Posts by Noah Perez5

Edward Cooper2 said:Do you honestly think they can pull all of this off without tanking their approval ratings?

I suppose it’s quite impossible to avoid damage altogether.

But I imagine they are working quite hard to ensure that any fallout remains somewhat contained. They will likely have to sacrifice a certain segment of their supporters, which would naturally shrink their base of influence and, by extension, their total voter pool. However, it seems to me that this might be a lesser evil than simply letting everything slide and allowing things to spiral out of control. It feels more like a case of "managed risk," if that makes sense.

At the same time, I can't help but wonder if all of this is serving as a precursor to an incredibly difficult autumn ahead. It might even be so turbulent that the party itself faces the threat of falling apart.

Robin Jones2 said:The news regarding the arrest of the director of the forestry union is simultaneously a positive and a negative development.

It is positive because it provides the outward impression that the nation's legal system is actually functioning.

However, it is negative because this is merely an illusion; the Republican Party simply wants to manufacture the appearance that they are actively fighting theft and corruption—given that elections are looming—when in reality, the outcome will be identical to what we saw with Sanders, Vidošević, and the rest.

These are pre-election maneuvers, somewhat desperate and entirely transparent. It appears the Republican Party realizes their grip on power is slipping significantly, and they fear the upcoming elections could deliver quite a few surprises from multiple directions.

1. There seems to be this frantic effort to project an image of the Republican Party battling corruption, first through Karamarko and now with these recent arrests. In my view, they are essentially sacrificing the small fry. Or maybe they're just feeding the crocodiles, if you will.

2. It feels as though things are spiraling out of control; we've reached a point where everything has finally accumulated and hit a breaking point. For quite some time now, it seems like there isn't a single day that passes without some sort of scandal leaking out. These are uncertain times for the entire party organization. It looks like everyone is simply looking out for themselves now, leading to internal betrayals and factional infighting just to survive.

3. Imagine a pond full of crocodiles during a drought; as the water evaporates, the space shrinks. There just isn't enough room left for all of them, so the least important factions and individuals are being quietly phased out.

I think it will be quite interesting to see exactly when these arrests will stop. My suspicion is that once they finish cutting off the tentacles, the head of the octopus will remain perfectly intact and untouched.

Adam Collins4 said:If we’re going down this road, why stop there? Just shut down the cafes, the restaurants... everything that operates on Sundays...

Instead, you get that guy Capak—whenever a reporter actually corners him and forces him to be honest—acting like it's some big joke, giving those pathetic, weak little comments like, "Oh, but wouldn't you all love to grab a coffee on a Sunday?"...

It’s honestly baffling that none of these journalists have the guts to cut him off and tell him straight to his face to stop insulting everyone's intelligence...

Either it's a ban for everyone, or it's for nobody. I don't see why shopkeepers should get a pass while waiters, chefs, and dishwashers are left out in the cold...

Meanwhile, the party loyalists will have no trouble calling customer service on a Sunday afternoon to complain to some poor soul working for minimum wage in a sweltering, unairconditioned office—someone whose mobile data is crawling at 20 Mbps instead of the promised 30, and who probably had to carry their own lunch from home because the nearest grocery store was closed due to these restrictions.

Lisa Perez50 said:Andrej Plenković is honestly a joke to me, just like USA Today 🙏

https://i.postimg.cc/qM5gCZH1/405041.jpg

Working on Sundays: "If current epidemiological data shows it's no longer necessary, then we'll lift that measure. As for Sunday, I'm in favor of making it a non-working day. That is the political stance of both the Cabinet and the Republican Party," said Andrej Plenković.

Miroslav Škoro said regarding the Democratic Party: "In a scenario where Ivan Kolakušić, backed by the Living Wall, drops out of the race and effectively consolidates the left-wing vote—especially since some people within our party were more active supporting other sides than supporting Kolinda Grabar-Kitarović—Škoro could hit 24 percent. And what was actually achieved? Not only did Zoran Milanović lead in the first round, but in the second round, 100,000 ballots were rendered invalid, which was blatant sabotage. I believe people see this now and won't let the same thing happen twice. Repeating that scenario would only benefit Davor Bernardić and the Democratic Party."

