Our reactions to Melania's illness say more about us than they do about her...

[Hekate]

Last edited Tue May 15, 2018, 02:31 PM - Edit history (1)

"Benign" in this context just means non-cancerous.

My burst appendix was not cancerous. Most people are out of the hospital in 24 hours after an appendectomy, but I was in for 5 days. I actually almost died.

People can die of "benign" brain tumors -- a college roomie of mine did; she wasn't even 30. It wasn't cancer, but it kept growing despite multiple surgeries from high school onward, and she died a lingering death.

We are not being told what the deal was with Melania's kidney, but it's serious enough that she is being kept a week (or 4 days, depending on your newscaster). Not saying that she is at death's door -- just that it was a serious matter. The "embolization" wouldn't have been for a stone (which is painful as hell, just ask my BIL), but maybe she was peeing a lot of bright red blood.

Her husband is a pig. That's not really her fault.

We don't have to like her to be humane enough to wish her a speedy recovery. Our reactions to her illness say more about us than they do about her, regardless.

[nini]

1. Her husband is a pig

And she married him for money. That says volumes about her character.

Save your lectures.

[BannonsLiver]

22. Hear! Hear! +1

For fuck sakes, she’s a birther.

[Crunchy Frog]

122. Thanks for the timely reminder.

Think I'll save my sympathies for people who are more deserving.

[InAbLuEsTaTe]

27. Here here!! Hellania is a gold diggin' birther... she can go to hell! Gets no sympathy here from me.

[Tipperary]

87. The saying is hear, hear.

Not here, here. So many here get that wrong. I find it annoying.

[InAbLuEsTaTe]

100. Your right, so many hear do get that wrong to and there grammar be bad on top've it... my apologies.

[BannonsLiver]

121. Good.

[C Moon]

28. I don't wish her bad health, especially for her son's sake, but

she's not a good person in my view.

[Rorey]

30. + 1000

I don't have charitable feelings for people whose actions have a negative effect on people I care about. I won't pretend I do just to appease those who wish to judge my character.

[bahrbearian]

40. Yup

[grantcart]

2. My only reaction was that I was glad that she had access to good health care

And wish that everyone had such.

As for her husband being a pig not being her fault, well that is laughable.

He was a pig when he cheated on his 1st and 2nd wife and she knew that.

She knew that he was a pig but she married him for the money.

She wasn't sentenced to marry him she married him knowing full well that he was a pig.

Even people who sell out and marry pigs deserve health care. Everyone does.

[Hekate]

5. True enough, grantcart

I'm just a bit sickened by the bile being poured out on this board.

[grantcart]

7. I didn't see it I avoid walking in the gutter as much as possible.

Just wait for the self righteous bull when McCain passes.

The biggest threat to the revelancy of DU is not the perennial hand wringing about ideology but it's sinking into a quicksand of triviality.

[Tipperary]

91. I have seen some really ugly things posted here.

And as you say, it reflects on those doing it.

[barbtries]

58. my reaction was yeah she married a pig

that don't make her a pussycat.

i'll give a shit about melania when she gives a shit about me. like never.

[treestar]

107. [phone]

Though I wonder if she thinks others with her condition deserve health care if they don't have/didn't marry the money.

[msongs]

3. she has the best health care the taxpayers provide. unlike people who have lost their

obamacare thanks to her husband and other people who share her political views. I wish her a speedy recovery and send her thoughts and prayers that she will speak out against taking health care away from other people as soon as her recovery is complete

[area51]

17. +1

It would be nice if she gained some empathy toward people poorer than her.

[BannonsLiver]

21. And apologized for her birther nuttiness

[dawg day]

29. Hey, give her a break. She's too busy dealing with her cyber-bullying mission

I wish her a speedy recovery. Of course. She's got a young child.

But I also wish that somewhere in her heart she might think about the 1500 immigrant children separated from their parents and now "lost". The horror the children and parents must be going through....

Oh, well. The hypocrisy is overwhelming (she was probably "illegal" too, at the start of her sojourn here) at every stage. But she's not to blame. She's not to be admired (well, the cheekbones are pretty impressive), or particularly pitied, but none of this is her fault. She's kind of a convenient symbol. But since Trump doesn't seem to care about her anymore than he cares about anyone else, there's little to be gained from pointing out to him how her very existence in this country (and her parents and sister) shows how cruel his policies are when he's benefitted from immigration since his grandfather came here.

And yes, that sure sounds like a long time these days to be hospitalized for a minor operation. But they might treat VIPs better than the rest of us!

[treestar]

108. +1

[kacekwl]

124. Wouldn't that be something.

Will never happen but someone with empathy might think it's the right thing .

