1000 scientists: wearing a mask helps
3 scientists: Yeah, maybe

American people: See, no one really knows.


- FoxMulder

thank you for this

The bottom line is doing this in Canada makes a lot more sense then doing it in the United States. Edmonton would seem a lot safer then Las Vegas.

Not sure why Ottawa or Montreal never seemed under consideration for the East but obviously the NHL has a lot of ties to Toronto.
- Queenie_5_hole

I agree. I think there's a better chance we have a post-season in Canada than in the US.

surely people wearing masks are a bigger problem than the idiots without masks
- Coburns_Nose

Are you more likely to have a conversation with someone wearing a mask or the idiot without one?

The race between Trump and Clinton was probably the most divisive ever. Neither candidates even tried to pretend to address the concerns of the other side, they only spoke to their base. So I agree with what you're saying, but Trump's campaign strategy is it's his side against the other side so I think he's pretty much going for that result.
- Tojo.

Oh I agree with you. It’s (frank)ing annoying. Personally I think he loses unless he somehow unleashes some sort of decent policy after the DNC announces their candidates, which might be what he’s waiting for but the fact that he’s stood pat whole cities burn and commies take up 6 blocks in Seattle, I can See some republicans feeling he doesn’t deserve their vote because he didn’t do a god damn thing during the civil unrest. I bet you he tries to throw out some more stimulus checks closer to the election to swing votes back his way lol.

Sucks ass that the two options are a creepy Joe Biden and a disgusting Donald Trump. It’s a shame there couldn’t be a centrist candidate that actually makes sense.

Oh I agree with you. It’s (frank)ing annoying. Personally I think he loses unless he somehow unleashes some sort of decent policy after the DNC announces their candidates, which might be what he’s waiting for but the fact that he’s stood pat whole cities burn and commies take up 6 blocks in Seattle, I can See some republicans feeling he doesn’t deserve their vote because he didn’t do a god damn thing during the civil unrest. I bet you he tries to throw out some more stimulus checks closer to the election to swing votes back his way lol.

Sucks ass that the two options are a creepy Joe Biden and a disgusting Donald Trump. It’s a shame there couldn’t be a centrist candidate that actually makes sense.
- j.boyd919

Do you think it's possible Trump steps down before the election to make it look like he never lost?

I've read that he already has a subscription service in the works for access to him and things he will do after his presidency that will net him around 125 mill a year.

Oh I agree with you. It’s (frank)ing annoying. Personally I think he loses unless he somehow unleashes some sort of decent policy after the DNC announces their candidates, which might be what he’s waiting for but the fact that he’s stood pat whole cities burn and commies take up 6 blocks in Seattle, I can See some republicans feeling he doesn’t deserve their vote because he didn’t do a god damn thing during the civil unrest. I bet you he tries to throw out some more stimulus checks closer to the election to swing votes back his way lol.

Sucks ass that the two options are a creepy Joe Biden and a disgusting Donald Trump. It’s a shame there couldn’t be a centrist candidate that actually makes sense.
- j.boyd919

Yeah, there rarely is. I wonder if with how divisive our politics have become if we'll ever see a true centrist candidate or if Biden is as close as it ever gets. I'll be very curious to see if the next Republican candidate is similar to Trump or not.

Do you think it's possible Trump steps down before the election to make it look like he never lost?

I've red that he already has a subscription service for access to him and things he will do after his presidency that will net him around 125 mill a year.
- MattStrat

Nah I don’t think so, lol I really can’t wait to watch the debates though. I hope they’re live and in person and not via zoom. Gonna be some bonafide entertainment ya dog faced pony soldier.

I think his son runs next election.

Yeah, there rarely is. I wonder if with how divisive our politics have become if we'll ever see a true centrist candidate or if Biden is as close as it ever gets. I'll be very curious to see if the next Republican candidate is similar to Trump or not.
- Tojo.

I think the next republican candidates is his son.

I really liked Yang.

I think the next republican candidates is his son.

I really liked Yang.
- j.boyd919

Is it weird that I like Yang more now than I did in the primaries? With everything that's happened with the pandemic and the economy, I read what he says and think that's a guy who can help us recover.

