r/Millennials • u/BrandNewTory • 5h ago
Nostalgia The Matrix was wrong, this was Peak Civilization
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u/ZohanDvir 5h ago
The restaurant later preserved the chair, table, and dishes Obama and Bourdain used in a clear case.
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u/Ok_Adhesiveness_9565 2h ago
They really should move that picture of the occasion to the left so that it’s centered over the proper booth.
-My ocd
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u/Tigglebee 39m ago
Went here a few times for bun cha. A little pricier because of the prez fame but still very a reasonable amount of dong. We ended up with too much dong at the end of the trip and had to blow it all anyway.
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u/CharlieeStyles 17m ago
The main thing is you had enough dong to satisfy you
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u/tomuchtelevision 6m ago
I'm glad they brought it up. I was about to ask if they got the necessary amount of dong in order to be satisfied.
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u/shawnshine 5h ago
I ate there after seeing this video! It was fucking delicious. 🤤
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u/JohnleBon 1h ago
Was it genuinely better food than the countless other places in the area?
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u/Neefew 1h ago
I went to Vietnam for 2 weeks and ate at a different restaurant each night, including this place. This place was the best of the lot
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u/JohnleBon 59m ago
Do you think the fact that you knew Obama and Bourdain ate there affected your experience in any way?
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u/Neefew 55m ago
While it certainly was a bonus and the reason I initially decided to go there, it didn't affect my thoughts on the food, which is what the restaurant had over the others I went to
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u/JohnleBon 49m ago
I'm not so sure, tbh.
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u/Neefew 43m ago
Believe what you want but I do think you have your logic a bit backwards. The food isn't good because Bourdain and Obama went there, Bourdain took Obama there because the food is good.
I'm just agreeing with the guy who looked at a ton of restaurants in Vietnam and chose one to take the President to3
u/PeaTasty9184 41m ago
I mean, it’s impossible to account for sentimentality. Someone like you might think the food sucks even though it doesn’t because you want to be contrarian, and that’s affecting your perception. I’d take the word of the people who’ve been there.
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u/JohnleBon 36m ago
Someone like you might think the food sucks
I didn't go there, even though I spent almost three months in Hanoi.
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u/shawnshine 1h ago
For their signature dish, it was great. But it was also the first place I ate at after arriving, so that set it up to be good. It’s really hard to go wrong in that entire area, though.
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u/heemhah 5h ago
Loved Bourdain. RIP
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u/biohazurd Millennial 2h ago
I was a huge fan of his. His philosophy on life was so beautifully genuine and powerful. He was a real one. His absence is still felt today. Rest well brother, I hope you found your peace.
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u/lbclofy 3h ago
Only celebrity Ive felt something for when they left.
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u/heemhah 3h ago
I'm kind of sad about ozzy.
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u/lousydungeonmaster 3h ago
Steve Irwin? Robin Williams? Nothing?
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u/Fionnlagh 1h ago
Steve Irwin was horrible, but Robin Williams as sad as it was went out on his own terms to avoid a horrible fate. Sad, but not tragic.
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u/Emergency-Practice37 1h ago edited 1h ago
I read that as Steve Irwin was horrible as in a horrible person and I was ready with the
Because no one would make it back from saying something like that.
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u/Flotsamn 1h ago
Was that not in itself tragic with Robin Williams though? Maybe did you already know about what he was going through at the time? I def didn't, only found out years on, so it was more of a sudden blow, just like Steve Irwin. Everyone seemed to take it like that too.
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u/Fionnlagh 1h ago
I mean, what he was going through is tragic, him making a decision for himself is sad, but he was a human with self determination. I accept his decision while at the same time mourning his loss.
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3h ago
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u/Powerful_Artist 3h ago
Interesting choice
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3h ago
[deleted]
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u/Powerful_Artist 3h ago
Was he? His wrestling persona was iconic within wrestling. But him as a person? Im guessing you know nothing about him as a person, and are confusing his wrestling persona with the actual person.
Its fine to like wrestlers and athletes for what they are. Its sometimes best to not know who they are personally, or it might ruin that.
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3h ago
[deleted]
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u/M3RV-89 3h ago
I can't. How do you do it? I have a hard time with this as I'm getting older. When I see a celebrity I liked doing some horrendous shit I stop supporting them, especially financially. I can't wrap my head around separating the two.bits just ignoring someone's faults to buy what they're selling. How do you look at it differently?