[JI7]

4. i had assumed it was nothing serious but i do hope there is nothing seriously wrong with her health

especially for her son who seems decent because he is mostly with her and not the rest.

and i don't think it's unusual for people with money and access to stay in the hospital longer than most people.

[fleabiscuit]

6. I heard it in passing on the tv news.

My eye caught a story about The Poor People’s Campaign.

~ Nearly 41 million Americans live below the federal poverty line.
~ Nearly 140 million people (43.5 percent) are either poor or low-income under the alternative Supplemental Poverty Measure (SPM)
~ Almost four in ten children spend at least one year of their lives in poverty
~ Nearly half of our population cannot afford a $400 emergency

https://www.npr.org/2018/05/14/610836891/the-poor-peoples-campaign-seeks-to-complete-martin-luther-king-s-final-dream

I truly did not give her a second thought. Well, until now.

[vlyons]

8. Thank-you!

May all sentient beings be free of suffering
and free of the causes and conditions of suffering.

May all sentient beings be happy
and have the causes and conditions for happiness.

May all sentient beings experience great joy
in appreciating the success, happiness, and well being of others.

May all sentient beings rest peacefully in the equanimity
of no more craving, no attachment, and no aversion.

[Hekate]

9. That's what I'm talking about. Peace to all beings.

[vlyons]

15. They are called the 4 Immeasurables

It is part of my daily Buddhist practice. The aspirational benefits are immeasurable. To be free of suffering, happy, joyous, with no envy, and at peace. The horrible, dreadful, stupid people out there operate under great delusions and suffering. They are so filled with negativities that they cannot be truly happy. They suffer a lot. And as such, those are the very ones who most need our compassion, because they cause so much suffering in others as well.

It is difficult and challenging to not get angry and hate them. But hatred and anger makes people be stupid. I gave up hating them long ago. I wish that I could dispel the dark negativities from their minds, but I'm not that powerful or skillful. But what I can do is encourage people to calm down and work on diminishing our own negativities. We are much more effective creating an enlightened society, when we remain calm and overcome our own negativities.

Best regards

[Hekate]

138. Thanks for bringing it up. I often use a short form, and you are reminding me to extend this...

...practice to DU itself via your longer form. I copied it out to stay reminded.

[vlyons]

145. I have seen several variations on the 4 Immeasurables

I think eventually we each edit and adapt it to what seems right.

[Jim Lane]

136. I in turn thank you for your valuable post.

I've read a little bit about Buddhism but I hadn't heard of the 4 Immeasurables. Now I am wiser.

As a cancer survivor, I've been appalled when some DUers gloat over the illness or death of someone they dislike. This has nothing to do with politics. I extend my compassion to Robert Novak, Ted Kennedy, Ari Fleischer, Elizabeth Edwards, and now John McCain. As Gilda Radner said, if you've been diagnosed with cancer then you're a member of the club.

More broadly, the same extends to any sentient being experiencing a health crisis. That includes Melania Trump.

[obnoxiousdrunk]

154. It's posts like yours

that give me hope. Thank you.

[davsand]

10. Sending thoughts and prayers.

[radical noodle]

11. Perfect!!

Thoughts and prayers.

[Raine]

12. Thanks for posting this

I wish her a quick and full recovery..

[JohnnyLib2]

13. Thank you, Hekate.

[betsuni]

14. I have a soft spot for Malaria.

She's most comfortable in her native language, doesn't like the spotlight, probably doesn't pay any attention to things outside her own interests, is pretty clueless. I can relate to this. She went to New York to be Holly Golightly and bagged an elephant. Trump wasn't so nutty then and she didn't have to see him that much. What he turned into has nothing to do with her. All his fault that what was a New York Story became a national nightmare.

[BannonsLiver]

18. A soft spot?

Well this should clear that up,

[betsuni]

23. No, it doesn't.

I said she was clueless. How do you know she wasn't told to say that? Go ahead and think what you want and I'll think what I want.

[BannonsLiver]

25. Good for you

You’re absolutely right. If you want to have a soft spot for birthers that’s your business.

[betsuni]

68. As a foreigner in the country I live in, I won't judge her as a fellow foreigner.

My opinion is that she's clueless and I refuse to hate her. The Obamas don't have a grudge, are nice to her. I know this is an unpopular opinion. So what. Flame away.

[BannonsLiver]

120. Who brought her nationality up?

What a bizarre pivot.

[betsuni]

125. Who do you think you are?

[Tipperary]

130. Good question.

[The_REAL_Ecumenist]

46. Melanoma is free, WHITE & OVER 21...She says what she WANTS to say for whatever her reasons

(OR money) . She knew what she was getting herself into & she made it over here from Slovenija without anyone holding her hand. She's craven...PERIOD!! She's an opportunist & definitely NOT a shrinking violet..

