunch of term-limited newbies have no incentive to do anything except get ready for the next thing, which only enhances the possiblity of corruption.

        • FuglyDuck
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          102 years ago

          yeah, because the current batch of politicians are sooooo concerned with their constituents.

          On the other hand, lets ignore the fact that the vast majority of senators (and the president, and most presidential canidates,) are so “experienced” that the majority of their experience predates… the internet. Never mind social media or anything resembling the modern world we find our selves in.

            • @[email protected]
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              2 years ago

              Yep. Why is 65 not a forced retirement for politicians, when it is used in many less important industries?

        • @[email protected]
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          582 years ago

          They are already openly corrupt. Term limits would result in younger candidates in touch with this century. Lobbyists would also have to bribe new people. It might also break up the ridiculous 100% party voting.

          Not to mention help with our Supreme Court problems. Randomly giving appointments that last decades to whoever is president in at the time is insane.

          I really don’t think we have that many competent elected officials anyway.

          Yes, eliminating gerrymandering and citizens united would be more effective, but I wouldn’t kick term limits out of bed.

          • @[email protected]
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            292 years ago

            None of that has happened in the states that have term limits. If you think Republicans, no matter how long they have been in office, are going to start putting anyone other than Federalist Society drones on the courts, I’m not sure I can have a good faith argument with you.

          • @[email protected]
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            412 years ago

            We have term limits in Florida. They have done nothing to solve any problems, and arguably have made the quality of our officials worse, while giving much more power to lobbyists.

          • phillaholic
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            12 years ago

            Lobbyists would also have to bribe new people.

            No they’d hand pick them, run them on utter lies that they can’t be challenged, then throw them out when the public wises up. You seriously underestimate how far the power dynamic can swing.

          • Semi-Hemi-Demigod
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            122 years ago

            Term limits are as likely as ranked-choice voting, which would also solve a lot of problems but won’t be passed in a significant way in my lifetime

            • @[email protected]
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              172 years ago

              They actually just passed ranked choice voting in my city.

              It does seem crazy to have a system where 49% of people preferred the other guy, but he lost so those people now get zero representation.

          • @[email protected]
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            82 years ago

            Term limits would result in younger candidates in touch with this century.

            Yes cuz that’s worked so well in places that already have them…

        • Billiam
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          242 years ago

          On the other hand, the current system of “representatives spend one full year campaigning and one full year fundraising for their party, so any legislation they sponsor in their two-year term is already written by lobbyists” isn’t working out so hot either.

          Throw in a law restricting campaigning more than three months before an election and a law limiting campaigns to only spending equally-dispersed public funds, and you might start to see some improvement. Oh, and reverse Citizen’s United and ban Super PACs while you’re at it. And can we all get a free unicorn too?

      • IronCorgi
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        282 years ago

        I don’t think term limits will solve anything near what people pitching term limits as a panacea think they will solve.

        • deweydecibel
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          2 years ago

          People that pitch that as a catch-all solution have no idea how democracy works, they’re just understandably angry at the old white men who have ruined all our lives.

          All term limits would do is make it middle aged white men ruining our lives.

          Like, these people don’t seem to understand where politicians come from or how they get to be where they are.

          Mitch McConnell is the Senator from Kentucky. Trump won that state both years by 60%. It hasn’t elected a Democratic Senator since 1992. In fact, that Democratic Senator retired, ya know, as old men should. Then a Republican took that seat.

          So who do you think takes Mitch McConnell’s seat if we boot him out for old age? Does it matter who? We know what letter will be next to their name.

          It’s the people. The problem is the people. And the structure of the Senate that gives them disproportionate power.

          Also, look at the young Republicans like Madison Cawthorn and tell me they’re any better than their seniors.

          • Narrrz
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            42 years ago

            really, a lot of our problems boil down to “humans are just generally pretty shit”

          • phillaholic
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            12 years ago

            A better example is Joe Manchin. The thought of primarying him is laughable. Just hand the Republicans a full Seat in the senate why don’t you.

        • @[email protected]
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          02 years ago

          It will definitely solve some problems while causing arguably no new ones, I think that’s enough to push for something to happen.

  • @[email protected]
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    2 years ago

    proof that old fuckers shouldn’t be allowed in politics due to a literally dysfunctioning brain

    EDIT: to say ‘ageism is bigotry’ is a gross oversimplification. I’m not prejudiced against people above a certain age, I’m against the idea of allowing individuals with dementia or other degenerative conditions having political control over other people while literally having impeded brain functioning and judgement.

      • @[email protected]
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        72 years ago

        If there was another candidate who held the same values, but was of a younger age. I’d go for the younger one for sure.

