My guess would be; Because Nature is indifferent:

jerry99 comments on Feb 7, 2019:

Because 50% of the people are of below average intelligence and somehow they seem to be in charge.

Elizabeth Warren's Native American problem just got even worse - CNNPolitics

jerry99 comments on Feb 7, 2019:

Yeah, being mistaken about her genetic heritage is really damning, just as bad as colluding with the Russians to destroy our country. Stone her!

[scontent.fman1-2.fna.fbcdn.net]

jerry99 comments on Feb 7, 2019:

No way I'm clicking on random links

In the Bible where Jesus says "He who is without sin the first stone" Two questions come to ...

jerry99 comments on Feb 7, 2019:

Because Christianity

Freudian slip or GOP goal? [independent.co.uk]

jerry99 comments on Feb 7, 2019:

“Since the founding of our nation, many of our greatest strides, from gaining our independence **to abolition of civil rights**, to extending the vote for women, have been led by people of faith and started in prayer,” the president said on Thursday. “When we open our hearts to faith we fill our hearts with love.” He's an idiot!

Attention!

jerry99 comments on Feb 7, 2019:

It's 4 degrees here, so sounds good. Oh wait, I have to go shovel the damn drive!

Officially divorced.

jerry99 comments on Feb 7, 2019:

Relief + depression

World’s largest carmakers warn of bleak year ahead

jerry99 comments on Feb 7, 2019:

I'll never buy another gasoline powered vehicle. It's be nice if the car makers figured out that there's quite a few of us who'd prefer to avoid damaging our environment.

Hawaii pidgin word added to Oxford English Dictionary - Hawaii Tribune-Herald

jerry99 comments on Feb 7, 2019:

Seems a bit hammajang to be adding new words that hardly anyone knows.

Be careful what you ask for, dogs don't come house trained. :)

jerry99 comments on Feb 6, 2019:

Dogs require you to do a lot of poop cleaning, though I guess that's true for a lot of of us guys as well.

Hiding your lack of faith at work

jerry99 comments on Feb 6, 2019:

I’ve worked with Mormons and Evangelicals and I was always interested to hear about their religious beliefs though I made no secret about my own lack of religion. It always amazed me that these really bright guys, working in high tech industry, bought into a bunch of religious nonsense and would happily spend their weekends knocking on doors, proselytizing, and picketing Planned Parenthood centers.

What do you think of this research suggesting religious and spiritual belief are protective against ...

jerry99 comments on Feb 6, 2019:

I guess it’s like the AA folks putting their trust in a “higher power.” It relieves them of having to take responsibility for their actions since they can just point to the big guy in charge. Lazy people don’t want to think for themselves, they can just do what someone else tells them to do.

Senate Block Free Zone Warning --- since it seems that some people are unaware that the Senate is a...

jerry99 comments on Feb 6, 2019:

I understand why some people might prefer that their blocks remain anonymous, but I'd still be curious to know just how many people thought I was blockworthy. If it's a significant number, I'd have to think pretty hard about what I'm doing here.

How did people like the president (Trump) State of the Union Speech?

jerry99 comments on Feb 6, 2019:

I hear the words and think they're stupid or offensive, but his tone of voice is truly disgusting. His attitude seems to be that he thinks he's smarter than everyone else and we should all be grateful that he deigns to spare a few moments of his precious time to elevate our understanding. He should rot in jail and die of syphilis!

Pact to award electoral votes to popular vote winner, regardless of who wins state, gains steam in 2...

jerry99 comments on Feb 6, 2019:

Republicans lost the popular vote but won in 2 of the last 3 presidential elections and gave us 2 disastrous presidencies. They have figured out how to game the system so they can win with their minority party. Time for a change!

Over-population is the real cause of climate change – it's killing us all off

jerry99 comments on Feb 6, 2019:

Dumbass religions keep telling people to be fruitful and multiply. They're hoping to out-populate the opposition.

Perspective is everything.

jerry99 comments on Feb 6, 2019:

I couldn't figure it out and had to do the rotate.

When someone posts only face closeups on their profile page, does that mean there's something wrong ...

jerry99 comments on Feb 6, 2019:

What do you assume about someone who doesn't include any photo at all?

Nancy Pelosi and the Sarcastic Point Clapback Heard Round the World By ELLIOT HANNON FEB 05, ...

jerry99 comments on Feb 6, 2019:

Patton Oswalt called it the “Fuck you clap”!

