Are we there yet? Anybody still in doubt that a Trump Presidency is a national disaster?

[theeedude]

Looks like he's staffing his cabinet for a war with Iran. I'd stay out of the military unless you want to be cannon fodder for another counterproductive war to justify the insane levels of defense spending the Republicans are pushing for.

 

[IronWing]

Looks like he's staffing his cabinet for a war with Iran. I'd stay out of the military unless you want to be cannon fodder for another counterproductive war to justify the insane levels of defense spending the Republicans are pushing for.

I think just the opposite. I think the plan is to cut troop levels, pull back from everywhere that doesn't look like a retreat, and shift existing defense spending and any increases in defense spending toward weapons systems. All this money being wasted on combat pay and supporting troops is money the big boys aren't getting. War has been lucrative for many defense contractors but not for all.

 

[theeedude]

I wouldn't bet my life on it.

 

[Jhhnn]

You might be onto something. I'd rather have leadership that empowers people, rather than creates dependency on government. There are people who expect our country to do for them, when they could do for themselves. i am not angry at people, who genuinely need help. I am pissed at the Americans who are capable of producing something, but choose not to. It's a learned behavior, in fact, a generational habit, for some.

We can depend on the govt of the people or we can depend on Dow, Cargill, Monsanto, Koch & Wall st. If you don't like where we are today perhaps you should contemplate who's been empowered with Reaganomics & who hasn't. If you don't like what's happened to small town America try to remember that it's the result of the ascendancy of corporate power.

 

[imported_tajmahal]

Good thing that the ascendancy of corporate power got set back by the failure of Hillary.

 

[MajinCry]

Good thing that the ascendancy of corporate power got set back by the failure of Hillary.

Aside from the fact that corporate power is directly in charge, you're right.

 

[Jhhnn]

Good thing that the ascendancy of corporate power got set back by the failure of Hillary.

You'll have at least 4 years to figure out just how delusional you really are. The notion that Trump intends to curb corporate power in any way flies in the face of reason. Corporate power is the power of Wealth, something he'll enable entirely with top tier tax cuts & deregulation of finance.

 

[trenchfoot]

Good thing that the ascendancy of corporate power got set back by the failure of Hillary.

You're an shining example of the kind of support that Trump needs to succeed in his endeavors to make America great again. I salute you.

If there were only more like you to rally to his support, why, who knows how far and to what great lengths Trump may take the sad state of affairs our nation has devolved into since that black muslim commie gay loving guy from Africa stole the nation away from us, and return it to those days of glory where men were men, women listened to what they were told and some other folks (know what I mean, right? *wink *wink *elbow jab * raise eyebrows up and down a few times*) knew their place in society. We'd all be safe and secure when that happens and every other nation wouldn't dare challenge us when we go over there to them with our military (bless their hearts) and make them see the light of liberty and justice for all.

Keep up the good work and don't let anyone discourage your efforts to help heal our nation and make it become what it once was back in the good 'ol days.

 

[jackstar7]

Hillary "taco bowl" Clinton did not win....

Man, you lost out of the gate.

You know that "taco bowl" was in reference to Trump's Cinco de Mayo tweet-pic, right?

Context, it's only for liberals!

 

[imported_tajmahal]

A nod is as good as a wink to a blind horse.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WMqONIae60E

 

[Jhhnn]

Looks like he's staffing his cabinet for a war with Iran. I'd stay out of the military unless you want to be cannon fodder for another counterproductive war to justify the insane levels of defense spending the Republicans are pushing for.

War with Iran would do wonders for the price of oil, likely crash the world economy.

Our allies won't support it, certainly not when the Iranians abide by existing agreements.

 

[Jhhnn]

A nod is as good as a wink to a blind horse.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WMqONIae60E

You said more than you know, being blind & all.

 

[imported_tajmahal]

You said more than you know, being blind & all.

Thanks Rita.

 

[Thump553]

Moonbeam: why do you limit the question to whether Trump is a national disaster? It will be readily apparent in a few months how much of a disaster he is internationally. Already China (which was excluded from the TPP, and both the Bush and Obama crafted TPP in large part to restrain Red China's growing influence is negotiating separate deals with our (former?) allies like Australia which exclude the US? Trump is ceding the Pacific to Chinese dominance and control. If I lived anywhere in Eastern Europe I'd be terrified about a Russian takeover and the collapse of NATO? You think Trump is going to stop Putin if he invades Estonia (a NATO member we are bound by treaty to defend)?

