Dangers of a Trump Presidency--Part 7

[once_upon]

Article about voting in the area where Trump held his rally today. It discusses why the area swung from Obama to Trump over the last couple of elections. It appears there was the "not voting for Hilary" which is why it went Trump's way but it does have some interesting explanations for it.

https://fivethirtyeight.com/features/the-one-county-in-america-that-voted-in-a-landslide-for-both-trump-and-obama/

Yes Howard County is in Iowa. But he wasn't that close to it. What you did see in Iowa was a lot of Sanders supporters who chose not to vote for Clinton and some even voted for Trump. Which is what the article described. But stagnant wages played a lot into the voting.

My church is one of the polling places in a solid Trump territory at the time. I was at church on election night for a meeting. People were bringing their kids in with them, I overheard them tell their kids this was an important election. One must vote for America (which I interpreted to be MAGA statement). The area around my church is a poverty area and one where there is a Hispanic population. We had a Hispanic ministry (now independent church) at the time. There was a belief that the Hispanic population were taking their jobs (although those complaining didn't want to work in areas like housekeeping jobs in the casinos or packing plant). So building a wall spoke to them.

 

[ballettmaus]

Details of how the administration plans to limit protests around the WH/at the Mall. https://www.aclu.org/blog/free-speech/rights-protesters/trump-administration-seeks-stifle-protests-near-white-house-and

This should get a lot more attention now that Kavanaugh is on the Supreme Court. Because if this goes all the way up then there's a good chance that there will be some major restrictions to the 1st amendment. And once they managed to get away with it with one issue then who is going to stop them to try with the others?

 

[skatesindreams]

In her appearance with Trump at the WH; Nikki Haley extolled the "genius" of Jared Kushner.
She made similar comments about Ivanka,

 

[Vash01]

Details of how the administration plans to limit protests around the WH/at the Mall. https://www.aclu.org/blog/free-speech/rights-protesters/trump-administration-seeks-stifle-protests-near-white-house-and

This should get a lot more attention now that Kavanaugh is on the Supreme Court. Because if this goes all the way up then there's a good chance that there will be some major restrictions to the 1st amendment. And once they managed to get away with it with one issue then who is going to stop them to try with the others?

He gets worse everyday. Now and his pals want to limit the first amendment, while upholding the second amendment. We are in danger.

 

[aftershocks]

In her appearance with Trump at the WH; Nikki Haley extolled the "genius" of Jared Kushner.
She made similar comments about Ivanka,

I guess that makes Nikki Haley a genius at sucking-up to Trumpster.

Some Repub political operative in her state claims that Nikki Haley is supposedly smart at making political moves at the right time, IOW, leaving the Trump administration at the right time (Trump crew are currently celebrating a supposed Supreme Court win, while the economy appears to be barrelling along, regardless of Trump's self-induced trade snafus that could turn into huge political and economic nightmares). Thus the Haley ally feels that Haley quit the Trump circus at exactly the right tme. My opinion: Even though, Haley is mouthing all the right things like she's not running in 2020, and that she plans to be campaigning for Trumpster, who knows what's going to happen to Trump & his admin, and indeed our country by the time 2020 hits the record books.

The Haley ally also indicates that in general Haley is seen to be competent and a responsible grown-up, compared to the majority of Trump's other political appointees. Thus, the international community is awaiting with some trepidation to see who will be replacing Haley at the U.N.

 

[ballettmaus]

I guess that makes Nikki Haley a genius at sucking-up to Trumpster.

Glad you're finding a corrupt government that is doing away with checks and balances funny.

 

[VIETgrlTerifa]

Glad you're finding a corrupt government that is doing away with checks and balances funny.

Sometimes you have to laugh. Otherwise...

 

[ballettmaus]

Sometimes you have to laugh. Otherwise...

I know. (That's why I've taken the habit of watching the late shows ) But I also think that some things are too dangerous to laugh off and that Haley said what she said is one of those things as it's yet another example of the loyalty that Trump expects and gets. She, too, swore an oath to the Constitution, not the President and his family.

