SmashMouth

Just my thoughts: I could give a rat’s ass who’s on the list. Democrat, Republican, Male, Female… There are much more pressing issues that affect me right now than what politician or celebrity went to Epstein Island. Did Bill Clinton or Donald Trump go? You know what, I don’t care. Hell, maybe they both went there at the same time. However, interesting that may be, it does not affect me, my family or our well-being. That being said, if Melania or one of the Trump daughters went, I would be mildly interested. Sorry.

I miss him... 😇

Yeah, the devil worship stuff didn't mean anything to me, but I always loved Black Sabbath even to this day.

Damn. I didn't know he had passed.

Damn.

Can't get past those darned semantics... Unfortunately, many tend to ignore everything except what they want to hear (@Big girl for instance).

He has no real solid defense to fall back on other than the race mantra which by all accounts to date do not seem to paint that picture... It's indicative that the young man who did the stabbing is in for a rather long time in a cell.

Play stupid games, win stupid prizes. Dude had to be looking for the hereafter.

No doubt. We grew up poor as church mice after my parents divorced. My Mom refused food stamps, or housing assistance. She said as long as we could get by getting clothes from the Treasure house (donated clothing) and grow a garden and things of that nature, she would never consider assistance. And she never did. We had very little, but we got summer & after school jobs to help out my Mom with bills and buy our own school lunches. I've always thought that made us a stronger family and us kids stronger individuals. Even though she's gone now, I still thank her for that lesson all the time. I have no issue with assistance for those that need it. Emphasis on the last 5 words of that sentence...

You’re missing the point. They’re ALL con men/women.

This is unfortunate. The real story isn’t Musk’s indignation or the poor way Trump is handling the situation though. That’s just the side show to keep us from focusing on the real issue. And it’s bipartisan. Our politicians from the bottom to the top are a group of thieving, lying grifters who do what they want and when they want without genuine regard for the general population. It friggin sickening. These spending bills are a joke along with the process with which they are contrived. Just bend over and take it and be happy about it.

I doubt that.

My sincere prayers for your wife, your family and you. I have seen the devastation to the individual and the families these diseases bring, though not nearly as closely as you. I’m sorry for that. I don’t trust our government to do the right thing most of the time. Especially when it comes to spending money. Nor do I trust politicians as a whole. Especially when it comes to finding a way to line their pockets with our money. This is more big government and bureaucracy in the making. I hope when it passes, and it will, that at least some good comes from it.

It's a VERY worthy cause for a horribly debilitating disease. It took my Father in law 2 years ago after about 5 years of pain and suffering for the whole family. I said that to say this: It's a $3 billion initial cost from the Texas General Revenue Fund, PLUS $300 million in annual grants for the next 10 years or so unless it gets renewed. It also competes with priorities like education (has anyone heard of the new voucher handout, btw), and infrastructure. Mostly it is taking OUR tax dollars - a lot of them - to handle what is already being handled by the private sector. Texas is already home to world-class research institutions and medical centers, funded through private investment, universities, nonprofits and the like. But God love 'em - politicians including so-called "fiscal conservatives" can't help but stick their noses and OUR money where it doesn't belong. No matter how worthy the cause is, I'm not in favor of this bill. Let the research happen without government overreach.

Late to the party, but amen to all comments above.