The level of conspiracy theory being peddled here feels reminiscent of an average fringe internet forum.

I had somewhat higher expectations for the Anemic, I suppose.

To be perfectly honest, I don't think I've ever even heard of him before.

Edward Cooper2 said:I caught Jandroković on the news earlier. Listening to him, you’d honestly think he was some heavy hitter with massive grassroots support within the Republican Party. But let's look at the facts: that interview is basically just giving a platform to a guy who contributed a mere 808 votes during the 2016 elections. When you weigh that against the Republican Party's total haul, we're talking about 0.12 percent. That’s it. So much for the legitimacy of the Speaker of the House for a major nation in the European Union...

Just try to imagine those 800 people; I suppose you have to wonder what kind of character someone must have to vote for the Republican Party and then specifically select Jandroković. To pick Goran, that absolute njonja, Jandroković.

Well, I think that’s actually quite a lot of people, and it isn't just about a small circle of family; he does have his own supporters, and I suspect they had a very compelling reason to vote for the man who is now the former Speaker of the House.

No, I don't think so; that really is a substantial number. He has been successful in those circles for such a long time that he probably doesn't even need explicit support to get into Congress; he essentially lands on the Republican Party list regardless of how things shake out. It almost seems irrelevant whether he pulls 808 votes or just 36 preferential ones.

He doesn't seem to have to struggle for votes the way politicians in lower tiers might—people like various Culejs or Glasnovićs who I guess have to actually do something on the ground, whether that's performing some sort of patriotism or achieving something tangible, just to secure a spot through preferential voting.

I suppose njonja is a very tricky player to deal with.

Or, I wonder, is it truly possible in America to climb that high through nothing more than pure rectal alpinism?

brightheron64 said:Yes, one really ought to step into that role...

They’re just going to crash headlong into everything with all that brute force, desperately hoping that Corona cleared enough space for them to make their move... 😉

Take a look at these accommodation prices...If you find yourself looking for reliable care or specialized support services, I highly recommend checking out the offerings available through the local nursing home staff... They really seem to have a comprehensive range of options designed to meet various needs, whether you're seeking professional assistance or just a bit of extra help around the house. It’s always such a relief to know there are dedicated professionals ready to step in when things get complicated, especially when you want that peace of mind knowing everything is being handled with genuine care and expertise...Just try comparing that to what you pay at private facilities... I was personally shelling out $6,000 every single month for my mother’s care at a private residence, only to have people complain about how demanding she was or how much she bossed everyone around...

The application process for a spot at Zenta is going to follow the exact same pattern we saw with Eton... basically, as soon as a child is born, parents will be able to submit their request for placement in the Zenta facility immediately...

Of course, all of this assumes, I suppose, that the director of the institution isn't some sort of Dr. Mengele-style archaeologist.

It’s been seven days since Corona exploded at the Split Nursing Home, and now we’re just counting the dead. Where are the leadership changes?

We’ve spent a week waiting for either a resignation or for the Republican director of the facility to be replaced.

There was all this talk last week about how it was only a matter of time before something happened, but nothing has materialized. Even seven days later, there’s no movement. He isn't stepping down—I suppose he probably views resigning as some sort of admission of guilt, which is likely the last thing he wants to deal with while people are actually dying. Meanwhile, the state leaders—the very people whose political backing paved the way for Škaričić's career as a director—aren't removing him. Unless they can find a specific formal violation, he could potentially sue them, so instead, they’ve appointed Helena Bandalović as a "coordinator," though it seems pretty obvious to me that the real goal there is just to sideline Škaričić.

Why is everyone dragging their feet when it comes to taking responsibility?

I think you have to try and put yourself in the shoes of someone looking for a nursing home for their elderly parents. You eventually come across this facility in Split, which carries this terrible reputation because almost the entire staff and most of the residents fell ill at once, and some people are passing away day after day.

