$1.25 Quarterstaff's avatar

$1.25 Quarterstaff

@davidorlo.bsky.social

102 followers 372 following 497 posts

I'm at the JFC, I'm at OMFG. I'm at the combination JFC OMFG. He-ish pronouns, I won't be insulted if you use others for me, I'll do my best to use yours correctly. City: Comma, Serial (Not Oxford), North Carolina.

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Comfortably Numb's avatar Comfortably Numb @numb.comfortab.ly
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I searched the New York Times for "Trump"

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$1.25 Quarterstaff's avatar $1.25 Quarterstaff @davidorlo.bsky.social
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đź’Ż*đź’Ż% true

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$1.25 Quarterstaff's avatar $1.25 Quarterstaff @davidorlo.bsky.social
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On the other hand: Ponn Farr

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$1.25 Quarterstaff's avatar $1.25 Quarterstaff @davidorlo.bsky.social
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Oh wow. And I saw that now the most powerful party in Scotland is now Scottish Labour, which is unionist. I don’t know enough about UK politics to conclude anything other than to wonder how wild that might be.

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$1.25 Quarterstaff's avatar $1.25 Quarterstaff @davidorlo.bsky.social
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I hope this is a successful elevator pitch, I'd watch this movie

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$1.25 Quarterstaff's avatar $1.25 Quarterstaff @davidorlo.bsky.social
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I certainly hope this UK vote is as much a bellwether for us as Brexit

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$1.25 Quarterstaff's avatar $1.25 Quarterstaff @davidorlo.bsky.social
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My hope in 2020 was that Biden would eventually resign, so we could join the club of advanced, less sexist nations like [checks notes] Pakistan, India, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Israel, Poland, Turkey, etc., and stop having the idiotic "can a woman be president..." conversation already.

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$1.25 Quarterstaff's avatar $1.25 Quarterstaff @davidorlo.bsky.social
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He would be, effectively, since they wouldn’t elect a replacement

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$1.25 Quarterstaff's avatar $1.25 Quarterstaff @davidorlo.bsky.social
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I’m all for Harris, but terrified at Mike Johnson being next in line for the presidency, since this GOP won’t elect a VP.

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$1.25 Quarterstaff's avatar $1.25 Quarterstaff @davidorlo.bsky.social
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An AI "Judy Garland" narrating the audiobook of WONDERFUL WIZARD OF OZ would be gross and inappropriate, while an AI "Donald Trump" narrating MEIN KAMPF would be gross and appropriate.

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$1.25 Quarterstaff's avatar $1.25 Quarterstaff @davidorlo.bsky.social
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Presidential debate, game show format: * Typical tax burden paid by a family where the highest salary is under $100K, closest guess wins! * Name the 3 largest subatomic particles * Should DC be a state? Why or why not? * What's your favorite sandwich? * What's Putin's favorite sandwich?

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$1.25 Quarterstaff's avatar $1.25 Quarterstaff @davidorlo.bsky.social
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KIDS IN THE HALL, Bruce McCulloch, 1990

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$1.25 Quarterstaff's avatar $1.25 Quarterstaff @davidorlo.bsky.social
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You’ve given me an idea for a whole new kind of water park! 💦

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$1.25 Quarterstaff's avatar $1.25 Quarterstaff @davidorlo.bsky.social
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I had employers who were required by law to pay my usual salary while I was on jury duty, and I’ve had multiple employers voluntarily give paid time off for Election Day — but it should absolutely be required.

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$1.25 Quarterstaff's avatar $1.25 Quarterstaff @davidorlo.bsky.social
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Since there are recipes for quick pickles, and since pickles taste strong, I think it makes sense.

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$1.25 Quarterstaff's avatar $1.25 Quarterstaff @davidorlo.bsky.social
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In 2023, USA federal government revenue was $4.44 trillion, and the average American paid $16,615. Please publish my Op-Ed about how my taxes make no difference at that scale and that's why I refuse to pay them, New York Times dot com, thanks. @nytimes.com

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$1.25 Quarterstaff's avatar $1.25 Quarterstaff @davidorlo.bsky.social
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In 2023, USA federal government revenue was $4.44 trillion, and the average American paid $16,615. Please publish my Op-Ed about how my taxes make no difference at that scale and that's why I refuse to pay them, New York Times dot com, thanks. @nytimes.com

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$1.25 Quarterstaff's avatar $1.25 Quarterstaff @davidorlo.bsky.social
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Agree it's a small number in the grand scheme, but since I'm in favor of compulsory voting, I think I'm ethically required to also be in favor of easily opting out. The current idea that "voting is speech so can't be compulsory" while "jury duty is compulsory" is a steaming load of SCOTUS.

