This is why Republicans need to be voted out

[Jhhnn]

The GOP has chosen to align itself with Trump and marginalize the opposition party. That arrogance is what fueled the blue wave that cost them Congress and inevitably the Senate and a few statehouses. It will most likely cost them the White House as well.

I am not willing to overlook that Democrats helped lay the track that Trump rode into the White House.

I also fully expect that once Trump is gone, the pendulum will inevitably swing the other way, or new political battle lines will form.

I expect housing, wealth redistribution or carbon taxes to drive the next political realignment. The billionaire class seems quite concerned.

Bothsides with victim blaming. Entirely predictable. Democrats never actively propagandized people into being nutty enough to vote for Trump. It's the unintended consequence of decades of GOP effort. Keep the voters riled up & slightly irrational over emotional wedge issues while robbing them blind. Trump just carried it to a different level.

 

[Veliko]

I am not willing to overlook that Democrats helped lay the track that Trump rode into the White House.

Yes, letting a brown person be president was one libtard step too far.

Let's hope they never do such a thing again!

 

[Pohemi]

Next up; anyone on the left who state facts are being arrogant.

Also: anyone on the left who doesn't like laws or the constitution being raped for partisan gains is just a crybaby snowflake.

 

[Starbuck1975]

Yes, letting a brown person be president was one libtard step too far.

Let's hope they never do such a thing again!

Funny you should mention that, because President Obama recently cautioned that liberals should resist their smug tendendies. Bill Maher has as well.

 

[mect]

Funny you should mention that, because President Obama recently cautioned that liberals should resist their smug tendendies. Bill Maher has as well.

And you don't see the irony of Bill Maher saying that?

 

[ch33zw1z]

Funny you should mention that, because President Obama recently cautioned that liberals should resist their smug tendendies. Bill Maher has as well.

It's not smug to remember history factually. Or wait, are you using you're own definitions of words again? Did you release your official dictionary yet?

 

[mect]

The GOP has chosen to align itself with Trump and marginalize the opposition party. That arrogance is what fueled the blue wave that cost them Congress and inevitably the Senate and a few statehouses. It will most likely cost them the White House as well.

I am not willing to overlook that Democrats helped lay the track that Trump rode into the White House.

I also fully expect that once Trump is gone, the pendulum will inevitably swing the other way, or new political battle lines will form.

I expect housing, wealth redistribution or carbon taxes to drive the next political realignment. The billionaire class seems quite concerned.

We had all better hope so, as the other outcome is climate change going off the rails leading to mass extinction events. But we can't talk about things like that, because we're supposed to be pandering to the middle.

 

[ch33zw1z]

We had all better hope so, as the other outcome is climate change going off the rails leading to mass extinction events. But we can't talk about things like that, because we're supposed to be pandering to the middle.

Trying to make even the smallest changes could affect the donor classes huge pile of money, shame on you.

End of the world stuff doesn't bother conservatives for the most part, they're majority hardcore religious, the end of the world would just be the next step in their belief system. Plenty of useful idiots out there.

 

[Starbuck1975]

It's not smug to remember history factually.

Nothing wrong with a factual representation of history. I don’t agree with judging historical figures based on modern sensibilities and standards of conduct to people. There are also layers of cultural perspective to many historical figures.

Or wait, are you using you're own definitions of words again? Did you release your official dictionary yet?

It’s taking me longer than expected because I have to keep accounting for new trigger warnings.

And you don't see the irony of Bill Maher saying that?

I enjoy his politically commentary and find his voice relatable in the age of Trump.

 

[ch33zw1z]

Nothing wrong with a factual representation of history. I don’t agree with judging historical figures based on modern sensibilities and standards of conduct to people. There are also layers of cultural perspective to many historical figures.

We're referencing 2008, not 1808, or 1908, but you knew that. Sorry about your party bro.

For everyone's benefit, be sure to advise Starbuck that you're using accepted disctionary definitions of words to avoid confusion, and don't assume he is.

 

[mect]

I enjoy his politically commentary and find his voice relatable in the age of Trump.

