PS - Debunked Photos/Videos Used to Further Pet-Eating Theory ....

So there are two  ...  

JD Vance shared a video, but as the X-er replying to him pointed out, those of us who have spent much time on a farm know that this is what fresh farm poultry that isn't pumped full of antibiotics and steroids actually looks like  -  whole, just after plucking, with the feet still on, splayed open for even cooking!!!

Now, you would think that self-professed "hillbilly," JD Vance, should know better, but clearly, all he knows is steroid and antibiotic-pumped chicken from the grocery store!

(Or maybe nuggets like at McDonald's.  Maybe he even thinks they come in a round patty 😂)

In the original video, the guy filming is snooping, and says "Whoa, what is that on the grill?" and that they're "Africans."

So ... why didn't you just ask them, instead of creeping around in their backyard?

And FYI, Haitians are not "Africans," they're Caribbean.

I also find it hilarious that JD Vance rebuked Taylor Swift for being an "disconnected billionaire" for endorsing Kamala.  

Erm, hellloooo - you've just perfectly described your boss?!?

The second one is a man carrying dead geese while walking down the road.

The context is, this is not in Springfield, it's Columbus, Ohio - which is about 45 minutes from Springfield.

Also, the Ohio Division of Wildlife, as well as Franklin County Wildlife, said the man did not kill the geese, they were hit by car - and they knew that, because they were called.  

Though documentation is required to even collect most game, geese are an exception -  so the man was well within his right to take the game, and stuff it, eat it, or whatever the hell he imagines he'll do with it.

Lastly, there was no indication or evidence the man was Haitian or even an immigrant.

Again, power of suggestion is a powerful thing, but that's the thing about photos online - you have to know what you're really looking at, and sometimes more context is needed before pronouncing sentence.

Have you ever seen someone who looks like they're having a conversation with no one, but they're actually on a Bluetooth? 

Or what about someone swatting away a little cluster of tiny gnats in irritation, that you can't see from where you are? 

You cannot know the full story from just a single snapshot or even a video without context or explanation.

And if you DON'T try to find the other side of the story and just believe what someone tells you/shows you, because that's what you  already want to believe, then that's your own gullibility, bias, and prejudice. 

#LIVELIKEAIDEN

*PS added.

Changed my title - this is better :)

So now, the Springfield City Manager, the Springfield Police, and Ohio's governor have all confirmed that there have been zero reported incidents of pet-eating. 

Now, we know that politicians lie - but we are in a new era where the lies, false accusations, and fearmongering have become dangerous.

You would think, that at this point, Trump Republicans would start saying to themselves "WHAT? Oh, come on, that's not true." 

But they don't.  

I don't know if they really believe this crazy stuff or they don't care - they just know that fearmongering and hate work to win elections.

I have heard crazy rumors like this since I was a child about immigrants - about anyone different than the majority.

Maybe it's just me, but I have always thought, even as a child ...

What if that's not true?

What if I immigrated to a new country, after already living in fear and/or poverty, and rumors like this went viral about me, just because of where I'm from or my skin color or faith?

Guess that makes me in the minority, for thinking about that, rather than getting a sense of ethnic superiority from these rumors - but I am happy to be in that minority, then. 

However, the power of suggestion is a powerful thing, when it comes to most people, unfortunately - and Trump Republicans know it!

And since then, I actually have experienced being smeared online and in my community and watched it catch fire, to the point that even people whom I thought should know me better started to believe it without proof (helped along by hacking and impersonation of me) and of course, anyone in real life that I ever had so much as a disagreement with used it ...

... but I never made their chosen actions about anyone's ethnicity, gender, skin color, immigration status, or faith - the thought never even occurred to me.

If I was pressed to make it about those things, these things were done by a little gang of bored, educated, white people, who ganged up on me because:  A) I rejected one of them romantically and/or B) Witnessed/experienced them doing something I wish to God I hadn't and/or C) at least one of them considered me competition  (attention, politics) - and boom - you have a gang up/(cyber)bullying.

In fact, any pain, abuse, violence, or crime inflicted upon me in my life was performed exclusively by other white, Christian, natural-born American citizens - and yet I do NOT blame the color of their skin, their gender, their ethnicity, their immigration status, or their faith.