In days before the Internet, we had "chat rooms" .

jerry99 comments on Feb 5, 2019:

"The words of the prophets Are written on the subway walls And tenement halls" Not on Twitter!

Why do some of the points categories have limits as to how may of those points you can get?

jerry99 comments on Feb 5, 2019:

I think the points system is fatally flawed in that it encourages people to post crap just to move up. I suggest that posts and comments should get zero points unless they get a certain number of likes.

I’m out in Colorado Springs.

jerry99 comments on Feb 5, 2019:

Yes, there's a huge military and christian presence, but head downtown or over to the Westside/Manitou. It's fairly normal here. And if you look, you can find okay music and NPR on the radio (but who listens to radio anymore?).

Are any of you gonna watch the presidential address tonight or will you wait for the summary on the ...

jerry99 comments on Feb 5, 2019:

He's boring, offensive and repetitive. I far prefer to watch clips of the lowlights with concurrent fact-checking. Thank you, Youtube!

Trump Campaign Worked Closely With Convicted Pedophile - YouTube

jerry99 comments on Feb 4, 2019:

He reminds us of that every day "Trump picks ex-oil lobbyist David Bernhardt for Interior secretary" https://thehill.com/policy/energy-environment/428395-trump-picks-ex-oil-lobbyist-david-bernhard-for-interior-secretary

Father of Parkland shooting victim responds to Louis CK’s controversial comedy routine ...

jerry99 comments on Feb 4, 2019:

Comedians often have a problem finding the line: Three weeks after the September 11 attacks, Gilbert Gottfried joked that he had intended to catch a plane, but could not get a direct flight because "they said they have to stop at the Empire State Building first".

So, I am seeking a way to merge my aptitude for science with my passion for social justice and ...

jerry99 comments on Feb 4, 2019:

Q: Do you know why they fired the Buddhist coroner? A: For "Cause Of Death", he kept writing "Birth."

I see no one else answered him. Am I an idiot for engaging with this guy? [agnostic.com]

jerry99 comments on Feb 4, 2019:

I may be wrong but I thought of him as another harmless troll who just likes to say something antagonistic just to get a response. I've called him out on it a couple of times but mostly ignore him lately.

Don't Blame Trump Voters

jerry99 comments on Feb 4, 2019:

From Nixon to Reagan to Bush Jr. to Trump, Republicans keep coming up with worse and worse presidents and somehow they get the morons to vote for them. I'm picturing a couple of members of the secret right-wing cabal plotting about how low they can go and still win elections! Charles Manson for President!

I don't know if this has been posted but I can't even communicate the amount of disgust I feel for ...

jerry99 comments on Feb 4, 2019:

Doesn't look like much of a link.

During the Super Bowl, I’m taking a relaxing, hot, lavender bubble bath.

jerry99 comments on Feb 3, 2019:

I haven't watched a football game of any flavor in 10-20 years, but for no particular reason I turned it on tonight while screwing around on the computer. Boring first half and a really awful band at half-time. Didn't even see a good commercial. I'm so old I can remember when Superbowls were incredible spectacles! I blame Trump!

[friendlyatheist.

jerry99 comments on Feb 3, 2019:

‘There are none so blind as those who will not see. The most deluded people are those who choose to ignore what they already know’. In other words, Republicans.

WHAT TEAMS DO YOU HATE AND WHY?

jerry99 comments on Feb 3, 2019:

No hate. In order to hate, you have to care.

How much of "What the bleep do we know" do YOU believe?

jerry99 comments on Feb 3, 2019:

I know more bleep than those clowns.

Hawaii has a bill that will legally prohibit adults under the age of 30 from buying cigarettes ...

jerry99 comments on Feb 3, 2019:

Having quit smoking several times before I quit for good 30 years ago, I'd say confirmed nicotine addicts aren't going to quit without a fight. I admire the intent, but I think they'd be better off sponsoring voluntary stop-smoking programs.

Just a few of Trump's frauds, bankruptcies, frauds and scams.

jerry99 comments on Feb 3, 2019:

Don't forget: Trump President of the US - fraud, scam, traitor

[yahoo.

jerry99 comments on Feb 3, 2019:

Trump sees this and is rubbing his hands together saying, "good, good, ...".

