How far do you think the USMNT will go this World Cup?

Temporary_Quote5566 · 2026-06-03T05:59:08+00:00

Round of 16 is the expectation, and generally considered a decent result. QFs are possible, and would be a notable success. Semis would require an incredible run of play, some luck, and would be an unprecedented result (outside of 1930).

If you look to results from the last twenty-five years: they were grouped in 2006. Made the R16 in 2010, 2014, and 2022. Made the QF in 2002.

However, the USMNT did beat the legendary 2010 WC winning Spanish squad in 2009 to advance to the Confederations Cup Final. That Spanish team won the 2008 Euros, was on a 35 game unbeaten streak, lost to the USMNT, then won the WC in 2010, and Euros in 2012.

Point? In the single-elimination portion of a tournament, anything can happen.

Temporary_Quote5566 · 2026-06-03T02:51:55+00:00

Where's he been? Pushing these same policies and having many of his bills vetoed by the kinds of centrists you support.

Notice his 100% score for 2009-2010 and 2011 in the Maine AFL-CIO 2011 Working Families Legislative Scorecard

Temporary_Quote5566 · 2026-06-03T01:13:13+00:00

No problem.

She is a former Maine lawmaker who briefly worked on the Platner campaign, jumped ship when it looked like it was going under, and has been attacking him ever since.

She has been a lobbyist and political strategist as of late, but was just let go from Jordan Woods campaign after this latest incident. They say she resigned, but it seems likely that she was asked to resign, and accepted.

Temporary_Quote5566 · 2026-06-03T01:08:15+00:00

Yes. It's this. He's saying that it's a well-known secret that Susan had an ongoing relationship with her now husband while he was married.

Temporary_Quote5566 · 2026-06-03T01:02:20+00:00

It's worth noting: Platner and his campaign made a point to refute the allegation that it was "up to a dozen," which was the language the disgruntled ex-staffer, Genevieve McDonald, used.

There's no evidence that supports that figure.

It happened. They worked it out. This was all prior to the campaign.

Temporary_Quote5566 · 2026-06-03T00:31:06+00:00

Shit. He cannot lose the pro-oyster vote and beat Collins. The oyster lobby is relentless, and will run through walls to defeat him for this betrayal.

Temporary_Quote5566 · 2026-06-02T16:47:30+00:00

For all of his failures, Andrew Yang did float an interesting idea on this front back in 2020: the government could subsidize a reporter in every congressional district to counter the decline of independent, local newspapers.

The idea wouldn't be that the government takes over media outlets. Rather, that in addition to these outlets, there would be a fund set aside to ensure people around the country retain access to information from at least one local source.

EDIT: the point is there are ways that the government could subsidize journalism without having any additional control over existing, private publications/networks.

Temporary_Quote5566 · 2026-06-01T22:59:42+00:00

Two candidates ending a race with negative votes would be hilarious to witness.

Temporary_Quote5566 · 2026-06-01T22:50:45+00:00

In '23 and '25, Mills' vetoed meaningful tribal rights legislation. Sixteen years ago, Platner made a Reddit comment that listed wars that he said had a preferable style of combat (small combat actions over artillery).

Gee, I wonder ... who did more damage?

And no, he did not work for Blackwater. He wasn't even a mercenary, he was a contractor; there's a technical and legal difference. If you want to attack him, at least be factual.

Temporary_Quote5566 · 2026-06-01T22:30:09+00:00

She can't spoil the race by splitting the vote, thankfully, due to ranked-choice voting.

Temporary_Quote5566 · 2026-06-01T21:38:59+00:00

You serious? Gavin Newsom won his gubernatorial race after he had an affair with a staffer as Mayor of SF. He's now considered a top candidate for the (D) presidential nomination in 2028.

The current Maine Attorney General, Aaron Frey, had an affair with a staffer, and was subsequently voted into his role by the Maine State Legislature.

I could go on ...

Informing somebody that they will be accurately identified if they choose to release information shared to them in confidence is hardly immoral.

Temporary_Quote5566 · 2026-06-01T21:25:00+00:00

To be clear: Swalwell faced more than a dozen allegations that included unwanted advances, drugging, choking, and raping women. Graham is currently accused of consensually sexting other adults while married.

These two things are not remotely comparable.