(As I said, the thought doesn't even occur to me, with the exception of my being floored that other supposed fellow Christians were behaving like this, as well as acknowledging the arrogance and power abuse by some white males is a problem in this country.)

It has to do with those particular individuals being crappy humans beings, regardless of their skin color, ethnicity, gender, faith or immigration status.

And if you think anyone ever comes back to apologize for believing lies spread by people over competition ... or being rejected romantically ...  or simply to deflect off their own misdeeds - think again, even when those involved are later arrested.

Instead, people usually just avoid you altogether, so they don't have to think about what kind of psychopathic bandwagon they jumped on, or worse, some even still believe lies -  because their psyches just won't allow them to think about what they went along with, and in some cases, were even complicit with, so they have to believe you  must've deserved it.

The people that spew this stuff either forget, or don't care, that these are real people being falsely accused and that there are real people affected by tragedy - and that not everyone makes tragedies about ethnicity, skin color, immigration status, gender or faith.

For example, the Haitian immigrant that ran a red light and hit a school bus, killing 11-year-old Aiden Clark, was not drunk or on drugs.  He did not "murder" 11-year-old Aidan Clark, it was an accident - which even Aiden Clark's father, Nathan Clark has said.

In fact, here's a video of Nathan asking Trump and JD Vance to stop using his son's name over politics and it's pretty powerful.

Nathan Clark said this: 

"I wish that Aiden would've been killed by a 60-year-old white man. 

I bet you never thought anyone would say something so blunt. 

But if THAT guy had killed my 11-year-old son, then the incessant group of hate-spewing people would leave us alone.  

 

The last thing that we need is to have the worst day of our lives violently and constantly shoved in our faces.  

But even that's not good enough for them, they take it one step further.   

They make it seem like our wonderful Aiden appreciates their hate - that we should follow their hate.  

 

And look what you've done to us - we have to get up here and beg them to stop.  

 

Using Aiden as a political tool is, to say the least, reprehensible, and speaking of morally bankrupt, politicians -  Bernie Moreno, Chip Roy, JD Vance, and Donald Trump.

They have spoken my son's name and used his death for political gain.  

This needs to stop - NOW.

 

They can vomit all the hate they want about illegal immigrants, the border crisis, and even untrue claims about fluffy pets being ravaged and eaten by community members ... 

...however, they are not allowed - nor have they ever been allowed - to mention Aiden Clark from Springfield, Ohio.  

 

I will listen to them one more time - to hear their apologies. 

 

To clear the air, my son, Aiden Clark, was not murdered. 

He was accidentally killed by an immigrant from Haiti.

This tragedy is felt all over this community, the state, and even the nation - but don't spin this towards hate.

 

In order to live like Aiden, you need to accept everyone.

Choose to shine, make the difference, lead the way, and be the inspiration.

(Aiden's mother, Danielle, holds up a T-shirt that says "#LiveLikeAiden" )

 

What many people in this community and state and nation are doing is the opposite of what you should be doing. 

Sure, we have our problems here in Springfield and in the U.S. - but does Aiden Clark have anything to do with that?

 

Did you know that an 11-year-old boy could be passionate about gardening?

That he could haggle for a better price at a yard sale?

Did you know that he researched different cultures to better appreciate and understand people that he interacted with?

Did you know that one of the worst feelings in the world is to not be able to protect your child?

Even worse, we can't even protect his memory, when he's gone.

 

Please stop the hate.

I said to Aiden that I would try to make a difference in his honor - this is it. 

Live like Aiden."

Those poor people :(

And bravo for them, not only for refusing to hate the person that accidentally killed their son and for not making this about his ethnicity, but finding the courage during their pain to fight back against Trump and Vance using their son's name for their own political gain.

I can't even imagine what they're going through or what it took for them to stand before the world, stand up to JD Vance and Donald Trump, and say this.

What an amazing couple, amazing parents - God bless them.

_________________________________

PS - So our honorary, adopted son went to Wittenberg University, which is in Springfield.  

As a matter of fact, he just moved away from there a couple of months ago.

He - and his fiance - are Dems, like us, so I just now texted them, joking: "Y'all need to quit letting cats and dogs get eaten in Springfield."  😂😂😂

Thoughts On the Debate in Real Time

*PS added.

Who won each round and overall? 

Just my opinion, in real time ... 

