Kamala Harris VEEP Pick

Johnny Abruzzo

Mark Kelly

"Why does Biden keep raising gas prices?!?"

OMG - what president would ever purposefully raise gas prices.

oh wait: https://www.reuters.com/article/economy/special-report-trump-told-saudi-cut-oil-supply-or-lose-us-military-support--idUSKBN22C1V3/#:~:text=On April 12, under pressure,about 10% of global output.

brianlux

JeBurkhardt said:

brianlux said:

JeBurkhardt said:

curmudgeoness said:

HughFreakingDillon said:

Tim Simmons said:

The Teskiniec post highlights everything that’s wrong with the political discourse in the US right now (probably the world too). Everybody has an opinion about feminine hygiene products in boys bathrooms, whether they care or if it affects them or not. Save the people it actually affects, it’s not a real issue. But economic policy IS a real issue that affects all of us at almost every level. But it’s complex to talk about and it’s not fun or visceral unlike getting pissed about free tampons. It’s easier to have an opinion about tampons and politicians and the cable media 2ants us to talk about that because it gets eyeballs and prevents us from talking bout not sexy issues like monetary policy. 

This leads to the culture shit and uninformed opinions and allows con artists like Trump or MAGA or Hannity or whoever to manipulate people s opinions. 

my tattoo guy was talking about tampons yesterday too. 

You know, a big part of why I've always considered myself a small-c conservative probably is due to my Midwestern upbringing. Tim Walz's "Mind your own damn business" is pretty deeply ingrained into who I am, and in the before times I bristled at Democrats' "nanny state" policies, and I still get my back up when anyone tries to meddle in my life and how I live it.

As a member of the minority of people posting here who actually (still, G-d help me) menstruate, I have some thoughts:

1) Women, generally, carry feminine hygiene products with them wherever they go, "just in case." That "just in case" could mean that another woman finds herself caught unprepared -- teen and pre-teen girls in particular might not have regular cycles or might not have internalized the need to carry products with them -- or they might have run out, etc.

2) In case your wives/ girlfriends haven't told you this, our cycles get pretty random at different points in our lives, and our own needs might outstrip what we have with us.

2a) Also, I think most of us live in fear of wearing light-colored clothing at certain times. And having visible bloodstains on our clothes is mortifying -- that's pretty obvious, right?

3) The Daily Show had a pretty good take on "tampons in the boys' bathrooms" the other night: If you have any 10-12 year-old boys in your life, or if you remember being one, you know that what's most likely to happen is: someone will try to rip the tampon dispenser off the wall and flush it down the toilet, or one of the weirder kids will stuff two tampons up his nose and pretend to be a walrus. Seriously -- I have two boys, and that sounds about right to me. They're not going to "turn trans" or anything else absurd because they came within ten feet of a tampon. When I was in seventh grade, one of the more scatter-brained girls in my class left her bag somewhere; the boys got into it and pilfered her supply of panty liners. A few hours later, colorfully decorated panty liners were stuck to walls, doorways, and beams all over school. Somehow, we all survived the trauma.

3a) I know damn well that my son keeps feminine hygiene products in his apartment for his girlfriend. Writer and activist Charlotte Clymer, who is a transwoman, carries tampons even though she doesn't have periods (no uterus = no periods). Why? Because sometimes she finds herself in a poorly stocked women's bathroom and another woman is in need of emergency supplies. 

4) Tampons, pads, etc. are expensive! And children are starting puberty earlier than they did back in the dark ages, when we were young. If girls are getting their periods at age nine or ten, then elementary schools need to be prepared for that. And in this situation, tampons/ pads, like free lunches and breakfasts, are helping poor children who otherwise wouldn't be able to go to school or to function well in school; it's kind of disgusting that anyone would get worked up about that. 

In short, if Republicans would get out of my -- and everyone else's -- vagina, I sure would appreciate it.

I think the really weird part of it is how intimidated men are about menstrual periods and tampons/pads. Grown men will act like backwards preteens at the thought of anything related to it. I have been married 32 years and back when we first got married, my wife asked me to pick up tampons and pads from the Naval base store I was making a shopping run at. There were multiple guys who gave me strange looks or made comments about me buying them, it was unreal. We raised 2 daughters to adulthood and I couldn't even keep track of the amount  times I bought those products for my wife and daughters. It was not unusual to get weird looks by guys. If they were too embarrassed to buy them for the females in their lives, that was their hang up not mine. 

That is unreal!  Seriously, what is wrong withe these uptight guys?  I have been married three times (third time the charm!) and have previously purchased tampons and pads for all three of those wonderful women and had no issue with doing that whatsoever.  Why would any man have a problem with that?  I've never seen any sign on the isle that said "Women Only"  or, "Warning, if you are a male and purchase feminine hygiene products you will either be subjected to riduclue and interogation, or declared to be gay."  Is this what goes through the mind of these weak, moronic, or otherwise socially maladjusted men? 