I saw something yesterday where he might be considered by Biden for a cabinet post though not sure how factual it was, but I'd like his mind somewhere influential for whatever comes next.

Trump's son? Maybe he runs, but I think he'd be seen as a pale imitation at best and what I'm curious if the Republicans will want to go down a similar road again if they can help it.

Is it weird that I like Yang more now than I did in the primaries? With everything that's happened with the pandemic and the economy, I read what he says and think that's a guy who can help us recover.

I saw something yesterday where he might be considered by Biden for a cabinet post though not sure how factual it was, but I'd like his mind somewhere influential for whatever comes next.

Trump's son? Maybe he runs, but I think he'd be seen as a pale imitation at best and what I'm curious if the Republicans will want to go down a similar road again if they can help it.
- Tojo.

The problem with Yang in the primaries is that he was running as a democrat and he likely had to come up with democrat fluff, even if it wasn’t exactly his views to try and gain traction among the party. Now he’s not trying to win nomination so he doesn’t have to adhere to party guidelines. At least that’s my opinion.

But yeah I completely agree with you that he’s a guy who can help us recover and even prosper in the future.

On a funnier note did you know that You can write a joe Biden speech by typing here’s the deal and then pressing predictive text 15-20 times?

Here’s the deal I don’t think I have any other ones that are going on there and then I gotta was a really weird thing to say that you have to

I think the next republican candidates is his son.

I really liked Yang.
- j.boyd919

I’ll be shocked if it’s not a populist. It’ll be Don Jr, DeSantis, or Cotton.

Just asking the audience...

Has anyone else listened to NHL Radio or read some of the articles leading up to this soon-to-be playoff match, and thought "why the hell is everyone thinking Montreal is going to win this series?"

Every time they discuss the Habs/Penguins series, they're making it out like this break was a gift from God, and now they're going to just take over the playoffs. Did I miss something? Weren't they out of the playoffs before Covid-19 hit? Isn't Carey Price just an okay goalie of late?

What am I missing? I'm not even being a homer about it, because anything can happen in the playoffs, but let's bring the expectations down a few pegs there, boys.

I’ll be shocked if it’s not a populist. It’ll be Don Jr, DeSantis, or Cotton.
- Victoro311

Put a gun in my mouth if that's what we have to look forward to as a potential presidential candidate. Good sweet God. That's a nightmare.

Put a gun in my mouth if that's what we have to look forward to as a potential presidential candidate. Good sweet God. That's a nightmare.
- simethos

This election and last election have been pretty (frank)ing bad too lol just make sure you vote republican so you can keep that gun.

The bottom line is doing this in Canada makes a lot more sense then doing it in the United States. Edmonton would seem a lot safer then Las Vegas.

Not sure why Ottawa or Montreal never seemed under consideration for the East but obviously the NHL has a lot of ties to Toronto.
- Queenie_5_hole

Toronto got it over Ottawa because of the access to everything the NHL needs. Places to practice for a lot of teams and places to stay near the rinks. And over Montreal because they've been hit harder by Covid.

Still think it should've been Buffalo, though. Good place to go to make sure players stay the (frank) inside like they're told.

Just asking the audience...

Has anyone else listened to NHL Radio or read some of the articles leading up to this soon-to-be playoff match, and thought "why the hell is everyone thinking Montreal is going to win this series?"

Every time they discuss the Habs/Penguins series, they're making it out like this break was a gift from God, and now they're going to just take over the playoffs. Did I miss something? Weren't they out of the playoffs before Covid-19 hit? Isn't Carey Price just an okay goalie of late?

What am I missing? I'm not even being a homer about it, because anything can happen in the playoffs, but let's bring the expectations down a few pegs there, boys.
- simethos

I feel a lot of the Habs-centered talk around the series pumps up their below the radar strengths. They do have a deep line-up with a lot of fast forwards, but have been killed by injuries so haven't shown it much. They've added some hood young talent to a team that broke 90 points last year. And their top line tends to do well at controlling territory against other team's beat.