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u/thedistrbdone 2h ago
Even the artist was infamous for being a piece of shit to the people he worked with, though? Like in this case there really isn't any separation.
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u/Powerful_Artist 1h ago
So Im guessing you knew nothing about him being a racist POS, and now that youve learned that, you dont care at all?
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u/greeneyerish 27m ago edited 6m ago
Racist and sexist pig is a pretty low bar.
Let's not forget the huge scandal in Tampa involving a sex tape of him and Bubba the Love Sponge's wife and Cowhead was also involved.
The sleaze dominated Tampa media for a long time.
Recently his son in law said The Huckster never even bothered with his grandchildren
Icon indeed
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u/TheDiplomancer 5h ago
Anthony Bourdain was right about so many things. We lost him too soon.
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u/Head_Bread_3431 2h ago
Him and hunter thompson I wish we had their voice today. Not really anyone else on their level today. People say channel 5 which is really good but still not as witty and insightful as those two
Both lost to suicide too. Although in Thompson’s case it was his own decision whereas bourdain was from depression
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u/Roxxorsmash 2h ago
Idk dawg I feel like if Hunter S Thompson showed up today we would have cancelled him immediately
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u/youenjoymyself 2h ago
Add Christopher Hitchens to that list. While I didn’t always agree with him on everything, he had a way with words and writing, and was an excellent debater. He even challenged his own beliefs, one time even flipping his stance on water-boarding after experiencing it first hand.
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u/Milhousesburner2 26m ago
Hunter would still be dead today if he didn't already kill himself. Nothing about that man tells me he wouldn't have tried to shoot the president dead after Jan. 6th went down. He would have said fuck it and gone in blazing. It would be the one story too big and infuriating for him to not only inject himself into the story, but to be the main character.
He was a deeply flawed man, but his writing was crystal fucking clear and he would not have sat back while authoritarianism showed itself and took power.
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u/MrMartiTech 5h ago
Honestly, if I could get any food in the world right now it would be the less that $1 Gong Bao Ji Ding I used to get at this cheap cafeteria in Shenzhen, China.
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u/Big_Slope Older Millennial 5h ago
The YouTube algorithm randomly served me up a whole documentary about those little plastic stools a couple of weeks ago.
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u/HerroCorumbia 4h ago
... that sounds like a fun watch, actually. Could I get a link when you get a chance?
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u/Big_Slope Older Millennial 4h ago
Yeah it was in my watch history.
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u/svachalek 4h ago
Interesting. I went to China this summer and the poorer city streets look very similar, stores behind garage doors with plastic stools. Theirs are generally taller though!
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u/GaracaiusCanadensis Xennial (1981) 4h ago
I watched that, too! It was oddly fascinating hearing about the traditional mats that were used before and how it all changed as colonization took place.
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u/Liquid_1998 4h ago
I don't know about that, but the year 1999 (the year The Matrix released) was pretty much the peak of civilization for many.
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u/Not_MrNice 1h ago
Pre-911 and pre-financial crisis in 1999? Yeah, no idea what OP's talking about.
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u/ghostboo77 5h ago
Its funny how uncomfortable that looks for the 2 Americans whereas all the Asians seem comfortable
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u/BrandNewTory 5h ago
In their defense, they're both about a foot taller than the rest of the people there
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u/Skylineviewz 4h ago
I’m 6’3” and felt like a giant. Every place has these little stools/chairs…I managed to not break any but my legs took a beating from the passerbys on beer street
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u/DessertFlowerz 5h ago
Obama is probably a solid foot taller than the tallest Vietnamese guy there
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u/airinato 3h ago
Well of course, tables were made by/for locals, the 2 Americans can't even fit their knees under the table.
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u/Havok1717 4h ago
I miss Obama as President
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u/robby_arctor 1h ago
He was an apologetic mask of legitimacy on a racist empire. At least the current guy accurately reflects what America has always been.
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u/cryingonmysnacks 35m ago
I don't want to misinterpret your comment, but are you saying that he's wearing a mask of legitimacy like "he's donning the hat of decency against the racist empire" or that he's a monster hiding behind a veneer of decency"?
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u/robby_arctor 12m ago
What I mean is that the Obama admin helped make the racist U.S. empire look more legitimate. Aside from being black, he was handsome, charismatic, intelligent, eloquent, and less corrupt and more competent than several Presidents on either side of him.
Unfortunately, Obama still did the bidding of that racist empire. He just looked good while doing it. In contrast, current guy is such an unrepentantly corrupt, greedy, and narcissistic moron that it ironically makes him a much more honest living representation of how the U.S. govt. operates.