I went to the VA Hospital E.

jerry99 comments on Feb 3, 2019:

It's hard to get angry at well-intentioned idiots. I'd draw the line at letting them touch me (unless they're hot of course). Good luck with your treatment.

Thoughts on Cory Booker running for president?

jerry99 comments on Feb 3, 2019:

I was impressed with him as mayor of Newark and I think he has done well as Senator. I believe he's an excellent candidate. My ONLY concern for 2020 is who can beat Trump. Cory Booker seems like a good bet.

Finished repairing a worn, threadbare shirt for a man

jerry99 comments on Feb 2, 2019:

Even at minimum wage wage, wouldn't 7.5 hours pay cover a new shirt?

[dailykos.

jerry99 comments on Feb 2, 2019:

I'm starting to think he's going to hurt Trump at least as much as the Dems. He certainly seems to be setting up his appeal as an anti-progressive.

Lest we forget...

jerry99 comments on Feb 2, 2019:

Republicans -- Stupid, Evil, or Insane -- pick 3!

Hey 2 all humans have a great weekend and be yourself because you fucking rock.....???

jerry99 comments on Feb 1, 2019:

Somehow I think their dumbass supporters are still thinking that trickle-down's gonna land in my lap any day now!

RANT ALERT: You know Bill Maher and his "New Rules"?

jerry99 comments on Feb 1, 2019:

I really don't need to hear any more revelations about the inner workings of Trumps corrupt regime. I think by now it's safe to assume that every last one of them is rotten to the core.

Blackwater founder Erik Prince’s new company building training center in Xinjiang - The Washington...

jerry99 comments on Feb 1, 2019:

He and his sister are from the Anything For A Buck branch of the Republican party. Oh wait, that's the entire party!

Trump, in Interview, Calls Wall Talks ‘Waste of Time’ and Dismisses Investigations By Peter ...

jerry99 comments on Feb 1, 2019:

Inconsistency is just one of his many many problems. No one should ever trust this clown!

Michael Cohen has chosen (that's right.

jerry99 comments on Feb 1, 2019:

Oy, what's a nice Jewish boy to do?

Catholic Church in Texas Names Nearly 300 Priests Accused of Sex Abuse [a.

jerry99 comments on Feb 1, 2019:

If Jeebus didn't want them to bugger little boys he wouldn't have made them priests.

For every three steps forward, take two back, argh.

jerry99 comments on Feb 1, 2019:

I'd like to think that a presidential pardon that is effectively a quid pro quo would be one more count in the Trump impeachment charge.

US expected to announce treaty withdrawal as soon as Friday [apnews.

jerry99 comments on Jan 31, 2019:

The great dealmaker strikes again — strikes out, that is. Whatever made anybody think this clown was qualified to be president of anything beyond the local bingo club?

Media Bias Chart. I'm neutral to hyper-partisan. Who do you read or listen to?

jerry99 comments on Jan 31, 2019:

Upper Left+Center

Interesting article and for me, an optimistic view of our future: "The human race could live ...

jerry99 comments on Jan 31, 2019:

"Never before have we been haphazardly equipped with the tools to bring about our own demise. We’re recklessly building AIs and algorithms that have no empathy for their human creators. Pandemic-level pathogens escape their labs on a shockingly regular basis. And we’re only a decade or two away from a climate-change point of no return; global warming’s own event horizon. Yet we don’t seem to be in any great rush to course correct." And to think, there I was worried about a galaxy collision or a black hole going nuts! Good article, thanks!

My best explaination of the universe and there being no need for a god is this.

jerry99 comments on Jan 31, 2019:

I'm not quite certain that the heat death of the universe is inevitable in 100 trillion years or so, but that seems like the way to bet right now. Of course, our galaxy is probably doomed anyway since we're on a collision course with the Andromeda galaxy in 8 billion years, as well as with the Large Magellanic Cloud in a mere 2 billion years and it looks like the black hole at the center of our galaxy is destined to consume everything nearby regardless! Personally, I prefer the Hindu belief in a cyclic universe, referred to these days as the Big Bounce.

US secretly shipped plutonium from South Carolina to Nevada

jerry99 comments on Jan 31, 2019:

Perhaps nuclear energy isn't a viable fuel source until we have a means of disposing of the nuclear waste. Solar, wind, hydro, and geothermal should all be researched and promoted. Go Elon et al!