The flip side is those articles know Pens stars, but not their under the radar strengths. They also have a really deep line-up that due to injuries and trade deadline acquisitions hasn't even played together yet. They have a great shutdown line and aren't going to just give the Habs the beat on beat match-up they want. And most people outside Pittsburgh have no clue how good John Marino is.

Also, all the Pens want to play and their starting line-up is healthy.

Pens should be favored, but it's sports after a long layoff so we'll see what happens, hopefully.

I’ll be shocked if it’s not a populist. It’ll be Don Jr, DeSantis, or Cotton.
- Victoro311

This could be for you, or j.boyd or anyone really: would you change your mind about what type on candidate wins the primary if Trump is defeated badly? I think if that happens, it might show America wouldn't choose his style again.

Besides his opponent, biggest change is last time he was somewhat unknown but a lot of people had an appetite to try something different than established politics. This time, we're voting on what he does, not what he might do.

This election and last election have been pretty (frank)ing bad too lol just make sure you vote republican so you can keep that gun.
- j.boyd919

I feel a lot of the Habs-centered talk around the series pumps up their below the radar strengths. They do have a deep line-up with a lot of fast forwards, but have been killed by injuries so haven't shown it much. They've added some hood young talent to a team that broke 90 points last year. And their top line tends to do well at controlling territory against other team's beat.

The flip side is those articles know Pens stars, but not their under the radar strengths. They also have a really deep line-up that due to injuries and trade deadline acquisitions hasn't even played together yet. They have a great shutdown line and aren't going to just give the Habs the beat on beat match-up they want. And most people outside Pittsburgh have no clue how good John Marino is.

Also, all the Pens want to play and their starting line-up is healthy.

Pens should be favored, but it's sports after a long layoff so we'll see what happens, hopefully.
- Tojo.

Yeah, they are deep, they just lack the amount of top-end talent the Pens have. Their defense is somewhat comparable to the Pens. I would say it comes down to goaltending. The Pens are two-deep whereas the Habs are pretty much just Price.

This could be for you, or j.boyd or anyone really: would you change your mind about what type on candidate wins the primary if Trump is defeated badly? I think if that happens, it might show America wouldn't choose his style again.

Besides his opponent, biggest change is last time he was somewhat unknown but a lot of people had an appetite to try something different than established politics. This time, we're voting on what he does, not what he might do.
- Tojo.

I don’t think I’d necessarily change my mind because I don’t know what else the GOP has right now. The party went all in on populism and pandering to the evangelical coalition and has basically purged the party over the past three years. Everyone’s either gotten with the program or been forced out of the party. The only guy high profile enough to win an election that isn’t now tied to Trumpism is Romney and he’s old. Maybe a guy like Paul Ryan or preferably Will Hurd comes out of retirement to try to “save” the party, but I don’t think that will end well (also Paul Ryan sucks to begin with). We still have Amash running around trying to stir the pot, but despite loving to claim that they’re libertarian, the Republican base has proven a million times they hate actual libertarianism.

I think regardless of whether Trump gets killed or not, the 2024 primary is going to be Populism vs Amash, and I think Amash is gonna get whooped. Now, I think if Trump loses and then the GOP gets beat soundly again in 2024, then I think the American populist movement could be dead in the water and American conservatism will need to find a new identity, or else the two parties will become the Democrats who stay moderate and the progressives who are inevitably going to splinter off into their own party if the GOP becomes unviable.

Maybe some day, us Americans will learn that only having two major political parties is insane and just builds a political system going to battle with people who largely arent that different from you? Both sides can rarely work together because it is seen as weakness and leads to you getting primaried by someone during the next election.

American politics has been broken for a long time. The country refuses to take that next step and smell the roses.

I don’t think I’d necessarily change my mind because I don’t know what else the GOP has right now. The party went all in on populism and pandering to the evangelical coalition and has basically purged the party over the past three years. Everyone’s either gotten with the program or been forced out of the party. The only guy high profile enough to win an election that isn’t now tied to Trumpism is Romney and he’s old. Maybe a guy like Paul Ryan or preferably Will Hurd comes out of retirement to try to “save” the party, but I don’t think that will end well (also Paul Ryan sucks to begin with). We still have Amash running around trying to stir the pot, but despite loving to claim that they’re libertarian, the Republican base has proven a million times they hate actual libertarianism.