[Wawannabe]

67. Truth!

That woman made her bed.
She will have to lie in it like any other woman who marries for the reasons she did.

[The_REAL_Ecumenist]

151. WORD.

[betsuni]

71. Free, white, and twenty-one is an early 20th century American thing.

Nobody said she didn't know what she was getting into. Do you not know the Holly Golightly reference?

[The_REAL_Ecumenist]

150. I've ALWAYS used this term, as has most people I know.. AND the phrase REALLY applies

in this case... Secondly, believe it or not, I have NEVER seen "BREAKFAST AT TIFFANY'S" So, no..

[betsuni]

159. "Breakfast at Tiffany's" is a novel by Truman Capote.

You don't know this?

[The_REAL_Ecumenist]

160. It appears that YOU are unaware of the movie produced by BLAKE EDWARDS

starring Audrey Hepburn, based on the book... I have NEVER seen the movie or read the book because I am NOT interested. Bless your PLH... SMDH

[betsuni]

161. Oh dear!

What are you even talking about? The REAL book is very good.

[The_REAL_Ecumenist]

164. You know, you seem to be quite simple...Bless your pointy little head.

I'm done.. Be Gone

[smirkymonkey]

123. I agree. I don't think she has any real convictions of her own and she was probably just parroting

what someone else had said. I don't think the woman is actively hateful or evil, just shallow and clueless and easily influenced. I definitely don't think she deserves the amount of hate she is getting here.

[betsuni]

126. Thank you!

[MFM008]

16. I actually care as much about them

As they do us.
I wont absolve her of her bad decision to become a member of a callously uncaring crime family.
Willingly, both eyes open.
The rest is up to fate.

[aeromanKC]

19. Thanks Mom for bringing me up right and knowing when to say:

[handmade34]

57. ...

[BannonsLiver]

20. Meh

Piss on the whole lot of them.

[Tipperary]

132. And you have Barack Obama as your avatar.

A man who always acts with class, maturity, and decorum.

The irony.

[BannonsLiver]

133. You're Fuckin A Right I do.

And I push back when people try to legitimize and mollycoddle birthers as some have done in this thread. Don't like it? Boo hoo.

[Tipperary]

143. Lol.

You sure are a tough guy.

[obnoxiousdrunk]

155. It's not fair to

compare Barack Obama to the Kelly Chadlers of DU.

[RockRaven]

24. I really don't give any more of a f*ck

about her than about any other random person when it comes to her health/recovery. Why would I? I've never met her, and never will, she's never done anything to benefit the world that I'm aware of, and it seems never will. She's is a human person, and deserves the respect that entails -- as such, I would wish that all other things being equal her suffering would be minimized. Beyond that?

I don't see any threads today about how our reactions to the medical conditions of *other* people we don't know saying a lot about us. For example, Harry Reid is getting treatment for pancreatic cancer. I saw a thread about the fact he was unwell, but none about how our reactions to that fact says a lot about us...

I'm not going to be so irrational as to care more about her than the billions of other to-me-anonymous-and-unknown-humans on this planet who are every bit as worthy of my giving-f*cks. In fact, they are very much probably MORE worthy, on average, than she because at least I'm wholly ignorant about them. What I do know about her is not f*ck-giving-inspiring.

I totally disagree with your statement that "Her husband is a pig. That's not really her fault." She chose to marry him. EVERYONE who paid any attention at all in the 80s, 90s, 00s (aka her pre-marriage adult life) KNEW he was a pig BEFORE she married him. It's all in the public record, and even if she didn't see it in real time, it was entirely knowable once she began considering marrying him. She chose to marry a pig. She chose that. A pig. To marry. Full-stop. It may not be her fault that Trump is a pig, but it is entirely her fault her *husband* is a pig. That is on her. Not only do I not have pity on that account, I consider it a reflection of her values, personality, priorities, etc.

[mr_lebowski]

33. Hear, Hear!!! I absolutely give zero cares about what happens to her. Less than Zero, if possible

Live or die, suffer or not suffer, I absolutely do not care one whit either way.

There's more than enough people on this planet who have honestly and demonstrably tried to make the world a better place, who are also suffering, in hospitals and jail cells the world over.

I'll save my sympathy and caring for them.

I don't wish Melania 'bad health', but I also don't care whether she lives ... or doesn't. I simply don't care, either way. She's not worth 'caring' about from anything I've ever seen. Just one of 7,000,000,000 people, 99.999999999% of which ... that I don't know, and who's shown NO reason why I should care about her anymore than any of the other 1000's who shuffle off this mortal coil ... every day.