I don't know, but on occasion I would answer them that I was experiencing heavier than normal flow that month, and it usually shut them up.  

I guess some guy just can't handle normal body functions.  :shrug:

mickeyrat

Tim Simmons said:

The Teskiniec post highlights everything that’s wrong with the political discourse in the US right now (probably the world too). Everybody has an opinion about feminine hygiene products in boys bathrooms, whether they care or if it affects them or not. Save the people it actually affects, it’s not a real issue. But economic policy IS a real issue that affects all of us at almost every level. But it’s complex to talk about and it’s not fun or visceral unlike getting pissed about free tampons. It’s easier to have an opinion about tampons and politicians and the cable media 2ants us to talk about that because it gets eyeballs and prevents us from talking bout not sexy issues like monetary policy. 

This leads to the culture shit and uninformed opinions and allows con artists like Trump or MAGA or Hannity or whoever to manipulate people s opinions. 

forgetting as well , that under a certain admin, fem hygeine products were made available for free to the consumer in our federal prisons.......

Poncier

Glorified KC said:

But if we elect another democrat, we're headed into another World War...another tidbit from the playbook of Trump. 

Don't forget another depression just like 1929.

gimmesometruth27

curmudgeoness said:

Gern Blansten said:

That's why I'm so curious what they think about tRump's helicopter lie.

A lie? It was Jerry Brown, not Willie Brown, the helicopter wasn't going down, and there was no discussion of Kamala Harris, but other than that it was a completely true story!

well, it is true that it IS a story though

lol

gimmesometruth27

Tim Simmons said:

The one thing I will give Trump credit on is Operation Warp Speed. With the rapid testing of mRNA vaccines and their subsequent success, we basically had the largest test trial of a vaccine and advanced healthcare forward a decade. Look at all the mRNa clinical research that’s going on. That’s a big success. But he won’t promote it because MAGAs are weird about vaccines and Covid times. Probably the only significant positive development of his presidency 

he is running away from the only thing many of us would give him credit for because its not popular with his base.

Lerxst1992

Run

cincybearcat

Josh Shapiro

HughFreakingDillon said:

mace1229 said:

Tim Simmons said:

The Teskiniec post highlights everything that’s wrong with the political discourse in the US right now (probably the world too). Everybody has an opinion about feminine hygiene products in boys bathrooms, whether they care or if it affects them or not. Save the people it actually affects, it’s not a real issue. But economic policy IS a real issue that affects all of us at almost every level. But it’s complex to talk about and it’s not fun or visceral unlike getting pissed about free tampons. It’s easier to have an opinion about tampons and politicians and the cable media 2ants us to talk about that because it gets eyeballs and prevents us from talking bout not sexy issues like monetary policy. 

This leads to the culture shit and uninformed opinions and allows con artists like Trump or MAGA or Hannity or whoever to manipulate people s opinions. 

How many people does putting tampons in bathrooms actually help though? We're talking about females who identify/transitioned into males, who aren't taking any medication that would prevent their period, and who rely on school for period products. I have no idea, but that's got to be a really low number, like 0.1% of the population who fits all that?
So instead of telling that maybe 1 student who would actually use the tampons in the boys bathroom to go to the counseling office or nurse instead, the answer is to put tampons everywhere.
Just seems like a huge waste of money to install and maintain dispensers when no one probably even needs it anyway. Especially starting in the 4th grade. If they were around when I was in high school I'm sure the game would be how many tampons can you tie to your friends backpack without them noticing. And they'd probably run out faster in the boys room than the girls. Just seems like a waste of money and a wrong area of focus when there's so many other things in education that deserve attention and when alternate solutions are available. 

asking people to sacrifice their privacy isn't the answer either. If it helps even one kid feel "normal", then I'm all for it. 

I hear you, but I’m not there. I really don’t care a whole lot about this issue, but I’d like to understand the budget/cost associated with it. Cause helping 1 kid sounds nice, but if it’s 1 kid the cost far outweighs the benefit. This is kinda my biggest issue with lots of people in the government, budgeting and being selective. 

Tim Simmons

Josh Shapiro

So...this is what they are going with?

https://twitter.com/timjhogan/status/1822630447429362094?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1822630447429362094%7Ctwgr%5E%7Ctwcon%5Es1_c10&ref_url=

no juice. 

teskeinc

cincybearcat said:

HughFreakingDillon said:

mace1229 said:

Tim Simmons said:

The Teskiniec post highlights everything that’s wrong with the political discourse in the US right now (probably the world too). Everybody has an opinion about feminine hygiene products in boys bathrooms, whether they care or if it affects them or not. Save the people it actually affects, it’s not a real issue. But economic policy IS a real issue that affects all of us at almost every level. But it’s complex to talk about and it’s not fun or visceral unlike getting pissed about free tampons. It’s easier to have an opinion about tampons and politicians and the cable media 2ants us to talk about that because it gets eyeballs and prevents us from talking bout not sexy issues like monetary policy. 