ECONOMY

WHO WON:  Neither.  In fact, they both actually failed this one, miserably.

Kamala unfortunately didn't answer the very first question, a very important question "Are Americans better off (financially) than they were four years ago?" 

She ignored it in favor of a speech on supporting small business and the middle class and reconsidering tax shelters for the corporations and wealthiest 1% -  which is true and I agree with 100% as a Democrat - but  it's one thing to say it and another to do it and explain how - and she ignored the state we're currently in - missed opportunity #1..

Trump seized that opportunity and ran with it - the fact that Americans weren't better off and blamed Democrats for it.

However, neither explained exactly how they were going to improve the economy, just that they were.

Trump pushed the foreign tariffs and foreign debt thing again, which has already been tried during his own presidency, and in fact, they're still largely in place  - and yet here we are economically still anyway.

As Harris stated, these tariffs increased the price of goods to the consumer because China and others just raised their prices for goods and services - and that we are cleaning up that mess still.

(Aside: For example, Denmark's GDP has grown 2% because of us and Ozempic sales, because we are the only country that pays full (over) price for it. ) 

On the other hand, Trump said if the Biden administration didn't like the tariffs, they should've repealed them - but they didn't.

As much as I hate to say it, that is actually a fair point - why didn't the Biden administration get rid of the tariffs?

I wish I knew - and Harris didn't answer that - missed opportunity #2.

And then when Muir asked her directly why they didn't, she went on to talk about something else rather than answering - missed opportunity #3. 

She DID, however, say that not only did his foreign tariffs/taxes plan fail, but his prior tax shelters for corporations and the wealthiest 1% do not benefit the middle class at all are also largely responsible for this current mess, causing the middle class and small businesses to bear most of the tax burden, and that she was was aiming at making taxes more fair by giving more shelters to small business, less to corporations and the wealthiest 1% -  but she was vague on the details.

ABORTION

WHO WON: Harris. 

He talked first, stating that he doesn't personally support abortions for rape victims or incest, but that is "what the people wanted." 

Harris successfully retorted that by saying that as a result of his SCOTUS placements and supporters, the type of abortions he claims to actually support - rape and incest - were now made criminal in many states (like mine).

She also said that doctors not giving a D&C to women after miscarriage, despite the woman bleeding out, for fear of being prosecuted -  or 12-year-old girls being forced to carry a child after being raped or incest -  isn't what anyone "wanted" or voted for.

Slam dunk.

He added that the SCOTUS simply gave the rights back to each state to decide and that Ohio and Kansas voted on it.

Yeah, but in states like mine (Kentucky) the issue of abortion  was never put to a vote like Ohio - the state legislature - majority (Trump) Republicans - made the laws for "no abortions, no exceptions" and we had no say or vote on the issue at all!

The only thing she floundered on is she should have said, when Trump asked her, "No, I do not support late or at-term abortions" when Trump asked.  

Instead, she just said "Oh, come on" and "That's not true."

She needed to state clearly "No, I do not." - missed opportunity #3.

However, both she - and moderator, Linsey Davis - reminded him that in NO state is abortion legal at near or full term.

(Also, literally no one supports that OR "execution" of live babies, nor did the former governor of Virginia, Trump quoted, ever said that!)

IMMIGRATION

WHO WON:  Neither - but Trump fared the poorest.

First of all, he claimed that immigration is taking black/Latino jobs.

Not sure what his point is - that they're taking the lowest paying jobs that us white people think we're too good to do anyway?

At that point is where it gets good. 🙂

Up until now, Trump remained calm.

Then Kamala cleverly hung out some bait about crowd sizes that she knew he'd react to - including encouragement to watch videos of  the attendees of his rallies, with people actually leaving after some of the crazy things he says - and he took the bait   🙂

He then raised his voice and went off on his usual crazy talk about immigrants eating dogs and cats in Springfield, Ohio!!!

That, of course, is not only not true, but cuckoo.

So David Muir, one of the moderators, reached out to the City Manager of Springfield, Ohio, who stated there were no reports of eating animals by immigrants ever reported.  😂😂

Trump continued calling her the "Border Czar," which in reality, Harris has no power over the border as Vice President.  

Trump also claimed falsely that she and Biden had the power to close the borders right now and to "Go sign the bill."

Um - there IS no immigration bill to sign anymore, because YOU asked Republicans to kill their own bill until after the election, Trump!