So ... Get Well Soon, Melania!

Or don't.

[Rorey]

34. Yeah, and she decided to have a kid with him.

Doomed that kid to a life of having a father like him. Now that says a helluva lot about Melania's character.

[mr_lebowski]

51. That's maybe a little bit extreme AFA judgement goes ... Just sayin' ... (nt)

[Rorey]

65. Oh, I don't know....

He already had four children when she met him, so she had ample opportunity to see what kind of father he was to them. The only one he was ever very close to was Ivanka, and that was a weird closeness, as photos depict. He ignored Don Jr. and Eric when they were children, and has always ignored Tiffany. There's no reason to think that he's different with his youngest. Do we see photos of him taking him with him to play golf with him, or any other activity? Nope.

Melania has vocalized how nice she thinks it is that her son emulates his father.

I honestly don't care if some folks think that my opinion ( and those of others) are unwarranted. We each have our reasons for our feelings about the trump family. In my own case, there's a member of my family who will never see his terminally ill father again because of the immigration policies of trump. Long story.

I love deeply, and I hate deeply. They're my true emotions and I'm not going to apologize for either of them. (I also forgive completely when appropriate.)

[womanofthehills]

70. When Trump was on Howard Stern's show and Melenia was pregnant, Trump said he told Melenia

she would be raising the kid, not him, if she wanted a baby.

He said he told her he was not the kind of a dad who would do anything hands on with a child - no dad stuff. And... she chose this kind of father for her child.

[Rorey]

74. Thank you for mentioning this NT

[True Blue American]

43. Agree

All I have to say on the subject.

[Ilsa]

109. I find that I agree mostly with you on this.

I'll expend my energies caring more about the kids in Gaza left without fathers and big brothers, mothers and sisters. I'll care more about those in poverty, those who cannot afford medical care, while she counts her diamonds and furs while living off the taxpayers.

Melania chose her life. There was speculation that she was going to divorce him after the election. If she had done so beforehand, perhaps he would have been too busy with that to run for office. Melania trump enables Donald to be his worst self, which is pretty damn evil.

BTW, has he been donating his salary to charity like he said he would?

[Lint Head]

26. She is a human being but also s thinking adult. She also married

a narcissistic racist bigot who loves the murderer Vladimir Putin. Here is what it says about me. I could not care less about someone who does not speak up and out about the cruelty to other human beings that her "man" is fostering in our country. She could be an example but chooses not to be. I have had a kidney removed. We all will gave an ailment of some kind and we will die. Like it or not. I did not wish her to be sick. But obviously, fate did.
Her illness does not change my feelings one iota.
I do not consider John McCain to be an authoritarian narcissistic bigot who wants to destroy our democracy. He does not deserve criticism because he has brain cancer. But if he were a bigoted fascist who thinks Hitler was a great leader, as Trump has stated, and was directly responsible for the deaths of others I would have less sympathy for him.
Melania made a choice. To think she ignorantly walked into her marriage and is just a pawn, I think, we are kidding ourselves. It's just too bad and so sad that they have a young man who will be forever blighted by their cruelty and despotic ideas.

[Thermo]

31. Hitler had a wife.

Hitler had a wife as well. I'll leave at that

[mr_lebowski]

35. AND a mistress ...

Funny, that ...

[True Blue American]

44. Complicit

Is the word I use.

[RandySF]

32. What I am reacting to

Is the fact that a millionaire/billionaire's wife is able to take advantage of the world-class, taxpayer funded health care that her husband and other Republicans say cannot be extended to the rest of us. I am also commenting on the fact that she gets a hospital bed for a week while we mere mortals would have been kicked out of the hospital within the next 48 hours.

[mr_lebowski]

37. 48 hours? Maybe if you have Cadillac Health Care ... bigwig at Facebook, Exxon, Koch Industries ...

You know, that kinda gig.

The rest of us are allowed to wake up, and then the clock starts on when our loved ones are coming, to pick us up, and get their 'instructions' from the nurses on 'how to take care of us' ... once they get us back at home.

Every second that passes beyond when the Almighty Insurance Company's 'tables' tell them that we're supposed to be discharged ... you can bet is going on our bills.

Melania ... won't be receiving any such bills, and you can bet ... Donnie is far too busy golfing, tweeting, and watching Faux ... to come by and pick her up himself.

Watch that fuck not even visit the whole week ...

[True Blue American]

45. Trump was not there for the surgery. Said he would visit

After.

Can you see a loving husband let his wife go through surgery alone?

