EZEtoGRU

I agree.  He must be charged in all these cases...large and small.  I also agree with the other poster expressing dismay that it is taking so much time for all the various charges to be brought against Trump formally.  I need to see him in an orange jumpsuit before he dies!

I want an alternative to Biden, but I will absolutely vote for him if he's the democratic candidate. US elections have always been in my lifetime the lesser of two evils. Why would I expect it to suddenly change now?

One of the hush-money payments that was made was $30,000 to a Trump Tower doorman who allegedly had information of Trump having an illegitimate child out of wedlock.  Is there a bastard Trump child somewhere?  Did we hear about this before?
https://www.cnbc.com/2023/04/04/-donald-trump-unsealed-indictment-ny-arraingment.html

LOL.  She still forgets that was Michele Obama's "saying" which the Trump team stole and pretended they were Malanie's words.  So funny!!

Manhattan Grand Jury votes to indict Trump.  WooHoo!!!  I can't wait to see the perp walk and the mugshot!
https://www.cnn.com/2023/03/30/politics/donald-trump-indictment/index.html

I agree.  He must be charged in all these cases...large and small.  I also agree with the other poster expressing dismay that it is taking so much time for all the various charges to be brought against Trump formally.  I need to see him in an orange jumpsuit before he dies!

Yes, it is important to proceed. Yes, it gives him more of a platform but that is part of it.

I agree.  He must be charged in all these cases...large and small.  I also agree with the other poster expressing dismay that it is taking so much time for all the various charges to be brought against Trump formally.  I need to see him in an orange jumpsuit before he dies!

ORLANDO (The Borowitz Report)

Ron DeSantis has unveiled an ambitious plan to raze Disney World and replace it with a “Dilbert”-themed attraction.
The new theme park, tentatively called Dilbert World, will attract “millions of Americans deprived of their favorite comic strip by the left-wing media Reich,” the Florida governor said.
Calling the new tourist destination “a woke-free zone,” DeSantis promised, “Parents who go to Dilbert World can rest assured that their children will not be exposed to the vile multicultural propaganda that it’s a small world, after all.”
DeSantis was vague about what kind of rides might be featured in Dilbert World, saying only that “they will probably involve cubicles.”

Under DeSantis, the state of Florida has taken over the governance of the property on which Disneyworld resides.  The state has appointed the board of directors who are decidedly rightwing.  They have promised "big changes" in the coming months.   Given DeSantis' frequent pandering to extremist rightwingers, what can we expect?  Will Disney's "gay days" continue?  
This story is worth following.  Be prepared to change your travel plans from Disneyworld Florida to Disneyland in California.
 
https://www.yahoo.com/finance/news/disney-world-board-picked-desantis-180343763.html

Under DeSantis, the state of Florida has taken over the governance of the property on which Disneyworld resides.  The state has appointed the board of directors who are decidedly rightwing.  They have promised "big changes" in the coming months.   Given DeSantis' frequent pandering to extremist rightwingers, what can we expect?  Will Disney's "gay days" continue?  
This story is worth following.  Be prepared to change your travel plans from Disneyworld Florida to Disneyland in California.
 
https://www.yahoo.com/finance/news/disney-world-board-picked-desantis-180343763.html

Thanks for sharing that....Wonder what happened that finally pushed them over the edge?
I guess anything that deprives the QAnon pond scum a forum is a good thing though.

Ever since the demise of the Politics section on the "Company of Men" board, there seems to have been a big uptick in politics discussion on this board...   I’m not sure how I feel about that, but I nevertheless couldn't resist adding my tuppence to this topic.   Just in regard to the amount of people in India who identify Russia as an ally, this is probably best understood in historical terms.   Traditionally, India had two big enemies, China and Pakistan. In the late 1980's, America was closely allied to Pakistan, with both supporting the mujaheddin in Afghanistan, and at that time also, America infuriated India by refusing to definitively take the Indian side in the border dispute between India and China.   India moved closer to Russia partly in response. Traditionally, the Indian army purchased a lot of weaponry from the Soviet Union,  and later Russia. Since that time I think many of the more politically engaged Indians saw Russia was a traditional "ally" of India, in a purely hard-headed geopolitical sense.   In the last 20 years as Pakistan and America became more estranged, and particularly since about 2010 as America and China became major rivals, America is a lot more supportive of the India side.   However, I think the inclination of many in India to regard Russia as an "ally" remains. It is in the same way that many Americans would say that Saudi Arabia is an "ally" if I asked about it, if they are aware of the decades-long "marriage of convenience" alliance between the US and Saudi. However, I doubt that too many of those people would feel much genuine warmth for Saudi Arabia.  I think for many in India, the way they view Russia is similar.    Therefore asking a question about being an "ally" is a bit loaded. I would be more interested to hear a question about, say, which side the interviewees had more sympathy for in the dispute in question.    