I have a child that lives in Korea within missile range of NK. I'm scared that wackjob is going to become emboldened to strike, especially if Trump says something stupid or starts to withdraw troops.

Trump is a crisis not just for the USA but for almost every country aligned with us. To me the best case scenario is that he serves his four years (or whatever portion of that he chooses) without really f*cking things up irreversibly.

 

[brycejones]

Good thing that the ascendancy of corporate power got set back by the failure of Hillary.

So you're still in the doubt camp. Got it.

 

[Moonbeam]

Moonbeam: why do you limit the question to whether Trump is a national disaster? It will be readily apparent in a few months how much of a disaster he is internationally. Already China (which was excluded from the TPP, and both the Bush and Obama crafted TPP in large part to restrain Red China's growing influence is negotiating separate deals with our (former?) allies like Australia which exclude the US? Trump is ceding the Pacific to Chinese dominance and control. If I lived anywhere in Eastern Europe I'd be terrified about a Russian takeover and the collapse of NATO? You think Trump is going to stop Putin if he invades Estonia (a NATO member we are bound by treaty to defend)?

I have a child that lives in Korea within missile range of NK. I'm scared that wackjob is going to become emboldened to strike, especially if Trump says something stupid or starts to withdraw troops.

Trump is a crisis not just for the USA but for almost every country aligned with us. To me the best case scenario is that he serves his four years (or whatever portion of that he chooses) without really f*cking things up irreversibly.

I think the reason I used national disaster was because I am talking about a national election to determine who would be the US President. I think it goes without saying or is automatically true that a national disaster will be an international disaster too. The rest of the world already knows, I'm pretty sure, being too far from the propaganda machine that blew smoke up America's ass, to not already know we elected a disaster, so my question, are we there yet, was addressed to conservative Americans. I as asking them how far along are they in seeing their mistake. I am interested in when their gloating will turn to shame and regret since they fucked their own country.

 

[boomerang]

I read somewhere that Trump was not just going to cause national and international disasters but that when he resurrects NASA from being a Muslim outreach program the disaster will be universe wide.

I think I read it at dramaqueens.com

 

[Moonbeam]

Liberals lose because they assume these people are good, only misled, and thus use the wrong strategy to deal with that kind of situation. Just as you don't deal with nigerian princes by writing back to inform them why they're mistaken.

Personally, I do not believe that the example of Nigerian princes has much to do with liberal blindness nor do I believe that there is some automatic bias in liberals that makes them think people are good. I think the difference between liberals and conservatives is that liberals are more capable of not allowing their emotions to bias their judgment as to what is real. This is followed up by a corollary assumption that people, conservatives more typically, who can't do this are stupid. I call this the liberal brain defect because it isn't stupidity that creates truth deniers, but an avoidance of the clash between reality and mentally comforting beliefs that makes conservatives, more generally conservatives, appear to be stupid. In short they are not stupid, just unwilling to abandon beliefs that are comforting for their egos. I believe also that the ego is our psychic defense against negative feelings we have no conscious knowledge that we have, that we are egotistical because we actually feel bad. This feeling was inculcated in childhood by being verbally put down. We were made to conform and we had to to survive. When I say that all people are good, I do not mean they act that way. I mean they act like shit because that is how they feel and they feel that way because they were made to believe in lies.

You seem to take the notion that because I know there is nothing really wrong with people that I would foolishly trust them or turn my back on the insane.

So there is something wrong with how liberals deal with conservatives, the make fools of themselves calling them stupid while conservatives march right on viciously determined to destroy anything that makes them feel bad. You seem to want to take them head on without understanding they wouldn't be the way they are if they didn't believe in the false fact that they are worthless. I am simply saying there is a truth that we are all deeply damaged and that it is that damage that makes of violent and that when you actually feel how bad you feel it can set you free. But you can't do that for anybody else. You can only do it for yourself. The division of the self against the self can only be ended by self unification and the tools to do that are not political but psychological. The greater the self understanding the greater the compassion for others. Compassion is wisdom and wisdom is not blind trust or naivety.

So what you should do, here or by creating your own thread, is to lay out how liberals should address the conservative in your opinion. Where do you want to take this notion that we are dealing with an implacable evil force, or would you put it that way?