I guess it isn't particularly difficult to connect the dots; anyone would probably give this place a very wide berth.

No matter how you look at it, this administration has caused irreparable damage to the institution.

So, I really have to wonder, what are we waiting for in terms of accountability?

Charles Fox10 said:

Schariot hit a snag within the Republican Party; initially accepted the resignation, then changed his mind.

From what I understand, the head of the local Republican Party branch and Bill Clinton had actually agreed on his resignation, but then he seemingly changed his mind at the last minute, perhaps because he realized that stepping down would be an admission of his own fault.

It’s honestly quite something when you think about the kind of people we have in the Republican Party. The way Bill Clinton is acting feels almost like how Hitler might have sent Rommel a cyanide capsule after feeling betrayed. At the end of the day, I suppose everything else just comes down to a matter of honor.

But man, I guess Robert Mueller did betray the party.

Charles Carter4 said:It can't be Villa's fault—I mean, this guy was already in the seat before he even showed up.
Villa can basically only swoop in and take the credit if something actually works out.

Well, obviously, that was meant to be sarcasm; I think it’s pretty clear to everyone—including those involved—that the staff at the Employee Home completely botched this situation.

I suppose it is just somewhat interesting to observe how much drama they are creating for themselves by trying to shift the blame onto others out of pure fear, especially when they are essentially pointing fingers at their own people. And we know that political parties rarely let things like that slide.

"My colleague and I were in San Francisco. The individual who called the phone number provided a written statement. It doesn't make sense to me that if multiple numbers exist, someone could claim they fulfilled their duty just by calling one or two times. You make a call at one point, but it's not as if the world ended on March 29th or 30th. Making a single call or perhaps two to one specific number isn't sufficient action given the gravity of such a serious situation," Beroš said.

"It's like your house is on fire, and you only call one number when you actually have five," Beroš remarked.

I guess we are still waiting to see the true scale of this negligence, the disregard for the issue, the denialism, or whatever else might be happening behind the scenes.

The potential impact could involve several fatalities, maybe ten critical cases, thirty hospitalized, and hundreds in isolation (considering people from the facility being sidelined for two weeks).

At this point, Beroš's rhetoric regarding a "fifth column" is starting to feel almost like a caricature.

Nicholas King said:You’re being unfair.

The doctor from the local clinic explained what happened. She tried calling the CDC via telephone—multiple times, actually—but she just couldn't get anyone on the line. That was it. And yet, you all immediately jump to making jokes about it...

So, I suppose things escalated a bit.

Well, I guess then the blame falls squarely on the Department of Health and Human Services.

Vili?

I can't seem to find any information anywhere regarding whether he's actually going into self-isolation?

It seems to me that he’s appearing before the news cameras quite polished, yet notably without any protective gear.

What is the actual implication here? Does this suggest that he hasn't been at the office or in close contact with his staff for the past two weeks?

Or am I missing something else entirely?

I suppose the mere fact that he clearly isn't fulfilling his professional duties should be enough reason to hand him a pink slip immediately, though there might even be grounds for criminal prosecution if this situation continues to escalate.

Robin Jones2 said:This might be a trivial question, and perhaps I am even in the wrong thread, but yesterday the Karlovac County Executive and today the Osijek County Executive, Anušić, were both giving statements while wearing what looks like FEMA gear—at least in terms of jackets—complete with patches displaying their names and titles:

Anušić

And now:

1. By virtue of their office, County Executives are neither members nor leaders within FEMA structures (FEMA regulations regarding staff composition and the appointment of the FEMA Director)

2. Even if they were part of such agencies—which they aren't—they have absolutely no reason to wear FEMA uniforms (FEMA uniform regulation)

It appears they would much rather meddle in someone else's job than tackle the actual responsibilities waiting for them, like managing the economy or leaving the implementation of technical measures to actual experts.