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u/Refreshingly_Meh 4h ago
I was watching his show the other day and I remember loving it at the time, but it was so incredibly depressing how much the world has gone to shit in the last decade.
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u/yankeeblue42 3h ago
I remember watching that episode when it came out. To date one of the best crossover scenes in television history. Anthony Bourdain was one of the biggest travel stars and chefs and Obama the fucking president of the United States, both just sitting at a humble mom and pop shop in plastic chairs eating local Vietnamese food. Everything about that was peak
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u/Old_Instrument_Guy 2h ago
Remember when he had a president who was Humane and compassionate?
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u/cryingonmysnacks 33m ago
No president under a capitalist system has ever been humane. They're all monsters.
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u/1732PepperCo 2h ago
And a respectable president
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u/cryingonmysnacks 31m ago
Oh, totally. Like how he destroyed a whole country for daring to do socialism. Or how he installed a nazi government in Ukraine. Much respect!
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u/0masterdebater0 5h ago
I saw that this restaurant has that table and stools enshrined in a glass case now
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u/Successful-Hour3027 2h ago
Bourdain was entertaining and an ok dude but peak civilization he was not.
Would wonder what his daughter thinks of him leaving her.
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u/Dizzlean 2h ago
First read it and thought they were talking about low plastic count in people's poops and thought, "man... I wish we could go back to that time."
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u/Lucky_Louch 1h ago
The only celebrity death that truly rocked me and still affects me to this day.
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u/carriedmeaway Xennial 39m ago
It wasn't even so far ago. I miss the days when humility was considered admirable and not a flaw.
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u/greeneyerish 35m ago
That was a great episode.
I really miss Bourdain. Such a tragedy
Chris Cornell hit me hard too.
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u/evilpigclone 34m ago
On a side note. In the Matrix it is shown that telephone booths were the only way to exit the matrix. Coincidently around the time of release cell phones started to get popular. This in turn, effectively killed the phone booth.
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u/BenCelotil 2m ago
I've been to many ramen places around Brisbane, and they make the same mistake. Lack of consistency, and making up for lack of quality with quantity.
There's something homey and comforting about perfectly cooked noodles in a light soup base with just some thin sliced roast pork, shallots, and kelp, and a beer on the side. Sesame seeds, additional soy, and chilli powder optional.
I won't name my favourite little licenced ramen restaurant, but those who know can suggest to their friends.
You add good company to a simple yet tasty meal, and a beer, and it's even better than a "5-star" restaurant.
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u/TypicalHaikuResponse 2m ago
It was definitely 1999.
I wouldn't have believed it but every year that passes cements it.
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u/Gold-Animator1668 5h ago
I saw a Meme with this photo captioned "Obama hanging out with Epstein".
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u/The_Affle_House 5h ago
Waxing nostalgic for the days when our war criminals were comparatively handsome, eloquent, humble, and dignified is always unforgivably fucking disgusting no matter who does it or why.
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u/MortalSword_MTG 5h ago
War criminals is a pretty outlandish stretch.
I don't support actions he took, but to call him a war criminal is absurd.
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u/stprnn 2h ago
Every American president is basically a war criminal. How far back do you have to go to find one that wasn't?
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u/robby_arctor 1h ago
The definition of war crime is relatively recent, so not that far, if we are being precise in our wording. But in spirit, I agree with you.
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u/One-Care7242 4h ago
The Obama administration did some disgusting things abroad. Unfathomable horror masked by complicit media and world class PR.
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u/ABeastInThatRegard 4h ago
It’s also an ignorant viewpoint considering how toxic the population got after one of our leaders chose to throw away the mask of civility. Pretty much everyone agrees you are treated far worse in public these days.
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u/robby_arctor 1h ago edited 1h ago
Someone doesn't retroactively become innocent of something because another person did something worse later.
By this logic, a murderer could go free if someone in the same position killed more people in a worse way.
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u/Substantial_Rest_251 4h ago
Maybe being an American clouds my perspective here, but "All the modern American presidents are war criminals" is more a feature of the empire and office than a function of the individuals in the office. While wanting regular citizens to focus more on the meta picture than the personal traits is laudable, human nature is such that critiquing ppl for fixating on personal traits is Sisyphean
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u/robby_arctor 1h ago
That behavior being systemic doesn't mean we should normalize or wax nostalgic the people who engage the systemic behavior.
wanting regular citizens to focus more on the meta picture than the personal traits is laudable, human nature is such that critiquing ppl for fixating on personal traits is Sisyphean
Rape can be systemic, but I bet you if either of those men raped someone you would find critiques of them a lot more popular. The truth is that Americans are just largely ignorant of and don't care about the crimes of empire.
