The U.S. national debt is $36 trillion as of 2024. Biden and Trump each added $8 trillion of that. The Congressional Budget Office (CBO) projects deficits of $20 trillion over the next 10 years. On top of that, Trump wants to cut taxes by $4 to $6 trillion over that period. Republicans talk about of[...]
Archive for August, 2024
August 13th, 2024 - 1:06 am § in Politics, Republicans
19-gun granny
This sounds like a made-up story, but if it’s true, J. D. Vance’s relatives are as weird as he is. Return to The-Ave.US Home Page[...]
August 12th, 2024 - 5:49 pm § in Misc.
Warrantless entry
A Massachusetts hair salon owner has complained that “members of law enforcement” barged into her salon and used the bathroom without permission during a Harris campaign event at a theater next door (photo, left; read story here). Not only did she feel violated, but they apparently left [...]
It’s only “persona vs. issues” — really? are you sure?
Frank Luntz (photo, left), a Republican pollster, thinks Trump is better on issues, but his “persona” is driving voters to Harris (read story here). He says, “If it’s about issues, Trump is much more likely to be successful. If it’s about attributes, Harris is much more likely to b[...]
August 12th, 2024 - 4:50 pm § in Misc.
The Bronze Medal controversy
Jordan Chiles, U.S. gymnast, won the Bronze Medal in women’s floor exercise at the 2024 Paris Olympics (video below). That’s based on accurate scoring. The judges initially underscored her, by not giving her credit for a move she performed. After reviewing her routine, the judges agreed [...]
Why women outlive men (video)
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A brief history of free speech in America
Free speech as we know it occurred late in American history, is fragile, and could go away. For most of American history, unpopular political views could (and did) get dissidents, organizers, publishers, and even artists thrown in prison. The notion of a “free trade in ideas,” which spra[...]
August 12th, 2024 - 1:24 am § in Politics, Republicans
J. D. Vance is still awful
On CBS‘s “Face the Nation” on Sunday, August 11, 2024, J. D. Vance “brushed off concerns about former President Trump’s praise for … Chinese President Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin, arguing there is ‘nothing wrong’ with such remarks,R[...]
The backstory of “swiftboat” political attacks
John Kerry was infamously “swiftboated” when he ran for president in 2004. Usually, being a veteran is a plus in politics. “Swiftboating” (explained here) is a political tactic employed to neutralize that advantage, or turn it into a political liability. The term implies lyin[...]