[mr_lebowski]

48. Well ... at a bare minimum, a 'loving spouse' is there when their loved one wakes up from surgery ..

Not sure I'd expect every 'loving' spouse to sit around the lobby every minute of a surgery that's described to them as routine ... of course that standard would change (in my mind) for a risky surgery ...

I sent my wife on her way when I got my appendectomy, and she sent me on mine when she got her gall bladder out, but we took one another to the hospital, and we were both there when the other woke up ... and took each other home ... and in both cases, 'home' was <3 miles away though, so neither were ever 'far from the other', so there's that.

I see Dump, OTOH, as someone who's more the type to do NEITHER, and maybe show up sometime during the first 36 hours after his spouse woke up, at best.

[sweetroxie]

61. I've spent time in hospitals. Believe me, it's no picnic

She would be better off going home sooner. Unless something is really wrong with her.

[Zoonart]

89. THIS

[safeinOhio]

36. I agree about what it says about us.

It is very hard to change other people and much easier to change ourselves.

I don't think it will be easy to change the Religious Right and I don't think haters will find much success, but just as we can point out how crazy it is say "thoughts and prayers", it does make a point by using their language to make them think. In the same vain as using that language, I like to tell the other side when they ask why I hate trump, I can tell them "I hate the sin and not the sinner". They are left will nothing to say.
In order to stay sane and not be filled with hate, I try to remove it by looking at the right wing like an anthropologist looks at other cultures. I try to observe and take notes without judging their morality and worth. It helps keep my blood pressure down.

[mr_lebowski]

38. That's very Zen. I appreciate Buddhist wisdom and honestly wish I could transcend in the way you ..

describe.

I also LOVE the current Dalai Lama ... read both his books that were out in the early 2000's, what a brilliant man & wonderful philosophy ... so much to learn from him, and Buddhism in general. It's about the only 'religion' who's adherents I actually actively 'respect', just because of their religion. It says a lot a person if they're truly followers of Buddhist philosphy, IMHO.

Furthermore I absolutely believe, if Jesus of Nazareth somehow ever 'returned' ... as the 'same soul' he's purported to have been, he'd look around the world's religions today ... and settle on Buddhism without a moments thought.

Other than perhaps Islam, the current incarnation of 'Christianity' in this world would be his last friggin' choice, religion-wise.

Kinda like the Founders, if they 'came back' ... most of them would move to the Nordic Countries and steer far clear of what our sh*th*le country ... has become, in their absence.

[Locrian]

128. it's really the only way

returning hate for hate just multiplies hate

[Thermo]

39. See these people for what they really are.

See these people for what they really are. I understand human compassion. I know what it means to take care of the needy and I am more a Democrat than most folks I meet. But I have had more than my fair share of fights both verbal and physical and having ANY compassion for these people will result in you losing. There is no more room for understanding here. No more room waiting for things to change. The Orange menace and his family don't deserve compassion , pity or any thing even resembling an extended hand.

[DemoHack]

41. Excellent.

I agree, 100%.

Some people sound like Trump. We're better than that.

[HeiressofBickworth]

42. Since everything coming from the White House is a lie

I just assumed that she is in the hospital for something else; facelift? tummy tuck? breast lift? All that stuff requires maintenance.
Well, whatever it is, she has better health care available than the health care her sick-fuck husband wants the rest of us to have.
Sorry, Melania, no fucks given from this old chick.

[DonCoquixote]

47. She should be be denied health care because she is a Trump

EVERYONE deserves health care, full stop.

However, some of us wish she would not aid her husband as she tries to deny many people of that same care.

As far as it being federal, GOOD, let's all have the same fed care where we know that , unlike Mrs. Trump, we do not have lawyers that would be cutting heads off if doctors botched the job.

That being said, if quacks did botch the job, then, as someone who lost his mother to quacks, it would be the one thing where I would wish Trump and his son the sincerest good luck in getting revenge.

[mr_lebowski]

49. Did you mean 'not be' rather than 'be be' denied? (nt)

[DonCoquixote]

157. aye

I think my points stand though

[Mike Nelson]

50. I hope she...

...recovers and lives a long, healthy life. She should fully witness the damage her spouse has done to the country and see it reversed. Maybe she will emerge a better person and use her celebrity for many good things.

[Thermo]

52. keep dreamin kiddo

Keep dreamin kiddo . That's never gonna happen.

[RandiFan1290]

56. Welcome Back to DU! nt

[marble falls]

62. Absolutely, welcome back! Where ya' been?

[no_hypocrisy]

53. My mother didn't choose well as well when she married, but

she doesn't deserve contempt vicariously for that choice.

[betsuni]

55. +1

[treestar]

112. Not sure what you mean, but that is not quite the same

With her looks, Melodrama had the chance to marry almost any man who would have her, and many of them would have been, if not as perceived to be rich, somewhat decent.

