Meanwhile at a Stellantis boadroom:

“Why are these Chinese cars selling so well? Maybe we can get out market share back with an 800-hp piece of shit rattlecan that has the build quality and comfort of a wet fart.”

US won’t even have a cultural legacy like France does. Hot dogs, Jersey Shore, and Las Vegas don’t hold a candle to Crème Brulée, Rénoir, et Montmartre.

Lost already. When half your country doesn’t believe in the basic process of science and the dominant political force has been doing everything it can for 50 years to kill education, you tend to lose the edge in innovation. Heck, even the research that does still happen in the US is more and more being conducted by immigrants.

The lead is gone, has been gone for a long time, and is not coming back.

Can relate.

Hopefully be more.*

My vote goes to “straining at stool”. It’s more on brand.

Dang, that would suuuuuuck.