This leads to the culture shit and uninformed opinions and allows con artists like Trump or MAGA or Hannity or whoever to manipulate people s opinions. 

How many people does putting tampons in bathrooms actually help though? We're talking about females who identify/transitioned into males, who aren't taking any medication that would prevent their period, and who rely on school for period products. I have no idea, but that's got to be a really low number, like 0.1% of the population who fits all that?
So instead of telling that maybe 1 student who would actually use the tampons in the boys bathroom to go to the counseling office or nurse instead, the answer is to put tampons everywhere.
Just seems like a huge waste of money to install and maintain dispensers when no one probably even needs it anyway. Especially starting in the 4th grade. If they were around when I was in high school I'm sure the game would be how many tampons can you tie to your friends backpack without them noticing. And they'd probably run out faster in the boys room than the girls. Just seems like a waste of money and a wrong area of focus when there's so many other things in education that deserve attention and when alternate solutions are available. 

asking people to sacrifice their privacy isn't the answer either. If it helps even one kid feel "normal", then I'm all for it. 

I hear you, but I’m not there. I really don’t care a whole lot about this issue, but I’d like to understand the budget/cost associated with it. Cause helping 1 kid sounds nice, but if it’s 1 kid the cost far outweighs the benefit. This is kinda my biggest issue with lots of people in the government, budgeting and being selective. 

Knowing government, It’s costing $30/per tampon and at least $100 a dispenser

Tim Simmons

Josh Shapiro

Don’t be cynical

Merkin Baller

This issue has been blown way the f out of proportion because of course it has, the trans issue is such a hot button topic and people are obsessed with it. 

“The Minnesota law, however, doesn't specify in which bathrooms the menstrual supplies must be located; instead, it requires school districts to develop plans to ensure all students who menstruate can access free tampons and pads, Lacey Gero, director of government relations at the advocacy group Alliance for Period Supplies, told CBS MoneyWatch. Her group advocates for free tampons and pads in schools, prisons and other institutions and eliminating the so-called tampon tax.

While it's unclear how many transgender children could benefit from free menstrual supplies, the impact is mostly felt by the millions of girls who experience so-called "period poverty," or the inability to afford pads and tampons. About one in four teenagers who menstruate struggle to pay for period products, according to a 2023 study from the advocacy group Period.”

https://www.cbsnews.com/news/tampon-tim-walz-minnesota-law-schools-bathrooms-period-poverty/

We’re the richest country in the world… we can afford this (if we want to). 

teskeinc

Wouldn’t just be easier to say yeah Walz loves and supports everything transgendered and supports tampons in boys bathrooms. He’s a radical left Governor. It’s no secret. Just own it. 

Instead there’s 4 or 5 full pages of liberals trying to prove who is right or wrong about who put the tampons in boys bathrooms. Everyone knows that’s a platform of democrats.

Tim Simmons

Josh Shapiro

I think it’s easier to say he’s a kind, empathetic, and inclusive person.

Merkin Baller

Personally I’m way more concerned w/ Vance’s position on abortion rights than I am w/ Walz’s position on making feminine hygiene products available to students who need them. 

I’m suspicious of anyone who isn’t, TBH. 

Tim Simmons

Josh Shapiro

I think it’s your lazy generalizations and hyperbole that there’s “4/5 pages of liberals trying to prove” because nuance escapes you in your accusations and subsequent discussion. 

Tim Simmons

Josh Shapiro

I think a big problem that @teskenetic has is he views liberals as some big amorphous blob, rather than a collection of different points of view. I get that its easier to view opposing viewpoints as a singularity, because then pushback and attacks can be generalized. But its not real discussion. 

Them posting in bad faith doesn't create real discussion either.

mickeyrat

Tim Simmons said:

I think a big problem that @teskenetic has is he views liberals as some big amorphous blob, rather than a collection of different points of view. I get that its easier to view opposing viewpoints as a singularity, because then pushback and attacks can be generalized. But its not real discussion. 

Them posting in bad faith doesn't create real discussion either.

tagged the wrong member. @ teskeinc

Tim Simmons

Josh Shapiro

I don’t care

brianlux

Tim Simmons said:

I don’t care

You're in good company!

The I Don't Cares (2)

Profile:	Duo of Paul Westerberg and Juliana Hatfield.