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$1.25 Quarterstaff's avatar $1.25 Quarterstaff @davidorlo.bsky.social
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Biden needs to fulfil his oath of office and be the first and last POTUS to take advantage of this newly enumerated immunity and executive order genuine threat-to-Constitution Trump into exile or imprisonment. And call for an amendment explicitly against said immunity & self-pardon while doing so.

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$1.25 Quarterstaff's avatar $1.25 Quarterstaff @davidorlo.bsky.social
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And I, who grew up in rural areas and small towns in the Rust Belt and much prefer life in big cities, am tsk-tsked for not better understanding bigots like the one I hope you’re only pretending to be, who like to wrap themselves in a mantle of “real American.”

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$1.25 Quarterstaff's avatar $1.25 Quarterstaff @davidorlo.bsky.social
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I think “None of the above” is a good option to include, but it implies that some other option above would be acceptable, and that doesn’t cover the people who want to entirely opt out of voting, such as Jehovah’s Witnesses or members of other religions.

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$1.25 Quarterstaff's avatar $1.25 Quarterstaff @davidorlo.bsky.social
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A mistake we made was not having a constitutional monarch to do the ceremonial job of living in a palace, hosting banquets, being accompanied by a band while you cut ribbons. The American constitutional monarch should be the best dog in the country and we all vote when we need a new one.

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Missing The Point's avatar Missing The Point @missingthept.bsky.social
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Analysis: Will GOP incumbents disavow Trump in the wake of credible child rape charges? Keep an eye on Matt Gaetz.

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$1.25 Quarterstaff's avatar $1.25 Quarterstaff @davidorlo.bsky.social
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Also worth considering: some states have elected more than one representative "at large" instead of through districts. A lot of city governments do a mix of both, where everyone has a geographic district and additional city councillor(s) at large. That could drastically ameliorate gerrymandering.

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$1.25 Quarterstaff's avatar $1.25 Quarterstaff @davidorlo.bsky.social
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But what we can do is uncap the 435-seat limit on the House of Representatives. *That* is not in the Constitution, it's just a law or two that got passed early last century and can be repealed this century. Giving states all the Reps they're entitled to have will restore the balance between states.

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$1.25 Quarterstaff's avatar $1.25 Quarterstaff @davidorlo.bsky.social
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Also: we were taught, most of us, that the United States has a "Connecticut Compromise" balancing the power of states big and small. But for a century now: we don't have that anymore. People want to get rid of the Electoral College, but Article V gives every single state a veto over that.

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$1.25 Quarterstaff's avatar $1.25 Quarterstaff @davidorlo.bsky.social
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(It's also really weird, though perhaps not important, that the Presidential spouse, unelected, unconfirmed, gets a whole staff to do government tasks but also doesn't get paid a salary to do all these government tasks.)

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$1.25 Quarterstaff's avatar $1.25 Quarterstaff @davidorlo.bsky.social
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I love that! For Americans, there might need to be a checkbox saying "I refuse to vote" or something, because there's the idea that voting=speech so can opt out for religious or other reasons (e.g., being a douche who writes NYTimes op-eds). Even though you can't get out of jury or taxes that way.

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$1.25 Quarterstaff's avatar $1.25 Quarterstaff @davidorlo.bsky.social
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We shouldn't go back to the original system where the Vice President was the runner-up in the Presidential, but the runner-up should have some role and representation in government. After all, *nobody* votes for or formally appoints the spouse of the President, and they get a whole staff!

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$1.25 Quarterstaff's avatar $1.25 Quarterstaff @davidorlo.bsky.social
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It's weird that, in the 21st century, I vote for lots of things as a North Carolinian and a resident of Durham, but the only office I vote for as an American is President-and-Vice-President. It's also weird that someone who gets 65,853,514 votes ends up with zero governmental authority.