        It’s not Bernie because he’s amazing. It’s because he’s the best we got.

        Same how I vote for x party, not because they are good. But because they are less bad.

    • @[email protected]
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      172 years ago

      The really annoying part is that I’ve seen people on the right already telling people to respect his health issues. Except when Biden stumbles over one word he should be removed from power and hospitalized for life. They don’t even pretend with the hypocrisy anymore

      • FuglyDuck
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        82 years ago

        if it’s ageist to say that people can be too old to be in government, then it’s definitely ageist to say they can be too young, too.

        Imagine having a toddler command the nuclear football. (oh wait. we already had that.)

        • Drusas
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          32 years ago

          Unfortunately, ageism in the US is only illegal against older adults. I really struggled with this when I was overseeing young volunteers, one of whom was being treated like crap just because he was young by the older people he was volunteering for. Totally legal for them to outright speak of his age as making him useless (and he was a good worker! and kind!). I was so angry that I couldn’t do much of anything to help him.

      • Drusas
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        2 years ago

        I don’t think it should necessarily be a hard age cap (which is illegal in the US, anyway), but I do think all politicians and judges should have to be able to pass cognitive function tests annually with absolutely no concerns raised by them. I’d require it probably as low as age 50 or 55, because dementia can come early.

        And they should not be allowed to choose their own doctors for these exams. They should all see the same handful of doctors, randomly assigned each year, so as to reduce bias.

    • @[email protected]
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      392 years ago

      I’ve had some relatives reach a very old age and this kind of thing is just part of the territory.

      However my aged relatives were not in positions of great power. Neither should this man be.

    • tate
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      2 years ago

      Ageism, like all bigotry, is always wrong.

        • tate
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          -42 years ago

          No. Bigotry is when you assign a presumption to a group based on a completely unrelated parameter associated with that group. It would not be bigotry to limit the age of those serving in congress. It is bigotry to say that every old person’s brain doesn’t work.

          “proof that old fuckers shouldn’t be allowed in politics due to a literally dysfunctioning brain”

          • AngrilyEatingMuffins
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            12 years ago

            So by and large young brains don’t work as well as adult brains. The same is true for the elderly. Your argument makes no sense except you’re biased against the young. During Vietnam would you rather have had Nixon and
            Kissinger in charge or some wicked smart 17 year old hippies. I know what most people would choose these days.

      • Billiam
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        82 years ago

        I find it interesting in the US that discriminating against the young is socially acceptable, while discriminating against the elderly is social suicide. Shows how much political power the Boomers wield.

    • @[email protected]
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      22 years ago

      This is a reminder that Dianne Feinstein is still in office, too. She’s not even lucid anymore.

    • @[email protected]
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      72 years ago

      I worked in congress in 2002 after I graduated. The congressman I worked for was old to me then. I saw him on tv the other day and the guy looked one foot in the grave. I hadn’t thought about him in years and then I saw him and I’m like dude wtf why are you still working?! It’s shocking.

    • FermatsLastAccount
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      862 years ago

      His birth is closer to Lincoln’s assassination and the abolition of serfdom in Russia than to 2023.

  • steebo_jack
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    42 years ago

    It’s ok guys the McConnell bot just had a malfunction and needed to be reset…

  • @[email protected]
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    462 years ago

    Unfortunately he seems to have recovered, was back out there walking and talking again before too long. Still, an encouraging sign.

    • dtc
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      202 years ago

      He went backstage to finish feasting on the infants.

      You don’t live to be 1350 by not drinking the blood of the innocent.

    • @[email protected]
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      2 years ago

      Controlling the future of a world they no longer have any meaningful stake in.

      Their voters too. It’s hilarious that the greatest rage about the direction of the country comes from ancient conservative fucks that are circling the drain and won’t even be alive to feel the effects. And it isn’t even anger for the sake of the well being of their descendants, as their policy positions are almost always to cut everyone off from societal help when they need it just to revel in the pain of anyone outside their in-group.

      It’s just very important for Old Republicans to know that Americans that don’t look or act like them will continue to be kicked while they’re down after they’re gone. It’s like they think heaven will just sitting on a cloud with popcorn watching police murder black teenagers and poor women getting declined for abortions.

    • @[email protected]
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      02 years ago

      That’s what blows my mind. What is motivating these people? If you’re in your 80s, surely you have enough money to just fucking retire already. Is their greed for even more money and power that strong that they have to continue ruining our country well after the average person is deep into their retirement years?