Just 3 questions:
1. Why US should be ruled by gerontocracy?
2. Why US should be ruled from graves?
3. Why Mr. Alzheimer and Ms. Dementia should continue this nonsense?

Not the A-list, that's for sure.  They may have to run on the cheap.  

We’ll be forever tainted
In corners we have painted
We dug a hole
And sold our soul
Our Campaign Chair just fainted
♫♬ ♫♬ ♫♬

I answered this question on the other politics forum (now closed) and I'll answer again here.  I believe Biden should not run given his age.   However, if he does run and becomes the Dem nominee I will enthusiastically vote for him.  Echoing another posters comment, I see no potential republican candidates out there that have the chance of earning my vote.  Trump?  Forgetaboutit!  DeSantis?  Too anti-gay/anti-black to be considered.  Anyone previously associated with Trump in his administration (think Pence, Haley, Pompeo, et al)?  I would never consider them due to the very poor judgement they exhibited in deciding to work for Trump.  They will be forever tainted.  Anyone that has ever praised Trump during his presidency is tainted goods as well as far as I am concerned.  That takes people like Cruz and Rubio out of the running.  Kasich and Jeb Bush seem relatively normal for Republicans but I don't see either of them running.
As far as Plan B for the Dems?  I do like Elizabeth Warren, Pete, Klobuchar & Gavin.  Not big on Harris though.
Trump winning the Republican nomination would be a godsend for the Dems.  Literally any Dem nominee would beat Trump easily.  
 

Here is why Biden's foreign policy is worse:
1. Sleep walking toward a nuclear conflict with Russia
The Munich security conference is very active this year.  The Chinese side made an unusual eye-catching statement about an interest in being an mediator between Russia and Ukraine.  That is followed by Blinken's new media blitz with accusations of potential Chinese military aid to Russia. These are worrisome signs of drastic escalation of the Ukraine war in the near future. The Chinese side emphasize that a nuclear war is unacceptable.  It is quite likely that a serious risk of a nuclear conflict motivates them to get involved more. 
2.  The current US-China relationship
I cannot match the thoughtfulness and eloquence of Chas Freeman Jr., a career US diplomat on this subject.  So here is the link to his recent speech:
https://chasfreeman.net/2505-2/
The title of the speech, "U.S. China Policy: A Case of Self-Harm", lays out the problem with Biden's policy clearly.

What Biden brings to the party is a sense of inclusiveness and in the Trump era I think there's nothing more important.  Trump and DeSantis are in a perpetual state of war and have no problem pitting us Americans against one another.  We really can't survive a long-term diet of divisiveness.  So I'm for whoever can get elected and continue a process of healing.
I'm impressed that Biden has steadfastly focused on things that are good for the majority of Americans, with a particular emphasis on those who need a helping hand the most.  Although it's too soon for me to pick a candidate, he's the guy I'll vote for until someone more compassionate and more inclusive comes along.
Biden's biggest liability, in my opinion, is Kamala Harris.  She's not a unifier and I would not be happy seeing her as President.  There may be other Democrats who are not anathema to Independent voters.  I don't have the polling research but I expect such a one exists.
Our divisiveness is best reflected in the pure party-line votes of recent years and that needs to change.  Biden has a reputation for at least trying to reach across the aisle.  I'd go so far as suggesting he consider a moderate socially progressive Republican as his running mate, unless the Senate looks like a 50/50 split.
Whoever can bring us back from the war on one another will get my vote.  And I think Biden has been more effective at bringing folks together that anyone else currently in the running.
If it weren't for the overriding need for inclusivity and healing, and we could afford a full-on progressive candidate, I've got a handful of folks I'd like to see enter the Democratic primary: Clinton (so sue me, but she did win the popular vote) and Sanders and Newsom among them.  But there is an overriding need to pull together and Biden understands that in his bones.
 

