this post was submitted on 09 Aug 2024
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Showerthoughts

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A "Showerthought" is a simple term used to describe the thoughts that pop into your head while you're doing everyday things like taking a shower, driving, or just daydreaming. The most popular seem to be lighthearted, clever little truths, hidden in daily life.

Here are some examples to inspire your own showerthoughts: 1

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If you ask me, I'm upset no one picked up that this consideration was sexist and racist, although it is indeed the best choice for her to win, which reflects how bad US can't get over race and gender.

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[–] dogsnest 203 points 6 months ago (3 children)
[–] [email protected] 68 points 6 months ago (2 children)

Yes, he was the first orange person to be hired as president. He was hired despite Hillary getting more votes because he was the DEI candidate.

[–] someguy3 23 points 6 months ago* (last edited 6 months ago)

was hired despite Hillary getting more votes because ~~he was the DEI candidate~~ of special admission processes.

[–] [email protected] 7 points 6 months ago (1 children)

orange person

Oh damn, is oompa-loompa no longer considered acceptable?

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[–] PunnyName 8 points 6 months ago

I need more of these critiques to download.

[–] RedditWanderer 7 points 6 months ago (2 children)

This meme is so inaccurate. Everyone knows he can't say Kamala. Isn't it weird people think you should elect someone who can't even pronounce someone's name?

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[–] givesomefucks 106 points 6 months ago (2 children)

Yeah, so was Biden when he was VP.

Everyone knows this, I do t know why so many people are treating it like a revelation. Mainstream news was openly saying it as soon as she announced she was running.

Her VP would be an older white guy for "diversity" of the ticket.

[–] [email protected] 20 points 6 months ago

meanwhile, trump who will claim he's "most qualified" for the job, REFUSES to let his college transcripts go public. i'm going to go out on a limb (except, not) and say he cheated his way through college, as with everything else, OR he's a straight D student, hilariously

this is of course ignoring all the lying, raping, treasoning, failed businesses, failed presidencies, and other wannabe con man shit.

but people will still vote for him, because people are stupid gullible suckers

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[–] [email protected] 84 points 6 months ago (1 children)

Almost all VPs are DEI hires.

Trump chose Pence because he had government experience and his religious conservatism helped reassure the GOP's religious voters.

Biden choosing Harris:

Biden committed to selecting a woman as his running mate ... He noted that his selection would likely be younger than he is

Obama choosing Biden:

Obama recalled that he and his advisers Axelrod and Plouffe wondered if voters would accept a ticket of "two relatively young, inexperienced, and liberal civil rights attorneys" and ultimately Obama felt the contrast between him and Biden was a strength, and that Biden being older than Obama would reassure those voters who were concerned that Obama was too young to be president

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2008_Democratic_Party_vice_presidential_candidate_selection

Bush Jr. choosing Cheney

By picking Cheney, Bush had a running mate who had years of experience as well as an extensive foreign policy expertise.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2000_Republican_Party_vice_presidential_candidate_selection

Clinton was an exception:

In making the selection, Clinton emphasized Gore's experience with foreign policy and environmental issues.[1] Clinton's choice of a fellow young southern centrist defied conventional wisdom

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1992_Democratic_Party_vice_presidential_candidate_selection

This pattern goes through the years. If the presidential candidate is a northerner, they often pick a southerner. If he's old, he chooses a younger VP candidate. If he's from a wealthy background, he chooses someone who has a more humble background. If he lacks political experience, he chooses someone who has it. If he lacks international experience, he chooses someone who has it.

All VPs are DEI hires, at least to some extent. It's accepted that if the two candidates are too similar that the ticket will fail.

[–] Skullgrid 31 points 6 months ago (1 children)

If he lacks political experience, he chooses someone who has it. If he lacks international experience, he chooses someone who has it.

I mean, this just sounds like good teamwork

[–] [email protected] 39 points 6 months ago (1 children)

Fundamentally DEI is about good teamwork. You want a diverse team of people with different backgrounds and experiences.

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[–] robolemmy 72 points 6 months ago (8 children)

All VPs are basically picked because of what they are more than who they are. Since there aren’t a lot of actual duties assigned by the constitution, VPs are just picked to help win the election. That means their age, gender, skin color, birthplace, etc are more important than their achievements. That means almost all VPs, including Vance, are “DEI hires.”

[–] Moneo 11 points 6 months ago (7 children)

I'd argue Walz bucks this trend, at least to a certain degree. His progressive policy and seemingly unwavering integrity seems to be a huge reason he was picked. They've leaned into his achievements and republicans are desperately grasping at straws trying to criticize him.

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[–] atomicorange 38 points 6 months ago (2 children)

He’s the token white dude!

[–] artemisRiverborne 7 points 6 months ago

I mean he did legalize weed... Token indeed🍃

[–] [email protected] 7 points 6 months ago

I wish to have that job one day. I may even be overqualified as I'm quite pale.