    • Anomandaris
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      142 years ago

      The lizardpeople living in the sewers of NYC were performing updates, so their control signals couldn’t get through…

  • Metal Zealot
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    112 years ago

    Babies make the same kinda face when theyre focusing on shitting their diaper…

  • Metal Zealot
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    462 years ago

    No wonder America’s laws are so outdated, they’re made by guys who still think the 20’s were the “good ol’ days”

  • @[email protected]
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    2 years ago

    Looks like he finally realizes all the evil things he has done ✅ My grandma said she was fine too, then proceeded to fall down the stairs.

  • sadreality
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    112 years ago

    These gereatric nepo babies just won’t fuxking die… Jfc

    • @[email protected]
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      2 years ago

      They have the best healthcare in the nation that money can buy, except they don’t pay anything for it.

  • @[email protected]
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    2 years ago

    Most of the comments here are examples of what’s wrong with American politics. How can you, despite your political views, watch this video and be so spiteful?

    I dislike, disapprove and disagree with the man on every level. But I do not enjoy watching this.

      • Drusas
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        62 years ago

        I have empathy. I don’t want McConnell to suffer. I just want him gone for the sake of the country. That doesn’t have to be death; he could simply retire and stop being the vampire on democracy that he is.

    • young_broccoli
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      42 years ago

      Nobody enjoys watching mitch mconel.
      At least theres some comfort in knowing it might die soon.

    • @[email protected]
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      12 years ago

      You’re being downvoted but I agree with you. This man is a garbage human and don’t agree with him on anything politically, but I don’t understand how anyone can put themselves above others and revel in another person’s suffering. I say this as a McConnell hater, but I may also be biased. I had a stroke at 30, which caused epilepsy from the damage later. It fucking sucks and I couldn’t wish that on anyone.

    • @[email protected]
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      22 years ago

      Have you been conscious since 2016? If so, maybe you’d understand people being a little bit spiteful.

    • Hyacathusarullistad
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      112 years ago

      I reserve my compassion for human beings. If Mitch McConnell ever had any humanity, he sold it a very long time ago.

    • VoxAdActa
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      112 years ago

      The man literally, openly wants me to die.

      I’m not allowed to reciprocate?

      Fuck that.

    • Granite
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      82 years ago

      I agree, but I also recognize that people need to vent their anger and frustration.

    • @[email protected]
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      2 years ago

      I mean the man is directly responsible for blocking several Supreme Court justices from being appointed while Obama was president, which led to roe v wade being overturned so uh, Moscow Mitch couldn’t drop dead any faster in my opinion.

      • @[email protected]
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        2 years ago

        I am not going to reply to everybody. But most of the comments - yours too - underline my point.

        For me, politics is about creating something better together. Alienating others in the way that’s being expressed here achieves absolutely nothing. It creates no improvement, only more hatred and division.

        One big problem with American politics is the polarization between the individuals who should be collaborating. You too are part of the problem with this approach and almost every comment in this thread is just fuel for the fire for someone else.

          • @[email protected]
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            -152 years ago

            Look around, Helen. American politics can’t get much worse, so if it’s a bloodsport they want, it’s a bloodsport they’ll get.

            If you think the answer is to be as morally bankrupt as you think your opponent is, you are ignoring your own supposed values.

            edit: How very, very convenient that you don’t even live in the US and so you’ll never be directly affected by Mitch McConnell’s actions and have the luxury of finger-wagging at those of us mired in his shit, all the way from the other side of the fucking ocean. How very convenient indeed.

            Your are right. But American politics have a way of being everyone’s business and influence a lot of people - people from the EU included. I see this influence on our political system, and it is not pretty. The idea about not playing by any rules is just sad; if you have no compass you are truly lost and don’t really work for anything.

            Side note: I am amazed that you think my nationality excludes me from having an opinion on this. It highlights the problem with a community called ‘politics’ on lemmy.****world only about American politics - and apparently only for Americans.

            • Boddhisatva
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              112 years ago

              Nobody is saying you can’t have an opinion on it. They’re saying that the ignorance of your opinion is explained by that fact that this asshole’s boot isn’t on your neck.

        • ForestOrca
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          342 years ago

          Mr. McConnell’s legacy is the exact opposite of “creating something better together.” That you cannot acknowledge this shows how little you understand politics in the USA.

        • @[email protected]
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          152 years ago

          You are never getting that from Mitch McConnell, or any other Republican holding office for that matter, because they’re not even in the same zip code of what your view of politics is. They want to create something that makes them and the people that donate to them rich. More recently, part of them have turned straight fascist.

          I would love to have a sane other side to negotiate with, but as a Millennial there has never been a sane other side. Only these profiteering nut bags that have courted the kind of people who want to see anyone who is not a straight, white male of Christian faith heavily restricted by rule of law.