Who's in with me?

jerry99 comments on Jan 31, 2019:

Too many open-carry people around here to try that!

Old Man Yells At Cloud! @realDonaldTrump: Democrats are becoming the Party of late term abortion, ...

jerry99 comments on Jan 31, 2019:

Here's a pretty powerful response to Trump's leaping on the late-term abortion/infanticide outrage. Eugene Gu, MD: What Trump really wants to do is eliminate access to birth control and contraceptives like Plan B and punish women for having premarital sex by forcing them to give birth. This is especially rich coming from a guy who raw-dogged porn stars when his wife was pregnant. No doctor would ever support infanticide. This is a cruel line of totally false propaganda. If a fetus can be safely delivered from the womb and survive outside the mother, no doctor in the entire world would terminate that baby. That’s the most outrageous lie I’ve ever heard. Late term abortions over 24 weeks can be absolutely medically necessary if a pregnant woman has dangerously high blood pressures causing seizures and the fetus is very small for gestational age and not compatible with life. A dilation and curettage may save the mother’s life. Forcing a woman to risk her life to give birth to a baby that will not survive due to a severe and fatal abnormality is both senseless and cruel. This is a decision between a woman and her doctor. Old white male lawmakers have no place in this very difficult discussion. Late term abortions are incredibly rare. The few that are performed can be for cases in which the fetus has anencephaly, bilateral renal agenesis, or a fatal abnormality that is not compatible with life. Or when the mom’s life or health is in jeopardy. It was fortunately struck down by a federal judge. But the whole war on contraception and blaming women for having sex is incredibly immoral. Women have the right to autonomy over their own bodies and men have no right to control that through legislation. Republicans are waging a war on birth control and contraception which promotes unintended pregnancies that results in abortions. In fact, last year Trump allowed employers to not include any contraceptive coverage in their health insurance for employees. Here’s a newsflash for you Trump. Democrats do not support late term abortions. No woman ever wants to get an abortion for fun. Every woman who gets an abortion does so because she had to not because she wanted to.

Jnew and her hubz kickin it down in the green hay with a gaggle of minions.

jerry99 comments on Jan 31, 2019:

WTF?

All of the women I know are, simply, done.

jerry99 comments on Jan 31, 2019:

Then maybe they'll decide not to vote for Trump again.

Whatever happened to global warming?

jerry99 comments on Jan 31, 2019:

I’m guessing you’re from the Donald J. Trump School of Climatology. The J stands for Genius!

Zeus The Almighty.

jerry99 comments on Jan 31, 2019:

I’d hate to see your grocery list.

I am still trying to figure out what turned Lindsey Graham from a patriot and man who put country ...

jerry99 comments on Jan 31, 2019:

I’d guess he’s still hoping for a presidential appointment like Secretary of State.

We make fun of him but he is just an extremely dangerous bastard.

jerry99 comments on Jan 31, 2019:

Just read through his early morning tweet storm. He sounds desperate and out of control. I’m guessing he sees the handwriting on the wall and realized that for him time’s just about up. Can’t happen soon enough! Fuck Trump and everyone who enables his insanity!

IS TRUMP TURNING AMERICA FASCIST?

jerry99 comments on Jan 30, 2019:

I'd like to think that the good sense and courage of the American people will win out, as it seemed to do in the last election. But I wouldn't underestimate Trump and his crazy coalition of religionists, racists, and gun nuts. I just hope people will remember that elections have consequences and not be intimidated by Repub vote suppression tactics.

IT HAD TO HAPPEN SOONER OR LATER - We all knew it was coming.

jerry99 comments on Jan 30, 2019:

It's the next step in proclaiming his rule: "The divine right of kings, or divine-right theory of kingship, is a political and religious doctrine of royal and political legitimacy. It asserts that a monarch is subject to no earthly authority, deriving his right to rule directly from the will of God."

Would you have voted for Michelle Obama if she ran in 2016?

jerry99 comments on Jan 30, 2019:

I'm still hoping she runs in 2020.

Bipartisan bill would withhold pay for president, lawmakers during shutdowns | TheHill

jerry99 comments on Jan 30, 2019:

Seems obvious that Congress should have the same pay scales, health insurance, retirement etc. as those they govern. Anything else is insane!

