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Gene2memE · Jul 24, 2025

Trogdor the Burninator said:
I'm sure American Liberals do. But we're talking about Japan. Where the top selling car for the past 3 years is the 660cc, 3.3m long Honda N-Box.

The idea that the Japanese will start buying US-made SUVs or trucks in any significant volumes is laughable.

Japanese roads are not set-up to handle them. Japanese garages are not large enough to fit them.

Japanese tax laws are also punitive when it comes to larger, heavier and less fuel efficient cars.

There's three different vehicle taxes (annual automotive tax, automobile weight tax and environmental performance tax). Without going into all of the details, something like a full-sized SUV or truck (think Ford F150 or Explorer) is going to attract a tax burden that will be anywhere from 8 to 25 times that of something like a Toyota Yaris or a Kei car. It's going to be 2 to 6 times that of a 'full sized' Japanese car like a Toyota Crown or or Honda Accord.

Congratulations, you played yourselves.

rambot · Jul 24, 2025

It's crazy to me that middle class citizens of Texas will vote foe this guy.

Say what you want but conservative leaders I. The US really seem to be acting like monarchs and seem to have about that level of culpability for their misdeeds.

Life would be easy as a conservative politicians I think.

Yarddog · Jul 24, 2025

Vambram said:
The American people recognize and are tired of the lying propaganda put forth by CNN, MSNBC, ABC News, CBS News, and NBC News. That is why all those news networks have smaller audiences than does FOX News.

Not really. The biggest reason Fox is highest rated is the lack of competition for their brand of propaganda. Democrats have so many choices while Republicans are stuck with Fox News.

MehGuy · Jul 24, 2025

Man.. if I was a celebrity I would be so scared right now.

Richard T · Jul 24, 2025

Michie said:
A new bill before Congress would “safeguard” the domestic citizenship of any American who is elected pope of the Catholic Church, including exempting him from paying taxes to the IRS.

Rep. Jeff Hurd, R-Colorado, proposed the bill, saying it “ensures that any American who answers the call to lead more than a billion Catholics worldwide can do so without risking his citizenship or facing unnecessary tax burdens.”

While the text of the bill is not yet available, Hurd said in a statement on his congressional website the bill is meant “to protect the citizenship of, and provide tax-exempt status to, any American elected as the supreme pontiff of the Roman Catholic Church.”

“This legislation recognizes the extraordinary nature of the papacy — a role at the intersection of faith, leadership, and global responsibility,” the Colorado representative said.

Continued below.

Federal bill would exempt pope from U.S. taxes, ‘safeguard’ his citizenship

A new bill in Congress would “safeguard” the U.S. citizenship of any American elected as pope of the Catholic Church and exempt him from paying taxes.

www.catholicnewsagency.com

It smacks of favoritism which would lead me to believe that former Supreme Court opinions such as the following would apply. "Lemon v. Kurtzman (1971) introduced the "Lemon test" for evaluating Establishment Clause cases, requiring a secular purpose, neither advancing nor inhibiting religion, and avoiding excessive entanglement."

No taxes on any US citizen in pursuit of their specific religion should ever advance. In this case it would put the USA government in the corner of Catholicism, and violate clauses and reasoning like the Lemon test suggests. I suppose you could do no taxes for all worldwide located heads of any religion, but then you would have no taxes on all kinds of wacky religious folk. If the US government was more honest they would not tax any foreign income of US citizens. As it is they get the first 126k or so excluded if they are out of the USA for nearly all of the year. As no one has pushed back at the Pope's citizenship, I hope that is not an issue though there are some previous posts in CF about problems that could occur. Don't think too that some group like the ACLU will turn their back on this. I would imagine that there will be challenges in the court.
One way that would not be unconstitutional would be to give the Vatican, (which is a recognized nation) the foreign aid that it could use for security as it sees fit.

jasperr · Jul 24, 2025

I think it may have been Mortimer Wheeler who suggested that when we look at the universe it is the universe which is looking at itself through our eyes.

Is this just a whimsical observation with no testable consequenses as to its veracity?

Can anything more be said around that observation or is it just a "take it or leave it" statement ?

DragonFox91 · Jul 24, 2025

High Fidelity said:
Why?

Lots of reasons. I guess for now: we all have a ministry. & that ministry is hard

Vambram · Jul 24, 2025

Yarddog said:
The worst scammer is Fox, though they are the highest rated. Explains why America is in trouble.

The American people recognize and are tired of the lying propaganda put forth by CNN, MSNBC, ABC News, CBS News, and NBC News. That is why all those news networks have smaller audiences than does FOX News.

