2024

If Ellen is his vp

They've got the daytime votes on lock down

The Century of the Self

Primary day here in ARG. Candidates have to run as a ticket at the primary stage, so the winner can't pick one of the losers in their party to be their V.P.

"After the primaries, the 2023 presidential election will be held on October 22. A candidate can win outright by gaining over 45% of the vote, or over 40% with a lead of ten percentage points over the runner-up. If neither of those conditions are met, a run-off is held within 30 days — this year, that’s scheduled for November 19."

Three mostly talked about contenders are the currently in charge, leftist Peronistas, the more business friendly opposition which comes with a centrist and more right wing option, and the crazy, Trump like, libertarian right wing/fascist outsider with the radical ideas and bad hair who is referred to as El Peluca (The Wig).

Also rans are various flavors of socialists, Trotskyists, and what in the US would be considered Independents.

I'm too uneducated and confused to have a valid opinion. Normally I'd lean for someone on the leftist side, maybe even one of the Trotskyists. But the economy is such a mess here I don't know if voting with my heart like that would be the right thing to do. Shit's confusing. All I know is I don't want the fascist who opposes social movements and demands like feminism, climate activism, Indigenous rights, and social welfare programs to do well. But he's got a decent amount of support running as the anti-politician populist. Financial "experts" in the states say if he wins shit's gonna get even more chaotic than it already is.

If tomorrow you see pictures of this guy pop up wherever you get your international news, send thoughts and vibes.

maybe its maybelline

Just updated Buenos Aires Times page:

www.batimes.com.ar/news/argentina/javier-milei-delivers-blow-to-argentinas-main-coalitions-in-primaries.phtml

First Italy, now here. Elections aren't being kind to Jamfam living abroad.

So many times that video had me saying "Amen!" Summed up my recent thoughts, though some of those numbers (opinions of new voters, % thinking Biden/Trump being held accountable, a few others) were not only new to me, but surprising as well.

Unless there's enough Americans that are just that fucked up stupid (which there may be), I don't see how any party could lose an election to candidate Trump. But if there's anyone who can snatch defeat out of the jaws of victory it's the Dems. I used to think there were around 30% of Americans who prefer strong man authoritarianism as opposed to democracy and that if push comes to shove independents and the center right would be the backstop, but now I think that 30% is just the floor and there's enough people in the US who are flexible when it comes to authoritarianism /democracy to actually elect Trump a second time. Something not in the video that I heard on NPR this morning pointed out how many completely new people will be running elections this year because a lot of people who were doing it just said 'fuck this.' I wouldn't be surprised to see a mix of new hire confusion and Trump loyalists in positions where they have the power to certify results creating a real cluster-fuck.

Yo, Dem party. Fuck your respect for your candidate that no one really wants. Fuck your politeness for not doing anything about it, or even acknowledging the fact that even if you're running a decent person, you're still running an unpopular, shitty candidate. Play this to win and as if Democracy itself depended on it.