And neither the POTUS or the VPOTUS  have the authority to close the borders on their own, only Congress does - they just sign the bill.  

They can send in the national guard to help prevent crossings or enforce already-existing legislation, but they can't close the borders completely alone.

If that were true, or even possible that the president and vice president could close the borders entirely on their own, then YOU would've done it yourself, when you were president - but you didn't. 

However, although Harris did not say anything cuckoo, she also did not strongly or clearly state her position on immigration, so she didn't win this one, either - missed opportunity #4.

CRIME

WHO WON:  Neither.

Trump claimed the crime has increased under Biden (it has not, it's actually dropped overall -  which Muir verified).

Instead of addressing her views on crime - which should be her strong suit as a former prosecutor -  Harris simply stated that she found it interesting he was so against crime, when he had been found guilty of several of them (listing them).

Though funny, not an appropriate retort.

Neither gave a clear plan for dealing with crime.

ENERGY/FRACKING

WHO WON: Neither.

Kamala has changed her position on fracking and has explained why, several times - she ultimately decided that finding internal sources of energy instead of relying on the Middle East was worth the risks - and yet he continued to state that she was against fracking.

Neither of them addressed a clear plan on what to do about energy.

JANUARY 6th

WHO WON:  It depends - if you choose belief over fact, then Trump won.  If you choose facts - then Harris - and the moderators, actually.

To start, the moderators asked the question I wanted them to - if he still believes the election was stolen and he answered that yes, he did.

Both the moderator and Harris reminded him that in every court case he has tried to prove the election was stolen, he has lost. 

Trump claimed that they didn't even look at the evidence, and what they said was he "didn't have standing."

Erm  - that is what "not having any standing" means, Trump - several judges DID look at the "evidence" you presented, but either found found it not credible or substantial enough to support a case or actually ruled this way!

Trump also said the January 6th people were "treated very badly," and that Ashley Babbitt was shot by a "very bad police officer" (who was trying to protect Capitol from people violently breaking in, injuring police/security in the process?!?), and had "no reason" to shoot her -  despite previously stating he supported the police, as well as Muir presenting the fact that 140 police officers and security personnel were injured trying to protect the Capitol. 

Harris retorted (paraphrasing) that the reason January 6th happened was his inability to accept that 81 million people voted against him, ignoring facts versus his belief, which makes him appear more concerned with himself than democracy or the constitution. 

She went further, turned right to him and said that it's not that dictators are afraid of him, it's that they know he admires dictators rather than democracy, and that he allows himself to be manipulated by these leaders - softening to "they are manipulating you with flattery" and thus you appear weak.

That was effing brilliant - and true. 

She also stated that a true test of a good leader is one who builds others up and unifies them, instead of tearing them down, name-calling and dividing them. 

Amen!

ISRAEL-HAMAS 

WHO WON:  Harris, and she probably made her clearest point here.

She spoke very eloquently on always supporting Israel to defend itself from terrorist organizations - and in particular, Iran -  but also stated that it matters HOW Israel defends itself.

She also stated that her goal would be a two-state system where both Palestine and Israel had a an official statehood, sharing the Gaza strip.

Trump then accused her of hating both Israel and Palestine, which made no sense whatsoever, particularly after what she'd just said.

The only valid point - or even coherent one - that Trump made was that the Biden administration has not been hard enough on Iran, which is a fair point and true.

UKRAINE - RUSSIA

WHO WON: Neither, but actually possibly Trump, simply because Harris dug herself into a hole, on this one..

Harris stated she met with Zelensky days before the war, which of course begs the question then why did it happen as if it were a surprise.

Trump zoned in on that, which was fair.

However, Trump stated again the war will be over within 24 hours if he was elected, but did not clearly explain how he would accomplish that or how he could guarantee it.

He also continued to drill on how the rest of the world is "afraid of him," while simultaneously praising the world's worst offenders. 

RACE AND DIVERSITY

WHO WON: Harris.

Trump didn't deny saying that about whether she was black or Indian, but he said he didn't care what she was or wanted to be.

Harris stated that it's a tragedy that his focus and stances on race have been so divisive and taken us backwards.

AFGHANISTAN 

Can't comment because I was out of the room.