GOP introduces plan to massively cut Social Security

jerry99 comments on Jan 30, 2019:

Article is from December 9, 2016

Trump Again Attacks Intelligence Officials After They Contradict His False Claims | HuffPost

jerry99 comments on Jan 30, 2019:

Facts are your worst nightmare when you're a Trump!

Magical thinking: the belief that one's ideas, thoughts, actions, words, or use of symbols can ...

jerry99 comments on Jan 30, 2019:

It seems understandable to me that if you're powerless to influence events then leaping on some magical incantation, prayer, beads or con artist is all you have available for comfort. Stupid but understandable. Thoughts and prayers, baby!

The article says Celine looks “breath-taking”.

jerry99 comments on Jan 30, 2019:

Gah!! I'm sorry I looked!

Trump tells US spy chiefs: 'Go back to school' President Donald Trump has called US intelligence ...

jerry99 comments on Jan 30, 2019:

His insane tweets reveal him for the traitorous asshole he is. After he finishes rotting in prison, I hope he rots in hell! @realDonaldTrump The Intelligence people seem to be extremely passive and naive when it comes to the dangers of Iran. They are wrong! When I became President Iran was making trouble all over the Middle East, and beyond. Since ending the terrible Iran Nuclear Deal, they are MUCH different, but.... ....a source of potential danger and conflict. They are testing Rockets (last week) and more, and are coming very close to the edge. There economy is now crashing, which is the only thing holding them back. Be careful of Iran. Perhaps Intelligence should go back to school!

I predict a sudden upsurge in home-schooling in Colorado. [msn.com]

jerry99 comments on Jan 30, 2019:

Home schooled children still need to meet state education standards. And btw Colorado offers free birth control (with some limits) that have dramatically reduced teen-age pregnancies. Yay Colorado!

Sarah Palin's Attempt To Mock 'Literal Loser' Stacey Abrams Backfires On Twitter | HuffPost

jerry99 comments on Jan 30, 2019:

Literal loser says what?

[washingtonpost.

jerry99 comments on Jan 30, 2019:

I'm sure they'll be shocked to discover they have any illegals there, shocked! But it'll turn out to be someone else's fault.

[yahoo.

jerry99 comments on Jan 30, 2019:

They claim it's religion neutral but is clearly intended to bring Christian brain-washing into the public schools: "The American Civil Liberties Union blasted both the attempt to infuse Bible literacy courses in pubic schools and Trump’s support of it. Its concern is that, notwithstanding Fitschen’s self-proclaimed commitment to religious neutrality, in practice the courses could, at least in some states, amount to a form of Christian evangelism. “Yet again, President Trump is exploiting religious divisions to score political points. Public school Bible courses are rarely taught neutrally and objectively as required by the Constitution,” Daniel Mach, director of the ACLU Program on Freedom of Religion and Belief, told Yahoo News in an email. “Instead, these courses usually resemble Sunday school classes that blatantly violate students’ and parents’ First Amendment rights. Religious education is best left to families and faith communities, not public school officials.”

What’s the funniest song you’ve ever heard?

jerry99 comments on Jan 30, 2019:

Barnes & Barnes - Fish Heads https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cn73Wtem0No

The State of the Union is coming up, what's the chances that he'll use this opportunity to resign?

jerry99 comments on Jan 30, 2019:

I'm sure we'll hear the same lies he's given before about the how the wall will stop everything and how Dems want open borders. I don't know why Nancy is giving him a platform to spew more of his racism and general insanity. Oh yeah -- and he'll call the Mueller report a witch hunt.

The petty trumpers were busy during the shutdown.

jerry99 comments on Jan 30, 2019:

Just one of many examples. While Trump is distracting everyone with his imbecilic tweets, his staff is busy appoint incompetent right-wing judges to the bench, cancelling all the environmental protections, screwing up the public schools, etc.

Interesting experiment.

jerry99 comments on Jan 30, 2019:

She switched apps from Google to Apple, like one is more evil than the other!

[alternet.

jerry99 comments on Jan 29, 2019:

I'd like to see them give it a shot!

[jta.

jerry99 comments on Jan 29, 2019:

Good guy, too effing old!

So another person leaves the Trump administration and writes another tell-all book about what a ...

jerry99 comments on Jan 29, 2019:

Just watched the Stephen Colbert interview with Cliff Sims. He seemed to me like a perfect fit for the Trump White House - Christian asshole who supports most (all?) of Trump's policies but saw an opportunity to make a quick buck!

