It is official: Joe Biden is out of the race. He has declared he will not be running for president of the United States anymore. This is historic, shocking news, and truly unprecedented in American history. Biden announced it via X/Twitter instead of announcing he would have a press conference or issuing a statement from the Oval Office. Biden wrote: My Fellow Americans, Over the past three and a half years, we have made great progress as a Nation. Today, America has the strongest economy in the world. We’ve made historic investments in rebuilding our Nation, in lowering prescription drug costs for seniors, and in expanding affordable health care to a record number of Americans. We’ve provided critically needed care to a million veterans exposed to toxic substances. Passed the first gun safety law in 30 years. Appointed the first African American woman to the Supreme Court. And passed the most significant climate legislation in the history of the world. America has never been better positioned to lead than we are today. If that were true he would not be dropping out of the race. He wouldn’t have a 32% approval rating. He continued:  I know none of this could have been done without you, the American people. Together, we overcame a once in a century pandemic and the worst economic crisis since the Great Depression. We’ve protected and preserved our Democracy. And we’ve revitalized and strengthened our alliances around the world.  Every element of this, of course, is untrue. More: It has been the greatest honor of my life to serve as your President. And while it has been my intention to seek reelection, I believe it is in the best interest of my party and the country for me to stand down and to focus solely on fulfilling my duties as President for the remainder of my term. I will speak to the Nation later this week in more detail about my decision. For now, let me express my deepest gratitude to all those who have worked so hard to see me reelected. I want to thank Vice President Kamala Harris for being an extraordinary partner in all this work. And let me express my heartfelt appreciation to the American people for the faith and trust you have placed in me. I believe today what I always have: that there is nothing America can’t do – when we do it together. We just have to remember we are the United States of America. There are many things about this message that are shocking. Number one, he says that he is stepping away from his candidacy, but not from the presidency. Why? That’s the obvious question. If you are in a state of senility, you need to step away from the presidency because we are about to launch into one of the most dangerous periods in American history. The rest of the world knows that Joe Biden is a lame-duck president. They know he’s totally senile and not in control of his faculties at this point. The announcement means a couple of big things. It means that Kamala Harris is likely to be the Democratic presidential nominee for president. WATCH: The Ben Shapiro Show It also means that the primary system just doesn’t exist anymore, that if the party decides that a candidate who is running is so weak against the opposition that they can’t possibly win, they can put the screws to that person sufficiently and that person will step aside. In this announcement Biden never makes mention of why he’s dropping out. All he says is that it’s in the best interests of his party and the country for him to stand down and focus on fulfilling his duties as president. The minute the tweet was published people noticed he had not endorsed Kamala Harris for the presidency. 27 minutes later, he tweeted that he, in fact, would endorse her for the presidency, writing: My fellow Democrats, I have decided not to accept the nomination and to focus all my energies on my duties as President for the remainder of my term. My very first decision as the party nominee in 2020 was to pick Kamala Harris as my Vice President. And it’s been the best decision I’ve made. Today I want to offer my full support and endorsement for Kamala to be the nominee of our party this year. Democrats — it’s time to come together and beat Trump. Let’s do this.  This is humiliating for him because he has to admit that Kamala Harris, who is wildly unpopular and terrible at her job, actually has a better shot at beating Trump than he does. It also must be humiliating because we know that Jill Biden does not like Kamala Harris at all.  Harris put out a statement reading: On behalf of the American people, I thank Joe Biden for his extraordinary leadership as President of the United States and for his decades of service to our country. His remarkable legacy of accomplishment is unmatched in modern American history, surpassing the legacy of many Presidents who have served two terms in office. Here’s the trade coming from the Democrats: We’ll have a DNC where we pay homage to the wonders of Joe Biden — and then it won’t be Joe Biden’s fault. If the Democratic Party goes down in flames, it’s the fault of whomever gets appointed next to run against Donald Trump. That is the bargain. Presumably there’ll be a very, very well-apportioned presidential library in Rehoboth Beach or something of that sort for Biden. Harris continued: It is a profound honor to serve as his Vice President, and I am deeply grateful to the President, Dr. Biden, and the entire Biden family. I first came to know President Biden through his son Beau. We were friends from our days working together as Attorneys General of our home states. As we worked together, Beau would tell me stories about his Dad. The kind of father—and the kind of man—he was.  And the qualities Beau revered in his father are the same qualities, the same values, I have seen every single day in Joe’s leadership as President: His honesty and integrity. His big heart and commitment to his faith and his family. And his love of our country and the American people. With this selfless and patriotic act, President Biden is doing what he has done throughout his life of service: putting the American people and our country above everything else. Let’s be real about this: None of it is true. Joe Biden is a self-interested politician. He has been since he was 29-years-old when he won his first Senate race and immediately started using his senatorial power in Delaware to direct corrupt activities to the benefit of his family. The idea that Biden is honest and filled with integrity is going to be a serious question for Kamala Harris. Kamala knew he was senile for literally two years and just weeks ago was talking about how the man was reciting Virgil in Latin backwards and upside-down behind closed doors. Thus she was complicit in lying to the American people. Harris could use the 25th Amendment and oust Biden today; she could lead the way to get the cabinet to get rid of Joe Biden as president because he is senile. She is not doing this, which means it is all political for these people. They can’t say that Biden should drop from the race because he is senile because then he should be removed from the presidency. Instead they’re going to say that he’s undergoing a massive sacrifice by stepping out of the race. Here’s the quiet part out loud: The real reason he’s dropping out is because he’s losing to Donald Trump. Donald Trump clocked him so hard in the debate and Biden fell down on the job so poorly in the debate that the combination ended his presidential candidacy. He’s not dropping out because he won’t be able to last through a second term; he believes he absolutely would be able to last through it.  He’s dropping out because he is losing, and losing really, really badly. The real question should be: Why is he incapable of defending his record? If the problem is not the senility, why isn’t he capable of defending his record? The answer is that the reason Biden is dropping out is not the senility. It is the fact that Joe Biden is getting whomped in the polls right now by Donald Trump. As Biden was issuing his statement, polling showed Trump winning Virginia and the Rust Belt. The Real Clear Politics projected Electoral College showing had him winning 325 Electoral College votes against Joe Biden’s 213. That is a blowout. There was a poll that came out deep in the hours before Joe Biden decided to step out showing that Biden was getting clobbered in Michigan. According to Politico, Joe Biden was far outspending Donald Trump even before the debate, and it was having no impact at all. The real reason he’s getting out is because Trump is destroying him in the polls.