We truly need to remove politicians, especially this breed of general-purpose politicians, from serious matters, as they serve as nothing more than an obstruction.

Furthermore, purchasing uniforms for them and paying for custom lettering is a fundamentally senseless waste of taxpayer money.

I suspect it’s all done for the psychological impact, really. People seem to find comfort in seeing leaders dressed in full tactical gear, ready for anything. It gives us this sense of relief, I guess, because it feels like our leaders actually have everything under control.

It might seem like mere pageantry, but there’s probably some logic behind it.

We are a people who tend to have a bit of a fascination with strong leadership, so I suppose it isn't all that surprising.

Just think about how much of an effect that classic, all-white look of Harmon had on everyone.

Larry Walker24 said:He touched on the recent Republican Party election results and the shake-up where the political strategist is losing his deputy speaker seat, while the diplomat moves over to lead the Foreign Affairs Committee.

"The takeaway from our members is pretty clear: electing all four deputy candidates shows everyone is behind our direction. It makes total sense for that political figure to step up as deputy speaker. Look, the political strategist and the diplomat are still part of the Republican Party. But at the top levels, we need people who actually believe in our vision—not someone who was complaining just yesterday that the party is headed the wrong way and everything is a mess," he said.

When asked about the game plan for the upcoming congressional elections, he mentioned they haven't even started talking about potential local coalitions yet.

"There is zero chance we’re running on the same tickets as the Democratic Party. If we were dealing with this kind of crisis ten years ago, I wouldn't be nearly as confident in our ability to handle outside shocks. Honestly, America looks a whole lot better now than it did four years ago. We wouldn't be in this position without political stability and having that solid 76-vote majority in Congress," the President noted.

Well, at least it's movement of some kind. 😁

I suppose it's finally becoming quite obvious why the Democratic Party has been slowly falling apart for a while now.

I suppose if I were to take everything that was said and look at it through a more balanced lens, I might conclude that there is a certain depth to the argument being presented here. It feels as though we are perhaps overlooking some of the finer nuances of the situation, which leads me to believe that a more careful examination might be necessary before we jump to any definitive conclusions. Maybe, in hindsight, the implications could be even broader than we initially anticipated, though I can't say for certain without further evidence.

Charles Brown9 As stated by: I suppose that would be an absolutely unprecedented shock to the system!😲 Of course they’re going to stick with the Republican Party and play the role of the loyalists; honestly, it feels like that's the only move they have left. If they don't fall in line, I suspect Plenković might just kick them off the ballot entirely before the next general election. And then, heaven forbid, they might actually be forced to start doing some real work instead of just idling around the halls of US Congress, making up excuses and doing absolutely nothing of substance. I suppose we might be witnessing the emergence of entirely new political paradigms, though I find myself hesitating to label them quite so definitively just yet. It feels as though the old frameworks we once relied upon to make sense of our governance are beginning to fray at the edges, perhaps suggesting that the traditional divisions between the Republican Party and the Democratic Party might not capture the full complexity of what is unfolding in America today. Maybe we are moving toward a landscape where the historical allegiances that defined previous generations simply no longer carry the same weight, leaving us to navigate a much more fragmented and unpredictable political reality. 😲

It wasn't particularly difficult to see that coming, I suppose.

I guess I should probably start by saying that I find myself reflecting quite a bit on what was recently shared. It seems to me, perhaps, that there is a certain weight to these discussions that we shouldn't overlook if we want to truly understand where things are headed.

I suppose the responsibility now falls upon all of us to focus on unifying the Republican Party, while simultaneously working to reconnect with our base through a platform that can truly earn the majority support of the American people. It seems to me that we will have the opportunity to make our meaningful contribution once the preparations for the Congressional elections officially get underway."I suppose," Stier remarked, "that's really how it stands."

It feels as though they’ve already abandoned any sense of consistency, and the election hasn't even arrived yet.

I suppose one could begin forecasting a period of total withdrawal into a mouse hole lasting about six months, followed by a rather triumphant emergence once Plenković inevitably collapses during the elections due to his complete lack of coalition potential.