        • @[email protected]
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          202 years ago

          I will not be shamed into being civil to people who are literally trying to get me killed. You may think this is hyperbole but for women who have even intermittently functioning uteruses, the rollback of Roe v Wade can get you killed. Get an ectopic pregnancy or certain kinds of complications in the wrong state and the doctors will delay or even refuse treatment. Frankly, I wouldn’t be surprised if we started seeing violent attacks by grieving widowers and orphans.

        • @[email protected]
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          402 years ago

          This is some enlightened Centrist bullshit and you know it.

          When someone has been instrumental in the dismantling of democracy in this country, you don’t get to play the “be nice!” card. There is no meeting in the middle with guys like him.

          When one side is pushing the extremes, is it really fair to meet in the new middle?

        • effingjoe
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          72 years ago

          You wouldn’t happen to be a white, cis, male, would you? I ask because you seem to have a somewhat abstract concept of what politics is.

    • @[email protected]
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      352 years ago

      It’s simple. Him and his policies and actions hurt the most vulnerable of communities. I wish we could see him brutally beaten to death by the folks he’s disenfranchised, but I guess we’ll have to settle for watching him stroke out and shit his pants on television.

    • @[email protected]
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      322 years ago

      As opposed to what? Being compassionate towards this piece of political garbage? I can’t wait till he’s in the ground.

    • sadreality
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      162 years ago

      They actively work on keeping half the country in border line poverty.

      Yeah they need to fucking die off already. And as they do, nobody will shed a single tear because fuck 'em.

      • @[email protected]
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        162 years ago

        The worst part is that only scratches the surface of the damage he is responsible for. Fuck him sideways with electroboom’s magic wand

    • @[email protected]
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      2 years ago

      His politics and actions in while power have been particularly spiteful towards people not on ‘his side’ or of his ‘station’, despite the fact that we’re supposed to be the United States of America. He hasn’t done a lot to garner good will from me.

    • @[email protected]
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      2 years ago

      Being callous about bad things happening to objectively evil people isn’t even close to the top ten worst things about American politics. These people should know what we think of them, they literally put themselves into the public as servants to the public, by their own choice, and for a great personal profit. They manged to dodge all other accountability, I will not hold my tongue in the name of some imaginary sense of decorum because somones having a rough time after decades of putting thier constituents in rougher times. Ya get what you give, and it’s his turn to get.

    • HuddaBudda
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      112 years ago

      I think what separates us from people like him, is that we can be empathetic about a situation. We can see human suffering and be like “Yea, that sucks”

      He is clearly unwell and should be getting help, not doing press conferences and making political decisions.

      • @[email protected]
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        82 years ago

        Sure. But it’s also a fact that he is personally responsible for causing the repeal of Roe vs. Wade leading to multiple deaths and untold suffering. It’s very much a situation where I can’t blame anyone wishing him harm as he has by his actions caused harm to others. FAFO applies.

    • StarServal
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      92 years ago

      I will never forget the look of absolute giddy glee as he was excitedly explaining to Colbert how SuperPACs allow for unlimited anonymous dark money to be funneled into his coffers.

    • prole
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      92 years ago

      This man has done untold damage and is responsible for an incalculable number of deaths. My empathy does not extend to objective evil.

    • Narrrz
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      62 years ago

      it’s called schadenfreude, and most people have some sense of it, especially when it comes to seeing bad things happen to people who richly deserve it.

  • @[email protected]
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    262 years ago

    McConnell’s office has been flooded with phone calls, tying up the lines. His office request that you send a telegram, or preferably a message by pony express.

    • @[email protected]
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      42 years ago

      I’d like to send this letter to the Prussian Consulate in Siam by aeromail. Am I too late for the 4:30 auto-gyro?

  • @[email protected]
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    882 years ago

    Isn’t that the type of incident you should be immediately going to the hospital for? And to maintain some shitty image of power they just yank him to the back line and have him stand there?

    • @[email protected]
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      552 years ago

      Man it took waaay to long before someone even reacted and even then they didn’t focus on his well being but on the press conference.

      What a sad sight, zero empathy

      • Kerrigor
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        332 years ago

        He’s one of the few people in this world on my “no empathy for him” list. I would’ve just sat back and had some popcorn

        • @[email protected]
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          152 years ago

          I’d agree with Mark Twain on this one, I don’t exactly wish anyone to die but I’ll read some obituaries with satisfaction, paraphrased.

      • @[email protected]
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        62 years ago

        They were torn between wanting to help him but also wanting to minimize the appearance of the episode for him. Both of which are valid concerns for him.

      • @[email protected]
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        92 years ago

        If it makes you feel any better, he would have done the exact same or worse to anyone else in his place.

      • @[email protected]
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        522 years ago

        Not like the man is known for his empathy himself. So it’s a bit of a FAFO situation I feel.