Oompa Loompa · Jul 24, 2025

Joy Behar reveals The View’s hiatus day after White House calls for it to be canceled

The regularly scheduled summer hiatus sparked speculation online that the show could be gone ‘forever’ because the White House called for its cancellation

www.the-independent.com

The regularly scheduled summer hiatus sparked speculation online that the show could be gone ‘forever’ because the White House called for its cancellation

Is The View going to be next on the chopping block? I am going to guess that during their hiatus, producers will have serious conversations as to whether or not their show is worth the liability.

'The View' Ratings Shocker as Show Loses to Harris Faulkner at Fox News

Viewing figures for January make dramatic reading.

www.tvinsider.com

With their ratings in tank and loosing to Harris Faulkner, the decision should be easy and they will announce their cancelation when they return. What do you think?

GoldenBoy89 · Jul 24, 2025

Valletta said:
If an arresting officer grabs someone only based on race he or she can be charged and prosecuted, plus a hefty civil lawsuit would be in order.

Not if their faces are covered and they refuse to identify themselves.

Richard T · Jul 24, 2025

I figured vance had more tact than Trump, but he was sure mean towards Zelensky. So like some others he seems pretty much of a race.Rubio seems to be the best alternate.

Still, we are not even sure if Trump will be successful this term. Don't forget tariffs are associated with some bad economic times. We are only in the second inning and the score changes daily.

I'm hoping that Musk could finance a third party run in a couple of states. Why just a couple? Because even a single win could throw the election to the House. A nationwide model for a 3rd party has failed but concentrating on a couple of key states in hopes to avoid a majority victory has never really been tried. With the right candidate, I think it could make a big impact.

If i had to predict, I think that Trump's second term honeymoon is about over. Wars, an economic quagmire and this never ending battle on illegals is going to take its toil. The GOP will likely lose the House in 2026 and then it will be pretty much a lame duck Presidency with the exception being putting out one fire (crisis) after another. What an exhausting 4 years. May Jesus return soon.

probinson · Jul 24, 2025

GoldenBoy89 said:
That’s what you asked for.

Yep. And then I gave you mine.

GoldenBoy89 said:
And there it is right there. “It’s embarrassing to the democrats.”

It IS embarrassing to the democrats, and any media outlet that was complicit in the gaslighting. But not owly was it embarrassing, it was also detrimental to their credibility. Perhaps the democrats (and republicans, for that matter), should focus more on not doing things that will embarrass them later and less on feigning righteous indignation when someone calls them out on their nonsense.

The fact of the matter is, the media and democrats tried to gaslight the public about Biden's fitness for office IN SPADES. They attacked anyone who suggested that perhaps Biden wasn't quite as fit as they were letting on. They invented new terms, like "cheap fakes", to smear people who were simply pointing out the obvious. So you can try to pretend like this is just "petty", but the fact of the matter is, this was a detrimental, self-inflicted wound by the democrats. It would be nothing short of amazing if the democrats and media outlets that were gaslighting the public about Biden would take some ownership and accountability. But I won't hold my breath.

GoldenBoy89 said:
Bore me with something more substantial.

And yet, here you are, discussing it.

Belk · Jul 24, 2025

d taylor said:
-

So there are all black towns in Mississippi.

https://www.npr.org/2017/03/08/5158...toric-all-black-town-in-the-mississippi-delta

Cities in Mississippi ranked by Black population - 2025 | Neilsberg

Trogdor the Burninator · Jul 24, 2025

trophy33 said:
The agreement drew criticism from American carmakers who argued that the deal gave preferential treatment to Japanese imports.

“Any deal that charges a lower tariff for Japanese imports with virtually no US content than the tariff imposed on North American-built vehicles… is a bad deal for US industry and US auto workers,” said Matt Blunt, president of the American Automotive Policy Council.

Tariffs on vehicles made in North America remain at 25 per cent.

Key things to know about Trump’s ‘massive’ Japan–US trade deal

Agreement commits Tokyo to investing $550bn in America and Washington to cutting tariffs on Japanese automobiles to 15 per cent

www.independent.co.uk

The truly hilarious part of this deal is that Japan can export vehicles to the US made with un-tariffed aluminum and steel, while US auto makers have to pay massive tariffs on the same materials, plus pay again on imported parts like transmissions and electronics. Oh - and US brands manufactured in Mexico and Canada? - full tariffs. And US exports to Japan (leaving aside the size issue) take those extra costs with them, making them less competitive.

