“When Beijing says that, on the one hand, that it wants peace, it wants to see an end to the conflict, but on the other hand is allowing its companies to take actions that are actually helping Putin continue the aggression, that doesn’t add up,” Blinken said at a media briefing.

“Now if you’ll excuse me, I have to go call for a ceasefire in the Middle East while we continue to supply Israel with weapons.”

My family floated between working poor and middle class. My parents were divorced, and neither has a college degree. As is the case with many American families far from the Acela corridor, my mom’s yearly income determined if I would live in a house, apartment, or mobile home, if I would attend decent schools or the worst in town.

My family background is messy. But there was one constant: Many of my family members are proud construction workers and lifelong union members.

This woman’s story is a lot like my own. My dad was a construction worker and a proud union member. Neither of my parents went to college. (My dad didn’t even finish high school.) Work came and went, and there were times we lived in a house, times we lived in an apartment, and times we lived in a trailer. I changed school eight times.

And I’ve seen the way the Democrats lost people like my father (who became a Fox News-watching Trump fan).

A lot of it isn’t even about any specific policy. It’s a persistent feeling that the Democrats aren’t speaking to us. That they don’t care about us. That they look down on us. We don’t factor into their messaging anymore, and on a personal level, they think we’re dumb hicks.

But it’s not a new thing. I’m 20 years older than her, and I went through the same disillusionment she did.

I hope she joined her local Communist party.

Just keep in mind, this is anonymous hearsay by someone on Blinken’s team.

And even if it’s true, they wouldn’t have leaked it to the media without some kind of agenda.

“Is destroying art worse than destroying the whole planet???”

It’s a fair question.

Everyone cares so much about protecting this painting. Why don’t they care as much about protecting the planet? (And the painting isn’t even in any real danger. It’s behind glass.)

The vandalism is practically thought-provoking performance art in itself. It’s probably one of the best pieces in the gallery.

Good for them.

They’re getting media attention for their message. That isn’t easy to do.

Ghettoes were neighbourhood where Jews were forced to live in Nazi Europe, so I’d say that sounds worse.

I want to be buried with cheese too.

The US withdrew from Vietnam in 1975. The UN recognized the PRC over the ROC in 1971.

It was only removed to kiss China’s ass

You are greatly overestimating how much influence mainland China had in 1971.

This “Jill Stein is trying to spoil the election” makes no sense.

Jill Stein did not found the Green Party. If Jill Stein didn’t exist, the Greens would just choose another candidate. The outcome would be the same.

She is not an independent like Bobby Kennedy. Are you suggesting the entire Green Party is made up of Russian plants?

This is the one that matches OP’s map:

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ceremonial_counties_of_England

You’re misunderstanding the situation.

We’re not asking Kamala to get involved in a foreign war. We’re asking Kamala to end the US’s involvement in a foreign war.

I know it’s confusing, because Biden and Harris keep talking as if they’re doing all they can to stop the fighting. But the truth is, Biden and Harris are the ones providing the weapons.

but shouldn’t we be more worried about the terrorists on our home soil before fighting foreign lands

Probably, which is why Harris should stop giving weapons and billions of dollars of war funding to Israel.

And the worst part is: I STILL don’t know who the bad guy is. Israel? Palestine?

Again, I understand your confusion, because Biden and Harris keep talking about the need to protect Israel. But Israel is the one carrying out a genocide of innocent civilians (with US support).

Time travels

It’s yesterday once more.

I’m aware this increases the chances that we end up in Gilead.

(Actually, it doesn’t, because I’m not in a swing state.)

Yeah. None of the choices are good.

I can’t bring myself in good conscience to vote for Choice A. I wish I could, but I can’t. Not unless Harris commits to action on Israel, which is looking increasingly unlikely. I understand we’re all dealing with bad options and I understand why some people will still go with Choice A, but I can’t. Genocide is a red line for me.

I’m aware this increases the chances that we end up in Gilead.

And “side” is in quotes because they’re not really on your side. They serve the billionaire corporate class, just like the Republicans.

And half of voters are voting for it.

Yes, they’re called Democrats.

This post is about the genocide in Gaza, which is being funded and armed by Joe Biden’s administration, and which Joe Biden could stop at any time simply by telling his Ambassador to the UN to stop vetoing UN resolutions about Israel.

The fact that you want to blame Republicans for this instead of accepting what your own “side” is doing is a good example of why it’s still happening.

uninhabited rocks in the middle of the sea

Well, part of the issue is that they technically aren’t uninhabited anymore.

The largest naturally occurring island in the area is occupied by the ROC. A grand total of four civilians live there (and 220 troops). It has an airport that occupies the entire length of the island.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Taiping_Island

Is four people enough to claim an island? Taiwan seems to think so, and they are a vital US ally.

Also Taiwan is claiming to be China and all that because the PRC wants to keep the status quo.

Taiwan actively asserts its ownership of the South China Sea.

https://en.mofa.gov.tw/theme.aspx?n=1462&s=40&sms=294

China’s claim is the same as Italy claiming the whole Mediterranean as their own because at some point the Roman empire claimed it

The claims of both the PRC and the ROC are based on their continued and historical use of certain islands in the sea. Vietnam makes the same claim. The tribunal ruled that those islands are too small to count. (Vietnam accepted the ruling. The PRC and the ROC both rejected the ruling.)

The Philippines, Malaysia, and Brunei base their claims to the sea on the concept of an Exclusive Economic Zone, which under international maritime law extends 200 nautical miles from their shores.

most of us can’t really do anything but watch this shit happen.

Join your local Communist party.