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$1.25 Quarterstaff's avatar $1.25 Quarterstaff @davidorlo.bsky.social
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It's the most important single act we do to participate in our governments and society, and we don't even get a holiday for it. Don't just restore voting rights to some former prisoners--make voting a right that cannot be taken. Prisoners should be a very small voting bloc anyway.

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$1.25 Quarterstaff's avatar $1.25 Quarterstaff @davidorlo.bsky.social
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Happy Independence Day, (US)Americans! Voting should be far easier. All polling stations should be open at least 24 consecutive hours. All employers should be required to give you at least half the day off. Absentee/mail voting should be universal. Registration should be automatic.

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$1.25 Quarterstaff's avatar $1.25 Quarterstaff @davidorlo.bsky.social
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I entirely believe that voting should be mandatory, but with an incredibly easy opt-out. And it should come with some small token of encouragement--like $10 off your taxes if you voted (or took the time to do the incredibly easy opt-out).

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Ned Resnikoff's avatar Ned Resnikoff @resnikoff.bsky.social
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These guys are traitors to the republic just like their heroes Jefferson Davis and Robert E. Lee

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$1.25 Quarterstaff's avatar $1.25 Quarterstaff @davidorlo.bsky.social
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The connection you two have made in this thread is probably the sum total of good Herr and Frau Thomas have done since first he sat down on a bench

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$1.25 Quarterstaff's avatar $1.25 Quarterstaff @davidorlo.bsky.social
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Figures that Clarence lives in the 666-and-a-half house

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$1.25 Quarterstaff's avatar $1.25 Quarterstaff @davidorlo.bsky.social
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Julius and Augustus—I think Tiberius and Caligula too, but not sure—seized a lot of wealth from former friends and supporters as well as enemies. There was also a lot of pressure to make Rome, or the Emperor, your heir, to keep from being killed and having your property seized. But sometimes…

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$1.25 Quarterstaff's avatar $1.25 Quarterstaff @davidorlo.bsky.social
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“Red Caesarism” makes me think of the wealth Julius and Augustus seized from the rich.

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$1.25 Quarterstaff's avatar $1.25 Quarterstaff @davidorlo.bsky.social
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In all seriousness, the gun that is now being raised at us by a guy who has repeatedly promised to shoot—isn’t that enough to constitute self-defense, or do we have to wait for him to actually shoot us first?

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Jake_Vig's avatar Jake_Vig @jakevig.bsky.social
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"Crime and Punishment" now just "Crime"

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A.R. Moxon's avatar A.R. Moxon @juliusgoat.bsky.social
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Not the most terrifying thing but perhaps the most infuriating: every single thing we said about these fascist Republican fucks has been proved out and all the people who assured us that what is happening would never happen smoothly pivoted to yes it's happening but it will be fine.

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$1.25 Quarterstaff's avatar $1.25 Quarterstaff @davidorlo.bsky.social
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Biden gotta send Trump to Guantanamo or exile. Then say, “Yeah, it sucks. Necessary evil. Don’t like it? Me neither. Let’s pass an amendment that presidents are not immune, and that they can’t receive pardons for crimes they commit while president.”

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$1.25 Quarterstaff's avatar $1.25 Quarterstaff @davidorlo.bsky.social
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He can change his mind. He should.

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$1.25 Quarterstaff's avatar $1.25 Quarterstaff @davidorlo.bsky.social
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I will still vote blue, but I despair at leaders who say that it's not self defense to shoot the guy who's already pointing a gun at your head, that you have to let him actually shoot you first.

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$1.25 Quarterstaff's avatar $1.25 Quarterstaff @davidorlo.bsky.social
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Dr. Sarah Taber, Democratic nominee for NC Agriculture Commissioner, will treat the NC Dept of Agriculture & Consumer Services like her employer, not her property.

And she knows how: She’s helped to grow agriculture businesses now worth 4 BILLION dollars. Check her out: bsky.app/profile/sara...

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$1.25 Quarterstaff's avatar $1.25 Quarterstaff @davidorlo.bsky.social
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Farmers who want to grow tobacco should grow it! But don’t use my taxes to help them do it. North Carolina can grow good crops for good food and good money for farmers. We need the right leadership to do it. Or we can stay number one in the nation for farm loss with Big Tobacco Troxler.

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