Trying that shit on Canada of all people was the dumbest shit imaginable. 

Yeah, but try explaining to an abusive narcissist that... they have to actually show a real dedication to changing themselves, and making things right.

You basically can't, because the idea that they could be flawed or mistaken in a fundamental way... well, that's basically incomprehensible to them, beyond being some kind of insult toward them.

That does seem to be the logic of even people on the left of American politics.

They seem to think that voting for democrats will change anything. Nah, they need to fix their damn stupid political system before anyone will trust them again. Except of course they won't because of a 250-year-old document who's authors would be amazed to find has become almost religious dogma.

Yup. It's something that won't be fixed for decades. Trump has seriously damaged the ability for the US to do international trade.

He went way beyond just trade affairs.

Canada has got this. They have shifted to trade with more stable countries and had ramped up local distilleries. They are not being mean but rather strategic.

Canadian products are generally superior quality anyways

not enough to not go to disney though.

what they did during/after covid was shrinkflation/cheapflationed thier products. it was very noticeable in consumables like toileteries/laundry, toothpaste, etc.

Well they’ll gladly vote for whoever has the “R” next to their name, no matter what. That is if there ever are elections again.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gomer_Pyle#Cultural_impact

The term "gomer" has entered the English lexicon, usually meaning "stupid person" or "fool," especially if a coworker or trainee.

Way back in 1981, Ronald Reagan looked upon post-Vietnam America and saw too options. One was to tax the rich heavily, institute massive government controls on energy production, and push a renewal of America's aging heavy industries. The other was to cut taxes for the upper classes and encourage wild speculation.

Even Harley Davidson is close to bankruptcy. Dealers are closing every month. Bad news for audiologists.

Jim beam was in the “cheap rotgut” category for ages. They only fairly recently started trying to make decent stuff again, regardless of ownership.

As to your colleagues… people can dislike mediocre whiskey and still be assholes.

It could just be they don't like drinking shitty bourbon. Jim Beam is... not great.

Eh, Jim Beam is generally considered cheaper, kinda bottom-shelf stuff these days. Fine for a bourbon and coke, but not really intended to be sipped neat. I wouldn't really be surprised by a bourbon-lover turning their nose up at it, regardless of who owns the brand.

These are also the same people that ask me how it’s like living two hours from the war torn and destroyed area known as Portland.

Propaganda is a helluva drug, that's for sure.

Jim Beam is 80 proof, while a lot of more expensive bourbon is more like 90 proof. Personally I prefer the lesser kick, and I live in the US, but do you think I'm going to be able to stock up on cheap Jim Beam? Hah, don't bet on it.

If you've never seen it, watch Ned Beatty's speech from the movie Network.

https://youtu.be/35DSdw7dHjs

The whole movie is excellent, and went from cutting edge satire to quaint docudrama in real time.

Back in the 1970s Suntory Whiskey had a huge sign over Times Square in New York. The sign is visible in movies like Shaft. You couldn't find Suntory in any American bar, but the company knew that Times Square was iconic and their sign would be seen all over the world.

No, Trump is a dumbass and has no plan. He said "tariffs" once and now he has to go all in on it no matter what because he can't admit he was ever wrong about anything.

That is what business is for him. That is what business is for most businessmen. It is an enterprise to ultimately just enrich themselves and their cronies, not to provide a service to many.

People who have been saying 'we need a businessman, not a politician, for a president' are either incredibly naive or incredibly evil.

Did not say a large hand, but you do you.

I was a bourbon fan when I drank. Been 5 or 6 years though. Glad I don’t support that industry anymore. Fuck ‘em.

By far the best bourbon, winning awards worldwide, is from British Columbia. Okanagan sprits.

I'm surprised there aren't face indents in the tummy bulge

I upvoted this twice.

Andy Beshear remains popular and won reelection during the Biden presidency, after being elected during Trump's first term. And before that, he served a 4-year term as the state's elected Attorney General. So he's won 3 state-wide elections in a row during the Trump era (2015, 2019, 2023). His electoral success there isn't a fluke of any kind of backlash in either direction, but is a reflection of his political skill and popularity in the state.

And his father, Steve Beshear, served four terms in statewide elected office as a Democrat, too.

Understanding local and regional variation in politics is important for understanding how political power can be accumulated and used. And dismissing any Trump voting state as a lost cause is fundamentally ceding power to the fascists. No, we fight for every state, every district, every election cycle, and outside of elections as well.