[no_hypocrisy]

148. What I meant is I'm not going to label my mother for my father's/her husband's

transgressions and hurtful behavior. He earned it alone. She just happened to marry him.

[Squinch]

54. Melania is far, far, far outside my sphere of influence. If I wished her ill or well, it would

have no effect on her. It is certain that she has no good wishes for me, and there is evidence that she and her family have a general ill will toward people of my ilk.

I don't particularly wish her well, but neither do I particularly wish her ill, other than that I hope her family will fail and fall spectacularly.

But there is nothing about my thoughts about Melania that says anything about whether I am a humane or ethical or nice person.

[Blue_Adept]

59. So much hate and anger in this thread

And if you don't see that, perhaps you see just the casual dismissal of someone else.

I didn't think that was a liberal value.

The "take the high road" crowd has largely been run off DU at this point I guess?

Maybe I'm still feeling a lot of the energy from last week's United Shades of America with the look at the Sikh religion and their beliefs and what they do for others, especially for those that hate them.

So many here are becoming what they hate.

[Raine]

158. Very true

so much hate and divisiveness here continually is hard to deal with, I think many have left because of it.

[Uncle Joe]

60. Kicked and recommended.

Thanks for the thread, Hekate

[blue cat]

63. I have no respect for that birther

Sorry not sorry

[samnsara]

64. not wishing any fault on her for sure.... just not sure we are getting real story.

[Uncle Joe]

69. How about

Trump is positively a pig?

If policies were all it was about and that of course is a major thing in and of it self but Trump's behavior is reprehensible exhibiting no redeeming value or morality.

[ehrnst]

75. Do you teach in a preschool, by any chance?

Not that it's a bad thing, you just need to leave that style of communicating in the classroom.

[betsuni]

76. LOL, good one!

[ehrnst]

85. I was replying to your post.....

This one:

https://www.democraticunderground.com/100210615622#post72

Is that clearer?

[MrScorpio]

79. You know we're all taking bets about how many posts you're going to last here

It's not look that good right now.

[FSogol]

83. I guess 5, unless she hurries. n/t

[MrScorpio]

86. The number is 5 right now

I'm going to be a little more generous though.

So they can get a good argument in there.

[ehrnst]

93. Just a few more, please

I want to hear her explanation about what Mueller is "actually doing" in his investigation into the "Russian Shit."



On edit: Damn, gone.

[FSogol]

95. Whoops, the Library closed and Nancy's Dad took the keys away!

[Maeve]

96. The final answer was 6

Who had six in the pool?

[FSogol]

98. Damn, I should have guessed 6! n/t

[ProfessorGAC]

142. At Work, That's My Answer To Everything

No matter the topic, someone says "Hey, i have a question" i always say the answer is 6.

Got here too late, i guess.

[FSogol]

144. That wouldn't work here: "ProfessorGAC, the six llamas you wanted are in the lobby..."

[ProfessorGAC]

146. That'd Be A Problem, Wouldn't It?

I mean one llama, ok. But nobody needs 6 of them.

[FSogol]

147. And you know some intern would get alpacas instead.

[MrScorpio]

104. Not me, I had 7.

[Uncle Joe]

80. I'm not talking about "always" all humans have their frailties, make mistakes,

have their shortcomings.

I'm talking about policies, words and actions that Trump does and uses on a consistent daily basis practicing fault line politics, based on every conceivable difference within our nation and around the world that does nothing but divide the American People.

He has lied well over 3000 times, his word literally means nothing to him, he mocks and tears down any and all those around him with perhaps the exception of his family.

He punches down against the weak and disenfranchised.

He has already violated his oath to uphold and defend the Constitution against all enemies foreign and domestic by abrogating his responsibility to investigate the overwhelming evidence by our intelligence communities that Russia waged cyber warfare against the United States of America during our 2016 election on top of that he has done everything in his power to undermine our democratic institutions; justice and press.

[ehrnst]

82. "Russian Shit?"

So Mueller is investigating.... nothing?

And you are aware that HRC won the popular vote - substantially?

Or are do you have reason to believe that to be "shit" as well?

[Uncle Joe]

90. So you believe it's all one great conspiracy against Trump? n/t

[ehrnst]

92. You know why he was appointed as special counsel, don't you?

Mueller was appointed by Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein as special counsel overseeing an ongoing investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 U.S. presidential election and related matters, including any links between the Russian government and Donald Trump's campaign.

So, what is the "reason that he's doing what he's doing" if it's not investigating "Russian Shit."

Please answer soon, because I want to hear this.

[Uncle Joe]

84. So you believe it's all one great conspiracy against Trump? n/t

[Bettie]

73. I do wish her a full recovery

she's a human being.