Democratic megadonor Alex Soros has thrown his support behind Vice President Kamala Harris for the 2024 presidential election following President Joe Biden's decision to withdraw from the race. Soros, who chairs the Open Society Foundations, called for party unity behind Harris, asserting her as the best candidate to challenge Republican frontrunner Donald Trump​. The endorsement by Soros underscores a significant shift within the Democratic Party as it prepares for the upcoming election. His backing is seen as a powerful statement, given his substantial influence and financial contributions to progressive causes. Soros emphasized the importance of rallying around Harris to secure a victory against Trump, stressing her qualifications and potential to uphold the American Dream​​. https://x.com/RareImagery/status/1815385134578995696 Despite this high-profile endorsement, not all Democratic donors are in agreement. Some prominent figures within the party are advocating for an open convention to allow other candidates to make their case. They believe that a competitive primary could generate greater excitement and media attention, ultimately strengthening the Democratic ticket​. This division highlights the broader challenges Harris faces within her party. While many Democrats, including former Labor Secretary Robert Reich and Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro, have endorsed her, there are concerns about her ability to win over the broader electorate. https://x.com/StefiDeri/status/1815310309461991598 A recent Politico/Morning Consult poll indicates that only a third of voters believe Harris would win if she became the Democratic nominee. Furthermore, her favorability ratings are similar to Biden's, with significant skepticism among independents and even some Democrats. Harris' campaign is expected to focus heavily on her strengths, such as her advocacy for reproductive rights and her appeal to Black voters. However, she will need to overcome the perception issues that have plagued her vice presidency, including her handling of immigration and other high-profile assignments​. The Democratic Party's decision-making process in the coming months will be critical. If the party opts for an open convention, it could lead to a robust debate about the best path forward. Alternatively, rallying behind Harris could consolidate support and resources but might also risk alienating segments of the electorate who desire a more competitive selection process​​. As the 2024 election approaches, the dynamics within the Democratic Party and the strategies employed by Harris and her supporters will be crucial in determining the outcome. The endorsement from Soros is a significant boost, but it remains to be seen how the broader party and the electorate will respond to her candidacy. The post Soros Endorses Kamala Harris for President Amidst Democratic Division appeared first on The Conservative Brief.

When you enter a public place like a city park or mall area, the last thing you might expect to see is a person lying calmly on a yoga mat. But that is precisely what one visitor saw when visiting Brickell City Centre in Miami, Florida. When questioned, the young lady said she was practicing rejection therapy. @kerstravelstories AMAZING I need to try it!! She was so lovely, if someone knows her please tag her!! ??? #miami #brickell #therapy #book #mindset #viral #love #goodvibes #usa #travel #manifestation #attract #tag #girls ♬ original sound – kerstravelstories Rejection therapy began as a game where “players” do odd things or ask weird questions, seeking a “No” answer or rejection. The game aims to help people grow accustomed to rejection so it doesn’t hit as hard. The game has official rules, and a WikiHow describes how it works. To successfully “compete,” you must receive at least one rejection per day. A therapist might recommend the game as part of a personal awareness and growth path. The science behind the game is that exposure to situations outside our comfort zones helps us grow bolder in our approach to all situations in life. Repeatedly hearing a “No” answer or being rejected builds a wall against rejection. This eventually helps people cope better with situations they would have previously ignored or avoided. The game’s results, including increased flexibility, lower anxiety, and greater self-confidence, can vary. Image from TikTok. The young lady lying on the yoga mat explained to a passerby that the exercises help reduce fear of judgment from others. She learned about the concept in Dr. Aziz Gazipura’s book Not Nice. The self-help text includes several exercises readers can practice to build self-confidence. Our current societal norms center on yes-yes-yes, me-me-me, and “participation trophies.” Acclimating oneself to rejection is sometimes necessary. If you’re not good at hearing a “No” answer, losing, or being turned away, rejection therapy could be helpful. Please share. You can find the source of this story’s featured image here. The post Woman Asked Why She’s Lying Down In Public & The Answer Is Surprisingly Wholesome appeared first on InspireMore.