[–] [email protected] 37 points 6 months ago (8 children)

You could also argue that he was hired for representation. The goal is not to get as many black women into power as possible, but to keep the congress diverse. So ideally, there would be half men, half women, some significant fraction black, and so on.

She could have picked another woman as a VP, and it would not have been too bad. But from a diversity perspective, it is better to represent more parts of the population in these positions.

[–] [email protected] 25 points 6 months ago (7 children)

This. I don't understand why people think diversity is a bad thing. True democracy and progress comes when everyone is well represented and everyone's opinions are heard.

With that said we have a lot of institutional barriers that need to be utterly demolished before the people will actually be heard. We have a long way to go, and the first step is to participate in your local elections and vote for the people who actually listen.

[–] Zerlyna 8 points 6 months ago* (last edited 6 months ago) (1 children)

I would love to see Gretchen Whitmer but reality says we are (hopefully) ready for a woman in charge, two is sadly pushing it. Maybe in 20-40 years, it will be something to see before I die. (I’m 50). But I’m estatic about Walz!!! He so… wholesome? “Perfect”? Perfect fit. So warm and compassionate. And the ticket has GenX! We are FINALLY represented! 💙

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[–] [email protected] 31 points 6 months ago (5 children)

Yes because a black woman needs a white man to "balance" the fact... :)

America is a very strange country.

[–] NounsAndWords 27 points 6 months ago (1 children)

I'm not saying it's good (because it's not) but I'm unfortunately pretty certain they're correct.

[–] [email protected] 10 points 6 months ago* (last edited 6 months ago) (8 children)

There's a difference in saying something sexist and racist to be sexist and racist vs being practical due to other people's sexism and racism.

I don't like it any more than you, but I'm afraid they're right. While the country might benefit from two women, two POC, two women of color any variation thereupon, they might not have the best chance in certain (usually older) demographics. And unfortunately this isn't a contest we can pick the morally right choice, lose with dignity, and still come out okay.

"Stand in the ashes of a [Million] dead and ask them if honor matters... Their silence is your answer."

After going through project 2025, I do not think I am being dramatic or hyperbolic with that video game quote.

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[–] [email protected] 6 points 6 months ago

It's politics. People literally make a living polling people about shit like this. It may not be right or even correct.

But it's just where America is right now.

It's progress. A little at a time.

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[–] [email protected] 29 points 6 months ago (3 children)

If you care about his gender and race, YOU are part of the problem.

[–] [email protected] 10 points 6 months ago

Most people care, and in a democratic election is about what most people care, not what an individual cares.

[–] [email protected] 7 points 6 months ago (2 children)
[–] [email protected] 15 points 6 months ago

Walz seems to have pretty good merit, I think

[–] [email protected] 7 points 6 months ago (1 children)

I have no idea anymore. Politics is a cult of personality now. And one’s gender and sexual identity has apparently become part of that.

It’d be really cool if it were about the politics again.

[–] [email protected] 6 points 6 months ago* (last edited 6 months ago)

That's what I'm saying. Can we stop focusing on people's appearance and instead pay more attention to what they have to say and their ideas?

Man, and I thought the Olympic boxer drama was disappointing. People really just want to tear each other down for no good reason.

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[–] jaxxed 29 points 6 months ago (4 children)

All VP picks are DEI hires.

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[–] [email protected] 26 points 6 months ago (4 children)

Why do you think about US politics in the shower?

[–] taiyang 39 points 6 months ago

Same reason we think about mistakes we made in high school while we're trying to go to sleep?

[–] Crackhappy 9 points 6 months ago (2 children)

Some people get off to politics.

[–] Etterra 6 points 6 months ago

It haunts us like the spectre of death.

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[–] [email protected] 8 points 6 months ago (3 children)

what do you think about in the shower?

[–] [email protected] 7 points 6 months ago (3 children)

Not about politicians in my country, that is for sure. They're the last people I want to think about naked and soapy.

[–] [email protected] 6 points 6 months ago

that's why i think about politics more broadly, not politicians.

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[–] pleasejustdie 20 points 6 months ago (1 children)

Its "Walz", no t, and yeah, Daily Show already made that association yesterday. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1geBpDjYb7c within the first minute of the clip.

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[–] [email protected] 20 points 6 months ago

Would be interesting to see the GOP try to run with this messaging. As much as they hate "dei hires" they would jump all over that part, but seeing that it benefitted a white male would likely make them short circuit.

[–] Xeroxchasechase 9 points 6 months ago

Maybe, I think, it's a possibility, that perhaps he is fit to be a VP...

[–] [email protected] 7 points 6 months ago

I didn't consider his gender and race and I liked his policies, until I read about aipac and Palestine.

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