AFFORDABLE CARE ACT

WHO WON:  Both. Although I agree philosophically with Kamala,  they both made very good points on this one, and this was the only time Trump didn't completely make something up.

Trump stated he actually did not want to do away with the ACA/Obamacare, just change certain aspects, but the Democrats didn't want to get rid of certain aspects of it that weren't working.

This is actually true -  unfortunately, congressional Democrats didn't want to hear about problems after implementing it, but they later finally and eventually did recognize changes were needed and made them.

Harris brought up that nothing was done about skyrocketing drug prices during Trump's administration despite promise, but the Biden administration did do something - the Inflation Reduction Act was signed into law, which will go into effect in 2025.

This is also true - Trump said he would do something about it but never did, Biden at least did the IRA, which doesn't do much, even when it finally goes into effect in January.

Then, on a tangent, after a random comment Trump made about  Harris wanting to take the guns away, Harris directly addressed this as a lie - that both she, and Walz, are gun owners - they don't want to take guns away, they just want to make sure that the wrong guns don't get into the wrong hands.

I'm not sure why we didn't get more into gun laws and school shootings, considering it's on everyone's mind with recent events - perhaps due to lack of time, but it should have been one of the first issues.

FINAL ASSESSMENT

Okay, so it just ended, and though Harris's speech at the end was inspirational and eloquent, I'm actually disappointed in Harris's performance because I've seen her do better.

It was very important for her, going in, to be clear on her own policies, but she wasn't  - and she also needed to answer a clear yes or no, because Trump never does - but instead, she emulated his vagueness and not answering yes or no.

I can see why she was a really good prosecutor, and yet - not so great on the witness stand, is she?

As for Trump, although he kept repeating outrageous lies about  her stances on things like fracking, guns, and late-term abortion - despite Harris having just stated the opposite, several times -  Trump also did adopt a more reserved tone than his usual, only really going complete cuckoo-off-the-rails once about the eating-cats-and-dogs in Ohio thing 😂

Thus, my overall assessment is Trump did better than his usual, and Harris did worse than her usual - but in the end, neither of them  "won" this debate 🙁

If anyone did, it was Harris, but not by much - she had several missed opportunities.

_________________________________

PS - Now, after having read what the press has to say, let me say this  - I think they're overinflating her performance.

No, it was not a TKO on Harris's part, as much as I wanted it to be. 

Look, I know we all have hope for her, and the fact that anyone is better than Trump, but it was not the total knockout we had hoped for - there were several missed opportunities.

Frankly, press - I don't care if she looked calmer, younger, and smiled more!?!

Some of us are not total idiots.

I don't care about eloquent-but-vague rhetoric about moving forward in general terms.

I care about how they actually answer questions -  and yes, I CAN keep my eye on the ball and keep track of whether or not they were answered, despite their best efforts to distract..

Because the fact is, many people didn't know her policies versus Biden's and here was her chance to explain that - but she didn't.

To be fair, he kept trying to put her on the defensive and she was busy addressing that much of the time - and she managed to get him on the run in the same way - but it was important for her to explain her own policies clearly and that didn't happen except in general terms.

Thus, I think she did well, on her first presidential debate - but not great -  she had several missed opportunities she can learn from.

_____

PS x 2

Mark said "He refused to even once look at her."

I have a theory on this.

He has been soft with her since day 1 and actually complimentary of her at times.

I think Trump actually likes Kamala and always has (well, he did contribute to her campaign twice in California).

Not to mention, he has described her as "beautiful" and we all know what he's like with women he considers beautiful.

I think he didn't look at her because he knows he would've softened, because he actually likes Kamala as a person.  😉

Debate Day and the Price of Apathy ...

 

I know that everyone is sick and tired of the political landscape, but all I have to say to that is what Plato said:

"The price of apathy towards public affairs is to be ruled by evil men."

Amen.

Kentucky I-75 Shooter Still on the Loose ...

On Saturday, a man named Joseph Couch fired off an AR-15 randomly at cars on I-75, from a cliff ledge, striking 12 cars and injuring 5 people - then ran off into the woods.  He has yet to be found.

So today, London schools are closed.  

So a couple of people have asked how close that is to us.

So this happened about 9 miles north of London on I-75 - that's about 45 minutes southeast of us.