 

[Moonbeam]

I read somewhere that Trump was not just going to cause national and international disasters but that when he resurrects NASA from being a Muslim outreach program the disaster will be universe wide.

I think I read it at dramaqueens.com

Now that I am deeply insulted and thoroughly humiliated by this brilliant piece of sarcasm, may I ask if you have any qualms yet at all about Trump?

Note to self: Put Kleenex on the list.

 

[Commodus]

Here's a disconcerting problem with Trump: he might violate the Constitution from the moment he takes office.

There's a clause in the Constitution preventing government officials from receiving any gift, profit or other form of compensation from foreign states.

(Yes, that's ThinkProgress, and I wouldn't normally cite a source like that. However, it's referencing the Constitution word-for-word and consulting with George W. Bush's ethics lawyer, so it's more objective than usual.)

Here's the problem: he's courting foreign diplomats at his hotels. They're not merely paying to stay -- they're paying in hopes of currying favor, and Trump is receptive to it. Presidents aren't required to divest corporate interests when they take office, but they are required to make sure that they don't abuse their offices... and he's already doing that.

Trump can avoid this by refusing to let foreign politicians stay in his hotels or otherwise patronize his companies. Or better yet, put his companies in a blind trust (and no, his family doesn't count). But if he doesn't do either... well, this really could lead to impeachment. Yes, the Republicans will have control of Congress and may look the other way, but it's going to look bad if they explicitly tolerate constitutional violations. As it stands, I suspect a lot of the old guard would love to impeach Trump and get more conventional (not to mention competent) politicians back in charge.

 

[trenchfoot]

I think the reason I used national disaster was because I am talking about a national election to determine who would be the US President. I think it goes without saying or is automatically true that a national disaster will be an international disaster too. The rest of the world already knows, I'm pretty sure, being too far from the propaganda machine that blew smoke up America's ass, to not already know we elected a disaster, so my question, are we there yet, was addressed to conservative Americans. I as asking them how far along are they in seeing their mistake. I am interested in when their gloating will turn to shame and regret since they fucked their own country.

The tried and true GOP formula of creating out of thin air this huge beast, this existential threat to the way of life for every "real" American and then providing the answer to it in the form of a conservative candidate actually worked again, but not in any way, shape or form that the GOP heads of state desired. Instead of the sock puppet that they wanted, they, and via the forces of unintended consequences, and everyone else got Trump.

As with the Bush/Cheney admin, no matter how badly these two arrogant neocons mismanaged and damaged the nation, for their enablers, they (both Bush and the enablers themselves) could do no wrong. Everything that went wrong got laid at the feet of the opposition for their attempts at pointing out what was going wrong and what could be done to remedy the (at the time) declining circumstances everyone in the nation was experiencing. It took a crashed and trashed economy to effect corrective measures via the voting booths across the nation.

Well, here we have a perfect example of history repeating itself, and so far, well on track toward the predicted path that you previously laid out. (I'm still wondering how you did that)

But this time, in spite of what you suggested was required to get a corrective reboot of the nation's programming, I'm hoping it will only be for four years instead of eight, with the thought in mind that the less time Trump spends wrecking things, the less time it will take to recover from his actions.

And despite acknowledging the ominous yet necessary events that might preclude the painful healing process required, I'm still hopeful in a fitfully small way, that Trump may surprise us once again and provide a path to stability and prosperity FOR ALL this time around, and one that avoids a calamitous turn of events to make it all happen.

 

[buckshot24]

Non-zero & significant aren't the same thing. You merely reference one of the great conspiracy theories of the right wing.

Of course they aren't the same thing. I don't know how many "illegal aliens" voted in this election or any other election and neither do you. We should try and find out.

 

[jackstar7]

Of course they aren't the same thing. I don't know how many "illegal aliens" voted in this election or any other election and neither do you. We should try and find out.

YES PLEASE. Audit the votes everywhere and let's find out what really happened in this election.

I'm totally sure Trump won the popular vote, so let's prove it! Audit2016!

 

[buckshot24]

More or less than voter fraud?

Careful with that axe Eugene.

I don't know how bad voter fraud is so I couldn't tell you.

 

[jackstar7]

I don't know how bad voter fraud is so I couldn't tell you.

Join the movement! Audit 2016! Let's find out how the voting really went down! Let's find all the irregularities and fraud and root it all out.