'He is really, really having trouble reading the teleprompter'

Please don't let this be real

'He's on the wrong side of history

'He made the right decision'

'Any injury is tragic, but I am grateful it did not result in the loss of life'

Column SFF Bestiary There’s Something in These Woods: Supernatural and the Jersey Devil Another monster-of-the-week show, and another missed opportunity… By Judith Tarr | Published on July 22, 2024 Credit: The CW Comment 0 Share New Share Credit: The CW Confession time. For this week’s entry in the Bestiary, I just wanted to sit back and rewatch Supernatural episodes. It’s the time of year when we all melt into puddles of goo. What better company for a goo puddle than Sam and Dean and their large cast of frenemies? The Jersey Devil episode showed up halfway through Season 7. While my brain keeps insisting that there are 30 seasons of the show, there are actually only 15. Which means we’re just about exactly halfway through the many-faceted adventures of the brothers Winchester. By this time the show is deeply invested in its mythos, which is fairly straightforward Christian dualism. God and Lucifer. Angels and devils. Heaven, Hell, and Purgatory. You’d think the Jersey Devil would have a role to play in the mythos. We get a tease of it in the classic horror-movie opening: Middle-aged man and wife glamping in, we’re informed, the Wharton State Forest, Pine Barrens, New Jersey. They’re tucked up in their posh tent and their pricey burrito-style sleeping bags, with working electricity and a TV with remote. Something is stalking them. We know this because we get POV: blurryvision, also wobblyvision. And then the scene jumps, and middle-aged man is hanging upside down in his sleeping bag, and Something is rustling in the trees. Wife and tent and all the mod-cons are gone. Screaming ensues. Bloody polyfill litters the forest floor. Cut to Sam and Dean and Bobby Singer and extended-plot business, and a monster report for them to address: “Human Burrito” chewed to pieces in the Pine Barrens. Sam opines that this is the habitat of the Jersey Devil, with some familiar history and the standard description (hooves, horns, tail, horse’s head—“More like Chewbacca head,” Dean observes). And so we embark on the hunt titled “How to Win Friends and Influence Monsters.” Bobby checks out the autopsy and points out three things that for sure did not kill the glamper. Bite radius too small for a Leviathan (the monster of the season, a shapeshifter with horribly huge, lethally sharp teeth), there’s still some of the heart left so it’s not a werewolf according the mythos of the show, and there are still scraps left, so nope, not a wendigo. Sam and Dean have begun their investigation in a Chili’s-level dining franchise, Biggerson’s, which prominently advertises a sandwich called the Turducken Slammer. The openly hostile waiter serves one to Dean, while Sam and Bobby choose other options. Dean chows down hungrily. Credit: The CW By this time it’s becoming evident that the Jersey Devil has nothing to do with what’s going on in the Pine Barrens. The monster in the woods is a zombie-like human with cannibalistic urges. The vehicle of the urges is none other than the Turducken Slammer. Dean barely escapes becoming zombified. The body count rises, and includes the Assistant Chief Forest Ranger and his superior, aka Ranger Rick. The focus shifts to an evil doctor in his evil lab, working on an evil experiment. He’s developed a mystery meat that causes people to become hungrier for it the more of it they eat (and, speaking of goo, it melts into a puddle of same after an hour). The goal is turn them into obese, complaisant, apathetic couch potatoes. In short, modern Americans. Unfortunately for the doctor, a very small percentage of consumers have a negative reaction to the formula. They became aggressive and violent. They crave human flesh. The Jersey Devil remains a myth, but there are devils in plenty in the Pine Barrens. The forces behind the Slammer are Leviathans, led by one that took on the identity of Dick Roman, vulture capitalist. Dick is authentically and gleefully evil. He has no moral objection to cannibalism, but that’s not what the experiment is supposed to be about. The doctor’s project gets terminated. As for what happens to the doctor… Well. Evil is evil. Sometimes it’s fun. Sometimes, not nearly so much. It’s entertaining. Sam and Dean are just as eye-candy-lovely as ever, and Bobby is his cranky, seen-it-all, awesome self. My one regret is that they passed on the chance to make the Jersey Devil part of the mythos. I suppose they didn’t want to run up the effects budget. And they had an arc to develop, with Dick and the Leviathans. But they could have done so much with a centuries-old half-human, half-demon who seems to be bound to that particular region. It might even have ended up helping the Winchesters take down the Leviathans that have invaded its territory. Because in some of the lore, the Devil is guardian rather than monster; not a killer but a protector. It watches over the Pine Barrens. They missed an opportunity there. Good thing there’s fanfic, and head canon. Because I am having Thoughts.[end-mark] The post There’s <i>Something</i> in These Woods: <i>Supernatural</i> and the Jersey Devil appeared first on Reactor.