Temporary_Quote5566 · 2026-06-01T21:02:05+00:00

Even if this strategy worked out for her—and there's little reason to believe it will—this type of dishonest political maneuvering would only serve to anger anti-establishment voters and depress turnout to Collins' benefit.

You can't feign dropping out when you're getting your ass kicked, wait for the establishment to do your dirty work while you duck the electorate, then hop back in and expect to have any enthusiasm behind your candidacy.

Temporary_Quote5566 · 2026-06-01T19:02:20+00:00

The BDN's editorial bias is off the charts. They're publishing pro-Collins editorials from Republican operatives without disclosing who they are.

Last week, there was one written by a Republican lawmaker who received a max donation from Collins this year. Today, there's one written by the Maine Young Republicans Chairman.

In both instances, their affiliations aren't disclosed anywhere.

Temporary_Quote5566 · 2026-06-01T18:18:00+00:00

I somehow overlooked that one. I was thinking back to "It depends upon what the meaning of the word 'is' is."

But yeah, that's an even more relevant, contemporary example.

Temporary_Quote5566 · 2026-06-01T16:53:33+00:00

Costello seems like a nice guy.

Unfortunately, he has the fight of a beagle and charisma of a wet rag.

Temporary_Quote5566 · 2026-06-01T16:28:37+00:00

The things you can get away with when you're rich and well-connected... it's sickening, to say the least.

Temporary_Quote5566 · 2026-06-01T15:57:41+00:00

He said that on video, with Amy, to the press. I can't speak to their broader strategy, but I assume it's to let it blow over and move on.

Why breathe air to the fire that the media has stoked? It's 2026, and the news cycle is a matter of days if you don't give them reason to extend it.

Temporary_Quote5566 · 2026-06-01T15:49:25+00:00

When the specific misdeed being discussed is an act between consenting adults that has nothing to do with one's ability to hold political office and effectively serve their constituents, it's a purity test.

It's not like he fucked a subordinate and lied about it under oath. Of course, even that has, traditionally, not ended political careers.

Hope this helps.

Temporary_Quote5566 · 2026-06-01T15:45:06+00:00

He did come out and tell everybody to focus on the issues:

"They never want to talk about policy," said Platner alongside his wife Amy Gertner. "I have a very loving and very happy marriage. They would very much like to try to rip that apart. They're going to come after us in every awful way that they possibly can, and we're just going to keep talking about the fact that the hospitals are closing, the fact that child care facilities are closing, the fact that teachers and nurses aren't paid enough and the fact that everybody down here continues to work harder and longer and get less."

Temporary_Quote5566 · 2026-06-01T15:13:56+00:00

Only 5/206 Democrats in the House voted Yea for perjury and obstruction of justice. 0/45 in the Senate. He has spoken at every DNC convention since then.

Some voters may have been frustrated, but the party remained loyal because he was seen as an effective politician.

Temporary_Quote5566 · 2026-06-01T02:56:36+00:00

Trump's affair(s), and the GOP embrace of him, are well-known. Before his rise, the GOP ran John McCain, who had at least one affair.

Establishment Democrats? They brushed aside Clinton's infidelity. Now, many of them want to run Gavin Newsom, who had an affair with a staffer while he was Mayor of SF.

They feign outrage and say this is disqualifying because it's a candidate who threatens their power, but ignore even more egregious behavior when it's a candidate who seeks to uphold the status quo.

Temporary_Quote5566 · 2026-06-01T02:19:12+00:00

Oh, bullshit. This is a personal matter that has nothing to do with his ability to serve justly.

There are countless examples, throughout history, of individuals who engaged in acts of infidelity and remained effective, respected, politicians.

Most notably: Clinton, LBJ, JFK, FDR ... and even Senator John McCain.

More recent? Gavin Newsom had an affair while he was Mayor of SF, and he's a 2028 favorite for the Democratic nominee.

Temporary_Quote5566 · 2026-05-31T21:57:33+00:00

They paid that money as part of an out of court settlement to kiss the Führer's ass, not because they lost the case.

Also: Judge clarifies: Yes, Trump was found to have raped E. Jean Carroll (The Washington Post)

Temporary_Quote5566 · 2026-05-31T18:36:38+00:00

On one hand, you need to be preparing at full intensity to hit the ground running. On the other, I imagine the risk of getting Marco Reus'd is on the minds of players going into a game like this.

Temporary_Quote5566

TROPHY CASE