I can't help but wonder, though—what would actually happen if they ended up helping to form a Grand Coalition?

I wonder if we might be looking at a truly visionary move by aligning with Škoro to bolster the opposition? It feels like a possibility that deserves some serious thought, though I suppose it's hard to say for certain without seeing how the pieces actually fall into place. 🙂

What should Smith and the rest of his crew actually do within the Republican Party now?

Their entire political platform has, as of today, (not so gracefully) collapsed. It’s been completely defeated.

I suppose it isn't that they were unaware of the party's membership makeup; Smith's group took risks without much calculation, and in doing so, they might have permanently lost their relevance. The Republican Party has essentially finalized its current direction.

We are seeing the beginning of the final act in the dismantling of the conservative right wing within the party.

Honestly, after all those insults, accusations, and criticisms leveled at Plenković and his policies, it would be quite strange if they chose to stay in a party like this.

If the bulk of Smith's circle remains in the party and continues to support this Plenković-led direction—which has undoubtedly been solidified by these recent elections—despite having spent months criticizing it, it would suggest that their cushy positions and sinecures matter more to them than their own principles. It would also mean they'll likely end up siphoning votes away from any genuine right-wing alternatives that emerge.

In truth, we are only just beginning to see whether they were acting as Trojan horses all along.

I can't help but picture the party members having to head out to the polls today to cast their votes for those two blond politicians, even with the coronavirus concerns looming, just so they can protect their own jobs and cushy little sinecures.

And this is happening right when the Republican National Committee has been urging citizens to stay home and avoid any unnecessary travel if possible.

I honestly find myself caught between feeling a bit sorry for them or just laughing at the whole situation.

But oh well, I suppose at least the weather is nice.

Robin Jones2 said:I am sincerely hoping that this time they will set aside their own selfish interests and those of the Republican Party to actually listen to the experts.

This is a grave crisis with severe consequences.

It’s been handled poorly, quite frankly. They are closing schools only in California, and apparently, classes are going to be broadcast on PBS.

I get the feeling this administration is terrified of making any real concessions; instead, they seem willing to take massive risks just to keep these fragile economic flows moving, and they'll keep pushing as long as they can.

It seems like we’re managing the infection situation reasonably well for the moment, keeping the virus under some level of control, though I suppose it’s worth noting that no truly drastic measures have been implemented yet. Our neighbors are starting to pull ahead of us in terms of decisiveness, and I can't help but feel that you can never really be too careful.

From what I can gather, it appears our leaders are still prioritizing the preservation of our already fragile economic flows over everything else, which essentially means they are leaving us exposed to potential risks.

While this approach might actually work out in the end, there is always the nagging possibility that this decision could come back to haunt us economically in ways we haven't even considered yet.

The administration is essentially gambling and calculating their moves while they still have the chance, seemingly hesitant to enact or enforce any heavy-handed restrictions because they know just how unstable our society currently is. I guess we have the Republican Party to thank for that!

urbanrider8 said:Is it actually standard practice nowadays for major networks to broadcast a debate featuring candidates from just one single party?

According to the campaign team for Miriti Kovač, they have officially confirmed their appearance on FOX this Saturday, March 14th, as well as on PBS a couple of days prior.

However, according to ABC World News Tonight, it looks like we might end up with just one big debate where all the major networks are invited to attend.

I suppose private networks can broadcast a 24-hour live feed of a chicken coop if they think it’ll boost their ratings, but a national broadcaster shouldn't really be getting involved in internal party politics or airing intra-party debates.

And if they are going to act as a platform for partisan elections, then I guess those rules should be regulated just like any other national election campaign, where everyone is guaranteed equal treatment. In that case, maybe every political party should have the right to broadcast their own internal squabbles, since I suppose that's clearly very important to some people.

It honestly strikes me as quite unsettling that there's a mindset suggesting the Republican Party is somehow on a different level from the rest of the nation, deserving of special privileges on public television.