Really? I think he largely misses why we got Trump. We didn't get Trump because the left went too far left. We didn't get Trump because of political correctness. These are all red herrings the elite are using to distract from the real problem. Yes, Bill Maher will touch on it, but only just. He's willing to acknowledge that neglecting flyover America cost the country the election. But he won't talk about the bigger picture, because he's part of the problem for the bigger picture. The real source of the problem wasn't neglecting flyover America, it was neglecting middle class America. And that is what party elitists (including Maher) want us to continue to do. This is why he keeps pushing for centrist democrats like Klobuchar who aren't going to change anything about the status quo, and will continue the elitist hold over politics in America. Note how Maher won't go anywhere near supporting the populist candidates like Sanders or Warren. He tries to brush them off as unelectable. No one was ever more unelectable than Trump, and look where we are. America is sick of the establishment right now, both left and right. The republicans weren't able to hold back the anti-establishment candidate last election, and won as a result.

All of this has nothing to do of course with the fact that Maher is about as smug as a person can get.

 

[Starbuck1975]

Really? I think he largely misses why we got Trump. We didn't get Trump because the left went too far left. We didn't get Trump because of political correctness. These are all red herrings the elite are using to distract from the real problem. Yes, Bill Maher will touch on it, but only just. He's willing to acknowledge that neglecting flyover America cost the country the election. But he won't talk about the bigger picture, because he's part of the problem for the bigger picture. The real source of the problem wasn't neglecting flyover America, it was neglecting middle class America. And that is what party elitists (including Maher) want us to continue to do. This is why he keeps pushing for centrist democrats like Klobuchar who aren't going to change anything about the status quo, and will continue the elitist hold over politics in America. Note how Maher won't go anywhere near supporting the populist candidates like Sanders or Warren. He tries to brush them off as unelectable. No one was ever more unelectable than Trump, and look where we are. America is sick of the establishment right now, both left and right. The republicans weren't able to hold back the anti-establishment candidate last election, and won as a result.

All of this has nothing to do of course with the fact that Maher is about as smug as a person can get.

We’re in violent agreement. Flyover country still resembles what the American middle class used to be. 2/3rds of Americans don’t have a college degree. I knew the Democrats had a problem the moment that I started seeing union trade vehicles and factory parking lots with Trump stickers.

 

[compuwiz1]

If it is the goal of the right or the left to eliminate either party, it's not going to happen. In the process of trying to weaken one or the other, all that's happening is bickering and creating a divide. As long as two parties remain in power and can't get along, while trying to take the other down, nothing gets accomplished. This makes the lot of congress an over paid albatross. We need to find common ground, despite our differences. The path we are on leads to nowhere good. Finger pointing is not the answer. Living in the problem will not create any solutions. If we keep doing the same things we've always done, we're gonna keep getting the same things we've been getting. I'm sure those of us who voted for Trump did so because we were tired of the same ol' establishment crap. I saw Clinton as more of the same, not a light at the end of the tunnel.

 

[mect]

If it is the goal of the right or the left to eliminate either party, it's not going to happen. In the process of trying to weaken one or the other, all that's happening is bickering and creating a divide. As long as two parties remain in power and can't get along, while trying to take the other down, nothing gets accomplished. This makes the lot of congress an over paid albatross. We need to find common ground, despite our differences. The path we are on leads to nowhere good. Finger pointing is not the answer. Living in the problem will not create any solutions. If we keep doing the same things we've always done, we're gonna keep getting the same things we've been getting. I'm sure those of us who voted for Trump did so because we were tired of the same ol' establishment crap. I saw Clinton as more of the same, not a light at the end of the tunnel.

The problem with your statement is that the American people have quite a bit of common ground, but they aren't willing to elect the people that will implement those ideas. Almost all of the areas where there is common ground are issues supported by the left. 70% of Americans support Medicare for All. 80% of Americans support background checks for private gun sales. 74% of Americans support 12 weeks of paid parental leave. 60% of Americans support tuition free college, and an even higher percent supports affordable tuition.

But bring up these areas where we have significant common ground, and immediately republicans start going off on, "How are we going to pay for it", and ignore the very simple answer of, "Just like every other developed nation on earth." Of course, this is all just a distraction because the wealthy know exactly how we would have to pay for it. Through the wealthy paying more taxes (along with increased taxes on the middle class, although overall net savings for most of them). Any solution that will bring about real change is shut down because too often real solutions require real money. And so we just go on with the greatest income inequality and lowest economic mobility since the Census Bureau started collecting such data.

