"before"

So, the claim it was during the campaign is inaccurate.

" her child trafficking "

Riiiiiiight. From the basement of a pizza parlor, remember?

If it helps ... It was the one with no basement.

"Fain was critical of Mr. Trump during the 2024 election"

Before, or after Fain spoke at the Republican National Convention?

"What's the downside to this"

A tariff is a tax on Americans.

Meanwhile, Honda, Nissan, Toyota, Subaru, and Mitsubishi all have plants in the US.

What's the upside?

"They haven't even scratched the surface of their immeasurable stupidity yet."

In Texas, a kid with measles has also exhibited a Vitamin A toxicity.

Thanks, RFKjr! You built that!!!

"Speaking of Alabama, anyone seen or heard from Kudzu since the nooner got shut down?"

He's in an El Salvadorian prison.

'SS brought to you by Tesla."

"As of this moment, Social Security is already in the black"

That depends on what you mean by "black".

Do they have remaining funds, and can they pay out in full? Yes.

Is the system taking in more money than goes out every year? No. That change happened around 2011, and we saw it coming for decades.

"I'm not mentally retarded"

If you have to say it....

"The inventor of the "DOGE dividend check" has said he believes that $5,000 payments for American taxpayers are within reach"

Let me guess: he was using Republican Math.

Dividend checks for Americans would represent 100% newly borrowed money. And it would mean less tax cuts for Elon, Peter, and Mark.

"Once the reserves are depleted, an estimated 77 percent of scheduled benefits would continue to be payable"

So...NOT a Ponzi scheme. An equilibrium equation.

Adding one point to both the employer and the employee sides puts the equation into balance for (actuarial) perpetuity.

Another possible option is create a SS donut: stop the tax at $170K, but then reinstate it above $1 million.

Another: keep pushing back retirement age. My proposed formula is one month for every year remaining.

"I'm referring to the fact that social security wouldn't be deep in the red and would be in the black"

That would've happened, if the plan had actual Trustees charged with protecting the funds. Instead, we get IOUs, while the actual money is used for tax cuts and operations.

SS is the real-world equivalent of a 2% bond with an average 25 yr maturity. It's a lousy investment return, but it's guaranteed. Had Bush privatized it, it would've crashed in the 2007-2008 meltdown.

BTW, SS was in the black for about 25 years, after Reagan raised the rates. We knew then, it would move in to the red around 2011 due to the baby boomers' retirement. It's a tsunami we saw coming for 50 years.

"Just look at any 20 year chart on the S&P 500 "

Sometimes 20 years isn't your horizon.

For example, try looking at 10 years starting in 1929.

"if you idiots hadn't stopped Bush from privatizing social security"

Pick up a history book, ffs. Near the end of Bush's disastrous attempt, he finally admitted his "fix" wouldn't address the central problem.

If Dubya succeeded, we'd be WORSE off; as even MORE money would be siphoned out of the system.

" It worked and we didn't create any martyrs in the process"

You're barfing out your backside. You have NO PROOF WHATSOEVER for your ludicrous claim.

"The part where we use this (as) a threat"

That doesn't justify Hegseth possibly compromising an on-the-ground asset.

It does, however, justify you carrying water for obvious malfeasance.

"your mind is stuck playing checkers"

What part of the Houthis know that we knew the Houthis leader was going to his girlfriend's place did you not understand?

Hegseth put classified info on an unclassified platform, none of the folks involved (all charged with assuring security) fulfilled their duty, and it was all handled on an app designed to circumvent the law. And Hegseth might have compromised our on-the-ground source.

And here you are, defending the indefensible.

MORE WATER, Gunga Dim!

"Per usual - YOU don't know"

Of course iI know. I read the text chain.

You haven't read the texts, have you?

YOU HAVEN'T READ THE TEXTS.

Hegseth gives away the source on the ground.

"Trump and the DOD are playing 4D chess"

Riiiiiiiiiiight. Goldberg was brought in on purpose. And the guy in Russia? Just a coincidence.

FFS, you're as dumb as they are.

" for destroying evidence."

Who is lying to you this time?

The evidence is on the website. Nothing has been destroyed, except your credibility.

"based upon the cavalier attitude of those in the conversation on the insecure Signal app, was this the only conversation on this insecure app?"

Seeing as how EACH of the participants had a pro-active security responsibility they shirked, I'd have to say this was SOP.

"Your questions pre-supposes that secrets have been discussed"

Sorry, we KNOW secrets were discussed, including a local source.

"I leave it to the US President "

No you don't. You leave it to some drunken Fox weekend host, who put classified information on a non-secure platform.

Thanks to Perpetually Pissed Pete, the Houthis now know we have intelligence on the ground who KNEW the leader was going into his girlfriend's place.

You're defending the possible mortal exposure of an American intelligence source.

" problem exists between chair and keyboard."

Also referred to as ID-10-T.

"Hegseth also messed up by sending likely classified details from his phone"

C'mon, Republicans, chant it with me:

LOCK HIM UP! LOCK HIM UP!