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Beth McLaughlin's avatar

I agree. You all are fantastic. Can I note that Houston is actually a BLUE city in a RED state? I'm on Social Security and I don't know when, or if, my next Social Security check is coming. I'm really sorry I haven't subscribed yet. But I do re-stack and share every post. You all are brave, forthright, and say things that nobody else will say. I appreciate you very much and I'll subscribe as soon as I can. 💗💗💗

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Pamela Hilliard Owens's avatar

Hi Beth:

Thank you so much for sharing and re-stacking our posts. You can subscribe for FREE and then upgrade to paid if/when you can (or never!). We appreciate you no matter how you subscribe.

My Social Security payment is also 2/3 of my non-business income, so I feel ya. My only saving grace (so far) is that my check has always been direct-deposited, and I’ve had no changes since I started about 7 years ago.

I know that Houston is a blue city in a very red state, which is why your *sshole (excuse my French) governor is holding up the election for MONTHS to replace your recently deceased representative. He knows you’d elect another Democrat, and that would be bad for Speaker Johnson’s very slim House majority.

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Beth McLaughlin's avatar

He absolutely IS an asshole! Hot Wheels asshole, as Rep. Jasmine Crockettcalled him!

I do subscribe, and I will upgrade ASAP. I love this newsletterand you wonderful work.

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Pamela Hilliard Owens's avatar

Thank you again! And Rep. Crockett is absotively correct!

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Bridget Collins's avatar

We do it not to punish the US but because the political situation is no longer safe for the athletes.

Who knows who will be in charge in 2028 and if we have secret police and rioting in the streets.

Cancel them now.

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Leslye Joy Allen, Historian's avatar

Thank you for writing this.

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Pamela Hilliard Owens's avatar

As always, you are quite welcome!

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Sam's avatar

ASOFUCKINGLUTLY

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Pamela Hilliard Owens's avatar

LOLOLOL. I’m glad you agree!

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Jagged Jeanne's avatar

Sadly, I have to agree with you. We have become a country where outsiders are not welcome.

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Pamela Hilliard Owens's avatar

Unfortunately, yes, and it is ALL Trump’s fault. He ruined a lot of our global respect the last time, and Joe got it all back and more. Then Trumps ruined it all AGAIN, only this time it’s worse.

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Carolyn Thomas's avatar

We absolutely need to do this. The orange a-hole will find a way to make it all about himself and destroy the spirit of the games. It makes no sense to give him an international platform to further humiliate our nation.

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Paul Prothero's avatar

Absolutely. Great idea.

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Bill Pierce's avatar

Excuse me. I agree with only one thing you have said. Yes, these world prestige events should at this time be staged elsewhere. Among other things, this has become a dangerous place to be for the foreign participants.

Beyond that, your thinking seems muddled. This is not an “asshole country”. We have an asshole executive administration. Beyond that, this country likely has, by percentage, the same saturation of assholes as any other country on earth.

So, among other things, NO, I will not be buying you a cup of coffee. Coffee holds no promise to clear up your thinking. Only you do.

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Pamela Hilliard Owens's avatar

1) My thinking is based on 8.5 DECADES of living in this country as a Black American woman, who also taught history and government for forty years.

2) We ARE an asshole country because enough people voted for an asshole administration to make it possible.

3) I couldn't care less if you buy me a cup of coffee. Your choice. I specifically asked for a cup of “Colombian coffee” because our asshole president doesn’t even realize that the majority of our coffee comes from Colombia (NOT “Columbia”); he thinks we should switch to “French Roast.” Geez.

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Bill Pierce's avatar

All that’s wonderful. Except #2. How about all those extra people who didn’t vote? Some over Palestine, are they among the assholes you’re talking about? And how about those who didn’t vote at all because … reasons and no reason. And those that voted for someone they knew couldn’t possibly win? Was it because they are assholes too?

Then there are those that voted, butt their write in ballots were cast aside before they were opened because someone decided the voter’s address zip code was missing and so was disqualified for improper address. Since in some jurisdictions that’s an actual rule of the vote count, I gather there’s assholes on all sides in those cases.

Trump barely won the election. Won by one of the smallest margins. I’ve listed the many who chose not to vote. This is the reality you have chosen to cast aside. I guess. Hard to see your point, if there is one on the single issue I’m trying to discuss with you.

Again, my only point is about thinking about speech. There’s ways to make it powerful and ways to make it weak.

When alone, sometimes I get all worked up and say excessive and dead wrong things aloud. I don’t then choose to record and publish same. It’s because those expressions lead nowhere. Neither do I dress up what I have to say. If I need a knife, I consider sharpening it first. I am not a person of virtue or talent. But, I do care. And that’s the only reason why I’m saying these things to you now. Perhaps, this too will lead nowhere.

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Marc Kennedy's avatar

Yup!

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Andrew Todd's avatar

Organise mass boycotts and demonstrations if they go ahead. I think trump won’t be able to resist the glory and will try to keep them.

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Shirley Jackson's avatar

Please DO NOT automatically sign me up for anything including an AP which I never asked for!!!

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Joe Walker's avatar

USA is UNSAFE for anyone, especially athletes from other countries!

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Nancy Bari's avatar

Move them all. This is an excellent way to tell Trump we are not playing your game. The more financial damage the better to get the message across to our country that choosing our president has consequences. Trump is nothing more than a pariah.

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Deedles's avatar

Move them out please. No one wants to go to the states.

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Barbara Gonzales's avatar

The Olympic Games are about world unity.Sorry as an Australian I definitely don’t want the games held there.The safety of the world’s athletes are at risk,Americas laws are so unpredictable because of that evil man is ruining your country by dictating all your lives.I feel sorry for the Americans who didn’t vote for him .Feelings are not going to do anything to change the way the world looks on once was a great country.

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Wendy Bonvechio's avatar

I’ve been in this band wagon for a while and even contacted the IOC about it. The athletes do not deserve to go thru the emotional trauma of having to go thru customs here and risk being sent home. Both these events need to find a new home.

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