Ah the land of political attire…My stoner buddy has a Make America Green Again hat, and it’s plenty obvious what it’s referring to based on the colors and designs, but people still get super triggered due to the fact it’s the same acronym as the Donald’s MAGA.
Also. A friend got me a shirt from his home state of Texas that had GW on it and said “George Bush is my homeboy” with him throwing some gang signs. This was cerca 2005 before shit got crazy polarized so it was fine wearing it. I’d enjoy showing it off to trigger my fellow peace corps volunteers. You know the ones, graduates of Wellesley, UC Berkeley, etc. I was in Rio during carnival and some hippie had on the same shirt but Jesus instead of Bush. We took a picture together but alas, it’s lost to history. I still have the shirt though and wear it for special occasions.
Another friend from the same group got me an Obama shirt when he won, from one of those kiosks at the Mall in DC. It had him dunking a basketball with hundreds of camera flashes, very dramatic. The other side had him posing like Superman, revealing the Presidential Seal on his chest. I wore this one at work in the Alaskan oilfield. By that time the zeitgeist was starting to get a little grumpy, and I could feel the glares boring into my chest and back as I walked through camp. I realized it wasn’t so fun anymore. So I’ve largely given up wearing the political shirts, although I did get a Bush/Quayle shirt when I visited that presidential library in college Station last year. If you have an opportunity to visit one of those libraries/museums, definitely go for it, very cool experience if you’re a political nerd, as most of us around here are.
An informative & entertaining curation thank you Matt, I especially appreciate your giving Laura a place to remind us about serious issues those of us untouched by them in our own lives too easily forget
"Do you feel it in the air? The great … clenchening?"
Wow, this is real. I am definitely noticing a gentle simmer of anxiety and rage in my heart, in spite of this being the first election since 2012 where I don't have a strong rooting interest in the outcome. (If Reason paid me enough I could write The Case Against Trump and The Case Against Kamala and The Case Against Chase. The Case Against Stein would just be a string of rude emojis.)
I think the rage comes from the fact that I don't hate Trump any less than I used to, but that now I hate the Democrats too. The anxiety is probably due to my certainty—for the first time in my life—that no matter who wins, the losing side is going to riot. (This was true in 2020, but I didn't realize the Republicans were going to riot.)
Hi Lee thanks for defending the Philly shithole so well!!
FUCK YEAH CLEVELAND! Unfortunately, I was not listening to you guys in 2016, or I surely would have stalked your asses.
Ah the land of political attire…My stoner buddy has a Make America Green Again hat, and it’s plenty obvious what it’s referring to based on the colors and designs, but people still get super triggered due to the fact it’s the same acronym as the Donald’s MAGA.
Also. A friend got me a shirt from his home state of Texas that had GW on it and said “George Bush is my homeboy” with him throwing some gang signs. This was cerca 2005 before shit got crazy polarized so it was fine wearing it. I’d enjoy showing it off to trigger my fellow peace corps volunteers. You know the ones, graduates of Wellesley, UC Berkeley, etc. I was in Rio during carnival and some hippie had on the same shirt but Jesus instead of Bush. We took a picture together but alas, it’s lost to history. I still have the shirt though and wear it for special occasions.
Another friend from the same group got me an Obama shirt when he won, from one of those kiosks at the Mall in DC. It had him dunking a basketball with hundreds of camera flashes, very dramatic. The other side had him posing like Superman, revealing the Presidential Seal on his chest. I wore this one at work in the Alaskan oilfield. By that time the zeitgeist was starting to get a little grumpy, and I could feel the glares boring into my chest and back as I walked through camp. I realized it wasn’t so fun anymore. So I’ve largely given up wearing the political shirts, although I did get a Bush/Quayle shirt when I visited that presidential library in college Station last year. If you have an opportunity to visit one of those libraries/museums, definitely go for it, very cool experience if you’re a political nerd, as most of us around here are.
I LOVE People Under the Stairs! So glad they got a little nod on this dispatch. Thanks, Will!
Great Mailbucket this week all around.
"Dear Gentlemen (and also Kmele, Matt, and Moynihan)" is undoubtedly the best salutation ever.
Fellow Clevelander and aspirant writer who sometimes gets published. Would love to read your work Brandon, post it here if you’d like.
An informative & entertaining curation thank you Matt, I especially appreciate your giving Laura a place to remind us about serious issues those of us untouched by them in our own lives too easily forget
Cleveland is delightful
This post got me to subscribe after years of freeloading. Why? Who knows.
Where is Guy Clark’s “L.A. Freeway” on this splendid playlist?
"Do you feel it in the air? The great … clenchening?"
Wow, this is real. I am definitely noticing a gentle simmer of anxiety and rage in my heart, in spite of this being the first election since 2012 where I don't have a strong rooting interest in the outcome. (If Reason paid me enough I could write The Case Against Trump and The Case Against Kamala and The Case Against Chase. The Case Against Stein would just be a string of rude emojis.)
I think the rage comes from the fact that I don't hate Trump any less than I used to, but that now I hate the Democrats too. The anxiety is probably due to my certainty—for the first time in my life—that no matter who wins, the losing side is going to riot. (This was true in 2020, but I didn't realize the Republicans were going to riot.)
America is the glue on the fake beard of the actor in the Freedom Rock commercial.
All chats have been turned off until after the election and couldn’t be more content! 10/10 would recommend but also FOMO