 

[zinfamous]

It seems to me that this is easily solved by a vote of the people in the district. Do you want us to spend @$3,000 per year for a subscription to the New York Times or not ? Let the people in the district decide.

well, we've learned that conservatives will continue to vote for the perpetuation of their own ignorance, so you and I both know how that will go.

But do you think it's a good idea to trap generations of citizens in this perpetual cycle of disinformation, even if they demand it? I don't think so.

(yeah I know--so few use the libraries these days, so the impact either way is probably minimal, but the concept is relevant)

 

[Jhhnn]

If it is the goal of the right or the left to eliminate either party, it's not going to happen. In the process of trying to weaken one or the other, all that's happening is bickering and creating a divide. As long as two parties remain in power and can't get along, while trying to take the other down, nothing gets accomplished. This makes the lot of congress an over paid albatross. We need to find common ground, despite our differences. The path we are on leads to nowhere good. Finger pointing is not the answer. Living in the problem will not create any solutions. If we keep doing the same things we've always done, we're gonna keep getting the same things we've been getting. I'm sure those of us who voted for Trump did so because we were tired of the same ol' establishment crap. I saw Clinton as more of the same, not a light at the end of the tunnel.

Why should we listen to conservatives when they were foolish enough to be hornswaggled by Trump & remain unrepentant? So long as y'all keep listening to Limbaugh, Hannity & the whole constellation of right wing talking heads you won't be able to make sense anyway, no matter how hard you try. Garbage in, garbage out.

 

[Puffnstuff]

It's not smug to remember history factually.

Wasn't Factually a stripper they raped and dumped in an alley outside of the WH?

 

[ch33zw1z]

Wasn't Factually a stripper they raped and dumped in an alley outside of the WH?

It's her fault for wearing nothing but the naked truth.

 

[Vic]

We’re in violent agreement. Flyover country still resembles what the American middle class used to be. 2/3rds of Americans don’t have a college degree. I knew the Democrats had a problem the moment that I started seeing union trade vehicles and factory parking lots with Trump stickers.

Trump didn't win because white blue-collar union workers switched from Democrat to voting Trump in 2016. That's disinformation. Those white blue-collar union workers have been voting Republican since Reagan. Trump won because just enough Democrats stayed home in a few critical states. Take a look at the polling numbers, analyze them by area and by party, compare them to 2008 and 2012, and this is obvious. Turnout was down for both parties in 2016, but was way down for the Democrats in those few key states. Meanwhile, Trump didn't get numbers any higher than Romney or McCain did, even in those key states.

 

[Puffnstuff]

Also: anyone on the left who doesn't like laws or the constitution being raped for partisan gains is just a crybaby snowflake.

Many feel the same way.

 

[shortylickens]

And you don't see the irony of Bill Maher saying that?

Bill frequently admits he's smug and even so, manages to make mostly logical arguments on a daily basis.

NOBODY in the GOP comes even close to that.

 

[mect]

Bill frequently admits he's smug and even so, manages to make mostly logical arguments on a daily basis.

NOBODY in the GOP comes even close to that.

Oh, I'm not arguing he doesn't make some good points sometimes, and he's light years better than anyone on the right at the moment, I'm just saying he definitely has no moral authority to tell others to check their smugness.

 

[Starbuck1975]

Trump didn't win because white blue-collar union workers switched from Democrat to voting Trump in 2016. That's disinformation. Those white blue-collar union workers have been voting Republican since Reagan. Trump won because just enough Democrats stayed home in a few critical states. Take a look at the polling numbers, analyze them by area and by party, compare them to 2008 and 2012, and this is obvious. Turnout was down for both parties in 2016, but was way down for the Democrats in those few key states. Meanwhile, Trump didn't get numbers any higher than Romney or McCain did, even in those key states.

You also can’t discount the Obama-Trump voters, which is an anomaly of working class voters peculiarly concentrated in swing states and the most impacted by globalization and our shift to a services based economy.