It's actually hard to conceive of a worse scenario for the US auto industry, while Trump's deal allows Japan low tariff, unrestricted imports into the US. But hey, Trump made the deal, so his supporters will fall into line.

GoldenBoy89 · Jul 24, 2025

We’re pulling visas from people living, working and attending university in the US for simply voicing support for Palestine.

We are in no position to talk down to any country at the moment for how they treat their visitors.

Akita Suggagaki · Jul 24, 2025

ViaCrucis said:
Things have certainly gotten worse under Trump. But I have clear memories of pre-Trump times. I had debates, on these very forums with other members who argued that altruism is wrong, and argued emphatically that altruism is contrary to Christian morality; these members were also, at the time, arguing strongly in favor of Ayn Rand's views when Rand was in vogue among conservative circles not all that long ago. I can remember having discussions with members, on these very forums, who argued that the poor are parasites, based on rhetoric they heard on Fox News, which referred to the impoverished people of America as parasites because they depended on social welfare programs.

Things have gotten worse under Trump; in part because before Trump there was, at the very least, an attempt to put on a mask to at least pretend there is some kind of moral presentation; but with Trump the mask is gone. The moral bankruptcy of the American Right-wing which holds to no moral principle of any kind, which abhors all Christian ethics, and which thrives on nothing but naked hate and fear is simply more obvious than it used to be. But it's been this way for a long time, it's just that before the Trump era it was under the surface, and now it's crawled out of the cave and now lumbers on the surface. It is a malevolent and cancerous growth that has been festering and growing for decades. Being fed by the worst and darkest elements of human nature, it is sinful and grotesque, an abomination. But it's here now, naked, and flaunting itself. It hates everything and everyone, it regards all things decent and morally good repugnant to itself, and if I may put on my theologian's hat for a moment: It is a spiritual darkness that is straight from the deepest, darkest recesses of hell. This is spiritual darkness, this is what it looks like when Satan gets his claws in the churches, and scratches his way into the hearts of those with power and influence.

-CryptoLutheran

And it claims to be God fearing Christian.

GoldenBoy89 · Jul 24, 2025

probinson said:
I suppose that's your opinion.

That’s what you asked for.

probinson said:
My opinion is that the media and the government gaslighting the public about Biden's mental fitness is absolutely critical to the credibility and trustworthiness of those sources. It's why I only trust any political figure and/or media outlet about as far as I can spit.

Biden was forced out of the race by his own party after a disastrous debate performance that exposed the Democrats' gaslighting in a way that could no longer be denied.

Well, if you say so. Like I said, it is remarkably embarrassing to the Democrats how much they tried to gaslight the public about Biden, but it does serve to demonstrate that their credibility is somewhere right around zero.

And there it is right there. “It’s embarrassing to the democrats.”

Cheap, petty politics. That’s all the right stands for anymore. That’s all that motivates their voters.

Bore me with something more substantial.

Trogdor the Burninator · Jul 24, 2025

Valletta said:
A lot of liberals here buy the SUVs and trucks.

I'm sure American Liberals do. But we're talking about Japan. Where the top selling car for the past 3 years is the 660cc, 3.3m long Honda N-Box.

d taylor · Jul 24, 2025

-

So there are all black towns in Mississippi.

https://www.npr.org/2017/03/08/5158...toric-all-black-town-in-the-mississippi-delta

Cities in Mississippi ranked by Black population - 2025 | Neilsberg

Richard T · Jul 24, 2025

Fantine said:
Compared to his successor, Biden was and is as fit as a six-string Orchestra. And when you consider emotional intelligence, he is as fit as a symphony. Johnson should look to the competency of his own leader before bad-mouthing others.

Yes, very sad that the Speaker would take the bait and use this for an opportunity. There is going to be plenty of this to go around. I still have on tape the GOP speeches about how the Clinton surpluses would go far into the future as they cut a round of taxes in anticipation of revenue. Add in this year's statements of the Trump tax cuts and it will be quite a montage if those are equally unsuccessful.

thomasw60 · Jul 24, 2025

Was told and shown a video on some Christian artist had a symbol they wore wasn't biblical either
And my fellow believer friends don't listen to them because of that

Dorothea · Jul 24, 2025

Light of the East said:
After three wonderful years of being a member of St. Mary's Orthodox, I find that the more I learn about the Orthodox faith and the saints and martyrs of the Church, the less Orthodox I feel. In short, I can't seem to get my life in line with what appears to be a healthy relationship with God through Orthodoxy. This is not new to me, nor is it the fault of Orthodoxy. The problem, as I see and understand it, is my coming from a dysfunctional family and being a dysfunctional person myself as a result. As my former spiritual director once said (he was assigned to another parish quite far away) "Dysfunctionalism is the gift that just keeps on giving."