"I am the truth, the light, and the way." Jesus, right?

jerry99 comments on Jan 29, 2019:

Why does it matter? Some clown said some bullshit a couple of millennia ago that got people all excited. You can find the same sort of crap here today on most of the TV preacher channels. As long as we have a large number of gullible morons, we'll have con-artists and lunatics there to supply the kool-aid.

"Black Panther" Wins Top Prize at SAG Awards

jerry99 comments on Jan 28, 2019:

I guess it's nice that African Americans are getting superheroes they can somehow relate to, but as with most of that genre the story is minimal and the action sequences get boring to me after a while. I confess that I turned it off after a half-hour or so -- perhaps I missed out on something wonderful. (I did go see Aquaman in a theater after a friend raved about it, and sat through the whole thing, but I'd make a similar comment about that.)

If someone states they hate the ballet, or video games, or art, or any number of other things no one...

jerry99 comments on Jan 28, 2019:

I don't hate sports -- it just seems like an incredible waste to me. Why do we pay grown men (and now women) millions of dollars to play children's games?

[msnbc.com] Pelosi goes there and asks what does Putin have on Trumpty Dumpty?

jerry99 comments on Jan 28, 2019:

d: All of the above (and more)

"Jesus said to ..."

jerry99 comments on Jan 28, 2019:

Your fantasy spirit guide gets the blame or credit for whatever you like? I guess it saves you from having to do any thinking.

[yahoo.

jerry99 comments on Jan 28, 2019:

He's your biggest supporter unless you say something in the least bit critical of him. Clueless!

Maybe this is something to look forward to.

jerry99 comments on Jan 28, 2019:

I like the idea, but I think that ship has sailed.

[dqzrr9k4bjpzk.cloudfront.net] Buy 'em, wear 'em, share 'em.

jerry99 comments on Jan 28, 2019:

I didn't believe he could get elected the first time, so I'm not counting on anything for 2020. “No one ever went broke underestimating the intelligence of the American public.” -- H.L. Mencken Btw, please don't post random looking links without some explanation. You never know when you might click on something that bites you in the ass!

I've noticed that the majority of you that are against the wall don't live anywhere near the border.

jerry99 comments on Jan 28, 2019:

I don't believe you need to live at the border to be concerned about illegal immigration and how we're dealing with it.

[yahoo.

jerry99 comments on Jan 27, 2019:

Never forget!

You won't believe this but today.

jerry99 comments on Jan 27, 2019:

That’s sinister!

What do you put on homemade pizza besides pepperoni?

jerry99 comments on Jan 27, 2019:

Green chiles (but I put that on nearly everything).

[nytimes.

jerry99 comments on Jan 27, 2019:

I hope Mueller is checking for financial ties between the Trump crime family and the for-profit prison systems.

[alternet.

jerry99 comments on Jan 27, 2019:

I guess if you’ve hitched your wagon to an out-of-control wild animal there’s not much you can do except hold on tight and hope it gets tired of running.

We went to Symphony Space, NYC, to hear readings of James Thurber.

jerry99 comments on Jan 26, 2019:

I kinda like the sippy cup idea, especially if you're worried about carpet spills. You just need to BYOW. Besides, it's James Thurber!

I made a salmon stew today for lunch/dinner.

jerry99 comments on Jan 26, 2019:

1-1.5 tbsp cayenne pepper? Really??? Ouch! Other than overkill on the cayenne it sounds pretty good. I'll give it a try.

hey everyone first time poster here, how are we suppose to believe in adam and eve if we have ...

jerry99 comments on Jan 26, 2019:

If only there was something on the internet that let you search for answers to questions. Btw, fill in your profile or we're going to think you're a spammer.

[alternet.

jerry99 comments on Jan 26, 2019:

I agree, but it really is just wishful thinking on my part.

Geologists have discovered a previously unknown cave in the Washington DC area.

jerry99 comments on Jan 26, 2019:

Ha, haha. hahaha! @realDonaldTrump: I wish people would read or listen to my words on the Border Wall. This was in no way a concession. It was taking care of millions of people who were getting badly hurt by the Shutdown with the understanding that in 21 days, if no deal is done, it’s off to the races!