I think regardless of whether Trump gets killed or not, the 2024 primary is going to be Populism vs Amash, and I think Amash is gonna get whooped. Now, I think if Trump loses and then the GOP gets beat soundly again in 2024, then I think the American populist movement could be dead in the water and American conservatism will need to find a new identity, or else the two parties will become the Democrats who stay moderate and the progressives who are inevitably going to splinter off into their own party if the GOP becomes unviable.
- Victoro311

The wind in the Republican Party changes a lot more than the Democrat Party (dont mean that in a good or bad way). In 2008, you had a war hawk in John McCain. In 2010 you had a clean sweep of the Tea Party. In 2012, people thought the Tea Party would elect a guy, it turns out a moderate establishment guy Romney was nominated. Leading into 2016, people thought a moderate Republican would get the nod... instead they nominated Trump.

I look at the current election map and the Republicans are in deep trouble in the Senate. As bad as 2020 looks from a map perspective, 2022 looks worse. They need Biden to really blow it in his first two years to hold some of those seats. So if the Republicans lose in 2020 (and it looks like they will), you could see them fail to take anything back in 2022. If you get slaughtered for two straight elections, it's time to change.

I like Amash. I dont agree with him on everything, but give me a guy willing to stick his neck out and stick to principle over a group whose principles demend on their fear of one guy. I agree with your point on the Republicans pretending to be libertarians but never actually following libertarianism. that could be amash's downfall.

I don’t think I’d necessarily change my mind because I don’t know what else the GOP has right now. The party went all in on populism and pandering to the evangelical coalition and has basically purged the party over the past three years. Everyone’s either gotten with the program or been forced out of the party. The only guy high profile enough to win an election that isn’t now tied to Trumpism is Romney and he’s old. Maybe a guy like Paul Ryan or preferably Will Hurd comes out of retirement to try to “save” the party, but I don’t think that will end well (also Paul Ryan sucks to begin with). We still have Amash running around trying to stir the pot, but despite loving to claim that they’re libertarian, the Republican base has proven a million times they hate actual libertarianism.

I think regardless of whether Trump gets killed or not, the 2024 primary is going to be Populism vs Amash, and I think Amash is gonna get whooped. Now, I think if Trump loses and then the GOP gets beat soundly again in 2024, then I think the American populist movement could be dead in the water and American conservatism will need to find a new identity, or else the two parties will become the Democrats who stay moderate and the progressives who are inevitably going to splinter off into their own party if the GOP becomes unviable.
- Victoro311

now that's an interesting possibility because there's certainly a growing divide among the Democrat. AOC has already said the party's tent is too big when she and Biden are both in it back when she thought Sanders would win. I can definitely see the moderates pushing back.

now that's an interesting possibility because there's certainly a growing divide among the Democrat. AOC has already said the party's tent is too big when she and Biden are both in it back when she thought Sanders would win. I can definitely see the moderates pushing back.
- Tojo.

They hate each other. The Democrats have become an anti-Trump coalition of old-guard Kennedy Dem establishment people, the Progressives, and never-Trump ex-Republicans. The coalition’s main identity is anti-Trump and not based on any substantial policy ideals. If populism is defeated, it will no longer have a purpose for existing and the infighting that’s already pretty bad will only get worse and they will splinter. This is why Ive gotten over myself and decided to vote Dem until further notice despite finding the Democrat’s position on abortion morally abhorrent (my view, no need to go down that rabbit hole on this thread). Despite the short term successes of the Republican Party under a populist agenda, I don’t think it’s sustainable and I think we’re witnessing the long term death of the party as the coalition that voted trump in continues to erode down to his core base as things get worse here. I detest populism with my every being, but I think having the two political options here be a left of center party vs social “democrats“ is almost as bad and a heck of a lot more sustainable in the long run than Trumpism. If that becomes the status quo, it will be entrenched for a very long time, so we need to crush the American populist wave quickly and soundly so the GOP has time to reinvent itself before becoming irrelevant and letting the Social Dems usurp them as the second party.