Here's the question du jour: is it possible that there are people who are just so messed up by life, by people, and by things that have happened to them that they will never get it right in this life?

I ask this because my sense is that I one of those people. I feel am stuck - that I am really going nowhere in my attempts to cooperate with the Holy Spirit in the work of theosis in my life. Yes, I am doing the things you might suggest to me: the fasts, regular attendance at Liturgy and the various services of the Church, keeping a prayer rule at home, etc. My priest knows of my struggles and the particular sin(s) that plague me since I make regular use of Confession.

The single biggest problem I have is in sensing a relationship with our Lord. My spiritual director used to remind me that God is not at all like my earthly father - cold, distant, unemotional and unexpressive of love, yet those are the very thoughts under which I labor. When I do something wrong, I find myself waiting to get whacked in some manner. It seems that this dysfunctional manner of relating to God and the world, while having lessened somewhat over the years, is going to be with me until I die. I just can't see to shake it off and enter into a place of fervent love for Christ. This is why I asked the question I asked.

Other than telling me to just keep on plugging away one day at a time, do you have any suggestions or thoughts?

So sorry you're going through this, but I somewhat understand from my own past with a controlling family member and an emotion, psychological, and spiritually abusive ex-husband (23 yrs with him). It's tough. I always have to monitor myself from not falling into despair, which is a sin in itself. I've gotten much better since being divorced and away from him (sons are healing day by day as well). What I try to remember and focus on is God just looks for our efforts. That is the most important thing to me. That I'm at least making an effort in my Orthodox Christian life. God knows your struggles and hardships better than anyone else. His mercy is immense. God bless.

Bro.T · Jul 24, 2025

Aaron112 said:
All of the persons/ people Jesus healed (and /or saved) gave up all sin, left everything, to 'follow Jesus' (to believe Him, no matter what the cost).
As Jesus Says Simply, if you want to follow Me and learn from Me, you must be born again, must give up everything (you ever learned or have), and listen to My (Jesus') Voice and run from other voices.

Born again is a change in the body not in the mind. Now Paul says in Romans 12: 1 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. 2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God. Let’s jump right in a conversation that Jesus was having with a man name Nicodemus. John 3:1 There was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews: 2 The same came to Jesus by night, and said unto him, Rabbi, we know that thou art a teacher come from God: for no man can do these miracles that thou doest, except God be with him. 3 Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.

Notice verse 3, except a man is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God. We have just learned something here. If you are not born again you can not see the kingdom of God. As we go further you will understand this. Remember there is a time for everything.

Nicodemus asked a very good question. Take a look at the next set of verses.

John 3:4 Nicodemus saith unto him, How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter the second time into his mother's womb, and be born? 5 Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.

In verse 5, born of the water in this case is the Word of God. Notice the Lord mentions the kingdom of God again, but He adds a little more information. He says "Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. When he mentions spirit He means exactly that. Watch how the Lord gives something physical to describe exactly what He means.

John 3:6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.

Notice: He made a difference between flesh and spirit. Ask yourself that question, was you born flesh or spirit? Angels where born spirit being, man and beast are born flesh and blood. There will be no flesh in the Father Kingdom, only spirit beings, so everyone must be born again. Only Jesus in his thousand year reign will have both, which includes the first resurrection.

John 3:7 Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again.

8 The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is every one that is born of the Spirit.

Notice: He compared the wind to a spirit. Can you see the wind? No! We have seen things being blown around by the wind, but we have never seen the wind. If you are born of the spirit you are like the wind. This is when you are truly born again, when you are born of the spirit.

Notice: what Jesus does in these next few verses.

Remember, this is after His resurrection.

John 20:26 And after eight days again his disciples were within, and Thomas with them: then came Jesus, the doors being shut, and stood in the midst, and said, Peace be unto you. 27 Then saith he to Thomas, Reach hither thy finger, and behold my hands; and reach hither thy hand, and thrust it into my side: and be not faithless, but believing. 28 And Thomas answered and said unto him, My Lord and my God.

Note two very important things within these verses. 1. Jesus appeared in the midst of them and the doors were shut. 2. Thomas called Him God. When Jesus came out of the grave he was born into the God family, Jesus was Born Again.

thomasw60 · Jul 24, 2025

I have a friend that we both respect each others beliefs
I think just by being a light to him he'll see that

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