Update for January 2023 and thank you to the OP and all of the other posts:
The peri post COVID world is a very different place.
I had great luck on Grindr with regular guys as in the past. I think I only saw 1 pay for play boy and I was not interested.
In Athens the Kosmopolit Cinema is closed. There are folks hanging out in the alley away from Onomia Square and towards the police station half a block away. Usually only 1-4 at a time, and I assume mostly druggies. There is one nice looking guy from pre COVID days that does hang out in front of the Cosmopolit Hotel occasionally. He also hangs out with the druggies too, LOL. Sometimes the police hang out in this area and thus there is no trade to be had. The hotel can still be used by the hour. 30 E for the guy and 10 E for the hotel. Only saw a very other folks hanging around and possibly plying trade in this area and towards Omonia Square sort of at the side of the Hondos Center and alley / street. Another hotel by the hour is the youth hostel on a perpendicular street about 2 blocks away. 10 E for 1 hour. Only saw women hanging out for trade here. The park north of the archeological museum still has some action, but far less than in the old days. The park is moderately large and I only walked around the several block areas near the Athena statue and entrance Konstantinos on horseback statue. Not sure of the cost, as I was not interested in those offering pay for play. Several potential boys never got away from their cell phones to say hi. All of the guys seemed to be in their 20s - 40s. Be aware that lots of kids and families now hang out in the park. Very few did in the past, when druggies predominated.
Several times I did see some truly hot guys but going into the hotels with a client or likely on the way to meet a client. I do not speak greek or arabic and I think this is what those boys spoke. Never saw these boys again.
Never sought trade in the big park near Plaka that folks talk about. Never sought trade much after sunset in a park. Also, too cold to do this at midnight.
Samy's Bar is open, but I did not go there 1 am on a Friday / Saturday night. In the past, this general area had folks plying trade. Did not see anything obvious on this trip. Also did not see any places with "open" doors for folks to romp around in this trip.
I would guess the local politicians have invested major resources to clean the area up. 
I had good luck at a very clean adult porn theatre about a 10 minute walk west of Cosmo. Just average horny guys, no pay for play. About 7-10 E entry fee.
There is a grimier adult cinema perhaps 25 meters from the Economy Hotel, the one closet to the corner and perpendicular to the hotel, not the adjacent one a bit further away. Another porn places faces the Economy, but seemed permanently closed. Wow, had lots of fun here. One guy, likely in his 40s was about 10 E, others wanted more. Usually only 1-4 boys when I went and sometimes 1 or 2 were asleep sometimes on a couch or in the main theatre, LOL. Some spoke some English, others spoke no English, French, Spanish or German. Guys always asked for more when paying. Up to 30 E. There is an upper level and a lower level with lockable door rooms, but you need a cell phone for lighting, as there is none otherwise. One guy stole about 25 E from me and accosted me in the locked room as he wanted far more than agreed to. So be warned, some of this is rough trade. Despite screaming, no one will try to assist you. Did tell the guy who takes your 5 E entry so he could make sure the guy does not come in again. Also had the best sex in Athens trip with another boy to follow !! We had another romp a few days later in a hotel for an hour. Couple weeks later he calls me on what's app trying to get me to send him money, LOL. 
I mostly was looking from around 1400-1800 hrs in the park and Cosmo areas and as late as 2000 hrs at the cinema by Economy. All in all, despite a bit of danger, I had fun
 

It's been some years since I stayed there but it certainly was not a dump.  As TotallyOz said, the rooms are on the small side.  Service and food are excellent.  I love it's location.

September 2024 news: Pandemic continues!

I looked in the mirror.

Donald Trump was the president

Donald Trump was the president