Though, to be honest, if it were the big orange thing? I'd have zero sympathy. None.

[FSogol]

77. She's a pig too, but I wish her a speedy recovery.

All people are complicated. That includes both the Trumps and DUers. No need to scold.

[GoCubsGo]

94. Yep. I'm not even convinced the "kidney" problem is the issue.

I think there's a lot more going on here than meets the eye. Someone on one of the morning news shows said this procedure is often done on an outpatient basis. Yet, she's going to stay in the hospital for a week??? Is this more of a respite from her husband? Did he beat the crap out of her and damage her kidney? Is it some other affliction that her asshole husband might consider embarrassing should it be made public? The whole think reeks, just like everything about this family.

I don't care for Melania, but I don't hate her like many here do. I have fallen for my share of assholes, too. But, fortunately, I didn't wind up marrying one of them as she did. The woman is now a hostage to that marriage. I believe her shitbag husband also pushed her into the birther crap, among other things. I'm not going to hate on her, and I hope her nightmare ends soon, along with the national nightmare.

[FSogol]

102. It is done as outpaitient to reduce costs. When cost is no object, you can recouperate from

your tummy tuck, I mean kidney procedure, in supreme luxury.

Get well soon, Melania. The nation's children need you!

Don't cry for me, Slovenia!
The truth is, I never left you
All through my wild days, my mad existence
I kept my promise
Don't keep your distance

[Dave Starsky]

141. I honestly think it's an overdose.

She got a lot of recent shit for her "Be Best" spiel, and it was obvious to me that she was uncomfortable even doing it. She's just barely hanging on being married to that bastard, as it is. She never bargained for this.

I hope she makes a speedy recovery, but I don't even buy that this was due to a kidney cyst.

[stonecutter357]

97. lol

[NurseJackie]

99. Renal failure is a symptom of injected silicone fillers.

https://www.google.com/search?q=kidney+failure+and+silicone+injections

https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/mm5717a1.htm

[Hekate]

135. Interesting. So many hazards to attempting perfection, throughout recorded history...

Also of being battered. We will never know.

[Orsino]

101. I doubt we've ever been given the opportunity to get to know her...

...but she has gotten on board, so far as she was allowed, with the Trump agenda. I dislike that, but wishing her ill is unproductive.

[beachbum bob]

103. I feel about Melania Trump the same way I would feel about Eva Braun....

no place for sympathy for anything for either one of them....


if I need to tell you who Eva Braun is I can...she was the Melania Trump for Adolph Hitler

[dembotoz]

105. just as my sympathy for eva braun is severely limited so it is for malaria

guess it is good that she is still alive, it delays trumps next wedding to his daughtert

[treestar]

106. I wish her a speedy recovery ; however that what her husband does

is not her fault may be true; but she picked him. She could have picked a lot of other men. Decent ones. She picked a jerk. She married for money. Had she not done that, she might be respectable. And I am not dissing her nude posing. That is not what I disrespect her for. It is choosing to marry that horrible excuse for a human for money. And being a birther.

Rotten people do get sick. There's Cheney, for example. We can wish them a speedy recovery, and lack of suffering - though there are extreme cases, and Cheney and Bush's actions led to others' suffering. Melania maybe not directly, though she supported for POTUS one who would take health care access from others. She at least does not have to suffer that and there are people with her condition who do.

[Blue_Tires]

110. When they start SHOWING some respect and decency, I'll return the favor

not before...

[Ilsa]

111. Melania is an enabler.

If she had divorced before the campaign, he probably would not be in office.

[Maeve]

113. My view on Melania has always been rather turn-of-the-century

19th to 20th century....think the old music hall songs.."Only a Bird in a Gilded Cage" or "She's More to be Pitied than Censured"
She chose what she thought was a good bargain("for her youth it was sold/ for an old man's gold" ) and now she is stuck with it. By 21st century standards, she made a terrible deal, but she's the one who has to live with it.
I hope she gets the rest she needs to recover quickly.

[pwb]

114. You get back what you give?

What comes around goes around?
Fight fire with fire?
Do unto others as they would do unto you?

As far as I am concerned she is trump and he says things about people all the time that is not nice at all. We tried being better than them and it didn't work. If we have to be like them then so be it. They never stop with their hate, never. And their playbook says act surprised when we do what they do, like they never do it. Well they do do it and deserve all they get back for it.
You want sympathy? Give some.
Saying shit comes back to haunt them and they deserve it.

[SHRED]

115. She is a birther

So there's that.

I don't wish any racist wellness.