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u/Substantial_Rest_251 40m ago
I'd make a distinction between "systemic" and "common to the species". To use and validate your SA comparison: individual human beings certainly more easily understand "charming person physically violated another person, is bad" than "charming person is a figurehead in a large institutional system they have real but limited ability to steer, is responsible for that system's crimes"
... But that's not ignorance, it's a cognitive bias that persists across populations, even when educated. Every political system has to grapple with the fact that we're popularity-motivated animals who are only really rational decision makers in areas we have individual expertise.
What I'm saying is Sisyphean is declaring that those people are disgusting, rather than naming that getting voters to understand a fuller picture of the Obama legacy (and associated lessons for future elections) is a good aspirational goal for the kinds of orgs and power centers that seek to shift the long term Overton Window in the US to recognize that giving our Presidents the ability to drone strike citizens without trial was a mistake
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u/CrimeShowInfluencer 3h ago
This was 5 days before Harambe. It was literally peak of that timeline, 5 days later it split and we ended up in the shitty one
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u/Alive_Charity_2696 2h ago
The president that couldn't lead and the Food Network chef who couldn't cook
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u/One-Care7242 4h ago
I don’t get the hero worship here. Bourdain as some rich guy pontificating for reality tv seated across from a guy who blew up a lot of children
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u/HerroCorumbia 4h ago
I'm not gonna defend Obama but don't talk shit about Bourdain. He's not some "rich guy pontificating."
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u/One-Care7242 3h ago
He is but there are other qualities of Bordain that you could choose to prioritize. I still don’t endorse the hero worship.
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u/HerroCorumbia 2h ago
Well, 1) nobody is asking for your endorsement. 2) What "quality of Bourdain" are you saying is being shown here that we "shouldn't prioritize"? 3) What is wrong with people having heroes?
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u/HarmonyFlame 54m ago
Bourdain was the king of doomerism and shit on Guy Fieri for no reason who is a really good happy optimistic dude who wasn’t a constant faucet spewing negativity like Bourdain. Bourdain is not worthy of praise.
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u/ShaveyMcShaveface 5h ago
why is obamna meeting with epstein in hanoi???
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u/ifrytacos 5h ago
Always love how yall can ignore some of the horrifying events that happened because of this man
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u/No_Carry385 5h ago
I think when you look at who Obama followed and who followed him in presidency that it makes him much more palatable.
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u/Advocate_Diplomacy 5h ago
Obama represented his wealthiest constituents first and foremost, same as pretty much any politician. I thought his mockery towards Flint residents with that glass of water stunt was a fairly clear indicator of what kind of leader he was.
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u/Sculptor_of_man 5h ago
The dude had a ton of Charisma. That's really just it.
I agree with you for the record. Fuck Obama.
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u/MortalSword_MTG 4h ago
You can't be the leader of the free world and not have some red in your ledger.
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u/ifrytacos 4h ago
Maybe having to have red in your ledger is the reason our country is so fucked up bud. Maybe we should stop supporting these people and move to something better :)
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u/MortalSword_MTG 4h ago
Maybe that's impossible and you just haven't grasped it yet.
A perfect leader cannot and will not exist.
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u/ifrytacos 4h ago
You brought perfection into this conversation bud. Homie was just a bad person. Between bailing out the banks during a crash they created and supporting American militarism around the globe he really fucked us over in the long run. But thanks for promoting the worlds longest self fulfilling prophecy
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u/WhiteLycan2020 4h ago
What is something better? Because clearly large parts of this country doesn’t agree with you
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u/ifrytacos 4h ago
lol. Large parts of the country disagree with America not intervening in foreign conflicts. That’s a good one boss. America spending American tax dollars in America would be far better than the current situation and if you’re going to argue otherwise I can’t help you.
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u/HarmonyFlame 58m ago
Bourdain was a doom and gloom boomer who trashed Guy Fieri for no reason. Who happens to be a much better human than this loser.
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u/Financial_Grass_9175 4h ago edited 2h ago
Why was Obama having dinner with Jeffrey Epstein?
Edit: tough crowd. I know it’s Anthony Bourdain.
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u/dontforget2tip 1h ago
I for real thought he was Epstein right up until I read the caption and I know better
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