Lord Liaden

Donald Trump is all but guaranteed to win the Republican primary, barring legal or medical issues derailing him. But it should be noted that Trump's margins of victory in the primaries have consistently lagged well behind Joe Biden's. Primary voters are the most motivated and committed, and in a real sense the leaders are both incumbents. But even among motivated Republicans their enthusiasm for Trump is rather lukewarm. As for the abortion issue, 12% of the vote would be decisive in many competitive districts. The Democrats would not have to flip that many seats to regain control of the House.

As Dracula said, "I do not drink... wine."

My father was an accountant. Forms like those kept us fed.

Of all the harm Donald Trump did to America, that's the worst. Even a dictatorship will be stable if the majority of the people believe what it does to be right and necessary. And the most enlightened government will fall if they don't.

“Although it is the instinct of every district attorney to defend convictions, our job is to see that justice is done.” It's refreshing to hear a prosecutor express that principle, even in Texas. It's one that should be emphasized throughout the judiciary and law enforcement.

But why is Rittenhouse even offered an appearance like this? He was a dumb punk kid who basically got away with shooting three people because he was a dumb punk kid. Then certain media and politicians built him up because they thought they could use him to advance their own agendas. Since then AFAICT he's done nothing but cash in on his notoriety. He's changed nothing, advocated for no cause, contributed no new thought.

I forgot how sexy Ally Walker's voice is.

"The University of Memphis said in a statement that due to free speech, they cannot legally prohibit the event." That's garbage and they know it. The First Amendment applies to government censoring or banning speech. It doesn't require any private organization to provide a platform for speech that it doesn't approve of.

Just FYI, the movie almost directly quotes a remark attributed to Genghis Khan, as written in Harold Lamb's famous biography of the conqueror. Lamb's translation is pretty liberal compared to most others that I've found.

Michael, just in case you weren't aware, Aaron published the Hell-Raisers in an adventure for GURPS Supers, School of Hard Knocks. Substantial background for the team members included. Aaron also submitted a file to Red October for free download with 4E HERO System stats for all the characters in that adventure, as well as historical notes on what happened to the characters in his campaign, and where the adventure differs from that. I'm going to Attach it to this post. KNOCKS11.TXT

I've never seen Joe Biden display anything like this.

Actually, I don't recognize him either, which is why I went to Bono. I wouldn't mind a name, please.

Hey, I'm like a roach, man. Not cute, but hard to kill.

I'm sorry, that isn't "cute." That's what I see when someone has staked me out in the wilderness to die.

Never cared for the world or the characters of Dragonball, but the series did have some spectacular visual moments. But 68 is too young to pass these days, and I'm sorry for his family and friends. Nonetheless, anyone with a legacy that many people continue to love is never gone.

Deadeye, an undead detective, when the target of a PC's sarcastic comment: "Ha! You kill me... Oh, wait..." Bronze Knight, a Captain America paragon type: "Being super doesn't make us better than anyone else. Just bigger." Slammer, a brick whose father is a famous lawyer, when disparagingly compared to his sire by a villain: "My Dad fights injustice too, with great words. Here's my approach." Facade, a fantasy illusionist wizard, confronting an evil warlord: "You make the world a Hell for your victims. Let me show you Hell." As the god Apollo in the Champions Universe, when a PC called him just a figment of people's imagination (I had this one ready): "Indeed? And what were you before your parents rutted together? A streak of slime? And what tiny fraction of my lifetime ago was that, exactly?"

Also surprisingly combative, taking shots directly at Trump (although not by name), the SCOTUS, and Republicans in Congress for their regressive, obstructionist, and dictatorial attitudes and policies. I get the impression Biden has had enough of trying to work with them. If they want a fight, he's ready to take the gloves off. Maybe Joe Biden can prove he actually is the right man for the time.

The Baltic states must be breathing a little easier, knowing they now have two new strong allies across the Sea.

Better call Davis and George.

I'd love to say I believe that this was a rare example of compassion and sense from Republicans in Alabama, but I suspect it was just recognition that this court decision is so wildly unpopular, it could cost some Republicans reelection even in deep-red Alabama. Nonetheless, the right thing for the wrong reason is still the right thing.

A hundred years ago, the foremost educators on capitalism stressed ethics, compassion, social responsibility. The accumulation of capital was a means to an end, not an end in itself. Along the way that message got drowned out by greed.

Margaret Atwood, fellow Canadian. The distance between that society and today's isn't as far as we used to like to think. I wonder if in this case, it's easier for a woman to see that? And those Republicans who fought for social change would repudiate what Robinson stands for now. Like so many of today's GOP, he mouths words he doesn't understand and doesn't care about, to try to craft sound bites appealing to the gullible.

Nikki Haley has dropped out of the Republican candidacy race. Barring court action, it will be a Trump/Biden rematch in November.

Foxes: "Arrr! I hate you! I'll tear your throat out!" Bystanders: "Aww, how adorable."