[get the red out]

116. Hope all goes well for her

I despise her husband and he is destroying this country, but hope she recovers, I just don't have enough left in me to deal with having ill-will toward her with all the monsters in her husband's administration. At least she was in the hospital and not over in Jerusalem having fun while people were being slaughtered, like Ivanka and Jared.

[MurrayDelph]

117. I hope she makes a full recovery both in

kidneys and heart, realizes the consequences of her life, dumps the pig, and turns witness for the prosecution.

[maxrandb]

118. Good! I for one and tired of "keeping the gloves on"

Fuck this "nice" shit.

If this were Michelle Obama, how many seconds would it have taken before conspiracy nuts starting getting stories covered on Faux News and Hate-Radio?

Here's my qualified guess as to how those stories would have rolled out.

About two seconds after the news that Michelle Obama had been rushed to the hospital for kidney surgery, there would have been 5 different conspiracies within 30 seconds.

Conspiracy 1: "It was an abortion"

Conspiracy 2: "It was a botched sex-change"

Conspiracy 3: "It was domestic violence"

Conspiracy 4: "It was treatment for an STD"

Conspiracy 5: "She got angry and punched a wall"

you know I'm right, only in this case, the disgusting/deplorable conspiracy bullshit wouldn't have been confined to an internet news and opinion site...IT WOULD HAVE BEEN BROADCAST ON 1,400 RADIO STATIONS IN EVERY CORNER OF THIS COUNTRY

We can worry about restoring decency to our political discourse AFTER we kick the shit out of the very people that dragged it...not into the sewer, but below it.

[dalton99a]

129. +1

[kentuck]

119. What did I miss??

Somebody pulling a "McCain"?

[CatMor]

127. My reaction to Melania being in the hospital.....

is I really don't care.

[SharonClark]

162. I care just enough to agree with you.

[CatMor]

163. Great reply, love it.

[we can do it]

131. And she is a birther pig who dissed President Obama.

[Vinca]

134. I don't care one way or another about her hospitalization given the hard work her husband

and his administration have done taking access to medical care away from non-rich people. I do wonder if kidney isn't cover for tummy tuck though. It would explain why they're so silent about her condition.

[niyad]

137. my first thought was--wonder what the hell they are hiding. my second was--such great

health care, on our dime.

[Hekate]

139. At least you were charitable enough to think of the person first...

There's a lot of snide remarks about nips&tucks, but one person actually posited something far darker based on Trump's history: spousal battery. Now I can't get that image out of my mind.

[niyad]

140. oh my word. that is a very dark and --sadly, not out of the question--possibility.

[Lady_Chat]

149. After what was said about John McCain

I feel this way, I've spent time doing chemotherapy, and having surgeries and spending time in hospitals, with women sharing my experience and worrying about whether or not they were going to be able to pay their medical bills or even continue their treatment because of the cost, and it's obvious, that's something Melania will never have to worry about and for sure, women and men's health care is not something she or her husband care about.

When it comes to other people, these 2 are as cold as ice. Melania's "Be Best" did not include a mention about children who wouldn't have access to health care, something her husband wants with his cuts to CHIP. Not once did she offer support to the kids who were survivors of the Parkland shooting who dared to talk about gun control, and had some of the most vicious and disgusting and threatening things said about them. If that isn't bullying I don't know what is. But then again, she totally ignores her husband's bullying.

What's been going on the past week with John McCain is disgusting, I thought it was horrible when they went after John Kerry's service, but for heaven's sake, McCain is dying. Not a word from Melania or Trump or any of his family, or even the person who made the remark, with an apology. They are all more worried about "leaks".

However when the shoe is on the other foot, they expect sympathy, and good wishes for one of their own. I wonder how they would feel if someone made a crass remark about Melania's
health. You can bet there would be outrage.

I've seen too many sick women who following surgery have to worry about going back to work, taking care of their kids and worrying how they are going to pay their bills. Melania has none of these worries, she has no financial limits, the best doctors and nurses are available to her, many homes to recuperate in, maids, cooks and a white house staff to tend to her every need. There will be many cards and flowers and well wishes for heads of state.

Maybe if I saw an ounce of caring from her for anyone but herself, maybe if she or her husband or the GOP showed some kind of compassion for McCain or his wife and his kids, I'd feel something toward her, but I just don't. So tired of the whole selfish bunch of them.

[MustLoveBeagles]

152. I don't really like her that much but

I don't wish her ill either.

[Me.]

153. She's A Racist Birther

but I won't wish her ill, for my sake

[OhioLiberal2008]

156. I Think Melania Is Way Smarter Than Trump....However...

However is disgraced personal 'Doctor' to Trump also Melania's personal doctor as well?

We know know that he over prescribed Karen Pence....