In fact, we were in nearby (to Lexington) Georgetown, looking at  RVs at Camping World, considering a drive to London's Camping World to look at their inventory, when the traffic alert came in that I-75 was closed due to an "accident"  - it was only later we found out what was really going on.

I'm waiting to hear back from my little sister, now, whose boyfriend lives in Northern Kentucky and was in Atlanta with her, over the weekend, to make sure he's home safe!

(I-75 is the main federal interstate artery that runs from just south of Miami, Florida, Mackinaw Island (and past Detroit), Michigan, ending just before Canada - thus, it's the main and fastest route from the South to the Midwest, including from Atlanta to Cincinnati.)

Can you imagine? 

You're riding along in your car, happy as you please, and some nut shoots at you with an AR-15 for no other reason then they're a psychopath.

There is just no good, justifiable reason for civilians to own AR-15s - none.

If you want a rifle or shotgun for hunting or self-defense, or even a handgun for self-defense, fine ...

... but in this day and age, anyone buying a semi-automatic AR-15 rifle, capable of firing 15 rounds per second, should automatically be suspect and questioned.

______________

Update:  

Law enforcement has found the AR-15, but the shooter is still on the loose.

Also, my sister's boyfriend, in Atlanta for the weekend,  is safe and sound - whew!

Someone Else Who Loves Donuts Besides Us ...

 My entire family loves donuts in a nearly obsessive, craving, salivatory kind of way, much like The Simpsons - why should Ziggy be any different?

In fact, even this toy donut is his new favorite.

(He also loves grabbing hold of my sheets and pillows while I'm trying to make my bed- he thinks he's helping. 😂 )

In Lex This Week: JD Vance, Andy Barr (Still Alive, In Case You Were Wondering), and Dolly Parton

So JD Vance was in Lexington for a fundraiser, hosted by our district's US Rep, Andy Barr (who we literally never hear a peep from or about, until campaign time).

Here's Andy Barr, yammering on about how JD's family is from here, he understands Eastern Kentucky challenges, blah, blah, blah -  apparently forgetting that JD called them all lazy in his book, and that the starting admission price was $2,500 for the furthest seats away.

(By the way, that thumbnail picture of him for this video, speaking to a large crowd, is NOT from here, it's from the RNC - press was not allowed into the fundraiser here.)

Eastern Kentucky people, I just know you sold the one multigenerational family car you have, just to be there, right?

*crickets*

Again, press was not allowed, but that's the way it usually goes at these fundraisers in Kentucky - nobody but the wealthiest are allowed in, often even at town hall meetings (Mitch McConnell was notorious for this), so I guess we'll never know what was said. 

Probably some stuff about cat ladies and couches, stalking Kamala wherever she goes, and awkwardly visiting local small businesses without having a clue what they do, trying to make small talk with actual labor and failing.

Thus, Lexington was super excited, as you can see from this Reddit thread ...

Hehehe. 

Most people seemed to get the joke (I love the first comment 😂), but a couple of people were at first confused because Our Lady Dolly Parton was also in town (separately).

The OP set her straight, as you can see ... NOBODY would ever slander Dolly here, she's a goddess!

But yes, Dolly Parton was also separately in town, to celebrate her "Imagination Library" expansion in Kentucky.

Her book program gives free, high-quality books to every child, in every zip code, age 0 to 5 - and there's no censoring of books!

For her efforts, Governor Beshear made her an official Kentucky Colonel ... 

And THAT is how you outshine Republicans in Kentucky, folks - you just show up for them, free of charge, with a free program for children, on the same day 😉 

Though Dolly has never formally declared herself a Democrat, but considering she changed her Dinner Theater name from "Dixie Stampede" to "Dolly's Stampede,"  saying she would never want to hurt or alienate anyone intentionally, adding that our "little white asses" aren't the only things that matter, and helped fund and sponsor Moderna's COVID vaccine, we have a pretty good idea 😊

Now see, JD Vance?

THAT is what rich, famous people with Appalachian roots oughtta be doing, giving back - setting up free programs, especially for children - NOT exploiting them for your own gain in books and charging them thousands to see you!

In fact, I bet if you asked Eastern Kentucky people - or any people - most would rather pay $2,500 to sit in the nosebleed seats at Rupp Arena to see Dolly, rather than JD Vance -  but thank goodness she doesn't charge that!

Long Live Our Lady Dolly Parton!