 

[skatesindreams]

I wonder what Trump's "excuse" will be for the Dow's big dive, today?

 

[VIETgrlTerifa]

I wonder what Trump's "excuse" will be for the Dow's big dive, today?

The evil Democrats! Hillary and Benghazi and her emails!

 

[skatingfan5]

I wonder what Trump's "excuse" will be for the Dow's big dive, today?

Somehow it's the Democrats fault -- and #MeToo, etc.

 

[overedge]

I wonder what Trump's "excuse" will be for the Dow's big dive, today?

It's Obama's fault

Either that or the Democrats are scaring business away from the US....

 

[aftershocks]

Glad you're finding a corrupt government that is doing away with checks and balances funny.

Ah yeah, see @VIETgrlTerifa's apt observation. Just remember to vote, and also take some time out to smell the roses, kiss your closest relatives, snuggle with your pets, and watch children playing. Despite the world falling apart, life goes on until it doesn't. Pause for perspective, and take a break sometimes from the sturm and drang Trump circus monstrosity.

I don't watch in entirety anything with Trump's vain lying and puffing himself up, but I can't escape the clips and snippets. I was just so glad to see Amanpour pulling no punches in the questions she asked her guests (including Hillary Clinton) regarding the Kavanaugh confirmation and Trump's ridiculous and offensive puffery.

 

[aftershocks]

I know. (That's why I've taken the habit of watching the late shows ) But I also think that some things are too dangerous to laugh off and that Haley said what she said is one of those things as it's yet another example of the loyalty that Trump expects and gets. She, too, swore an oath to the Constitution, not the President and his family.

Come on. What Nikki Haley says and does is frankly the very least of my worries, what with all the alarming attacks to civility, our institutions, social progress, and humanity in general that have been going on in the deathly heat of this deplorable Repub-driven Trump era!

If Haley actually claimed Ivanka and Jared are geniuses, the joke's on her. Surely, like the rest of the Repugnants, Haley is trying to play it safe with her fingers crossed behind her back and her nose twitching furiously to decipher which way the political winds are blowing. Haley's suckery combined with her timely vanishing act is def funny, sad and alarming all rolled into one. And Haley claiming I & J are geniuses does make her a genius at enabling and sucking up, at least for now. That's essentially what Haley's Republican strategist ally from South Carolina was positing, stripped of the spin, political jargon, and posturing. So Haley is supposedly smart at making the right moves politically. We shall see how far her so-called 'smarts' get her.

 

[jeffisjeff]

It's Obama's fault

Either that or the Democrats are scaring business away from the US....

Since the drop in the Dow is being attributed to concerns regarding rising interest rates, and since Trump has criticized the Federal Reserve Board on exactly that issue, I'm pretty sure he'll blame the Federal Reserve.

 

[overedge]

Since the drop in the Dow is being attributed to concerns regarding rising interest rates, and since Trump has criticized the Federal Reserve Board on exactly that issue, I'm pretty sure he'll blame the Federal Reserve.

Perhaps he will order them to fix things by printing more money

 

[skatingfan5]

Since the drop in the Dow is being attributed to concerns regarding rising interest rates, and since Trump has criticized the Federal Reserve Board on exactly that issue, I'm pretty sure he'll blame the Federal Reserve.

Are rising interest rates also being blamed for the drop in the bond market as well?

 

[ballettmaus]

Come on. What Nikki Haley says and does is frankly the very least of my worries, what with all the alarming attacks to civility, our institutions, social progress, and humanity in general that have been going on in the deathly heat of this deplorable Repub-driven Trump era!

If you think that her behavior, including that she said what she said is harmless, then you don't seem to understand the threat loyalty to the President instead of the Constitution poses. It is part of the attack on the institutions and checks and balances.
What she said was certainly laughable. That she said it, not so much.

 

[aftershocks]

If you think that her behavior, including that she said what she said is harmless, then you don't seem to understand the threat loyalty to the President instead of the Constitution poses. It is part of the attack on the institutions and checks and balances.
What she said was certainly laughable. That she said it, not so much.

Again, all part of the Trump circus craziness, but I'm more concerned about the threats to our institutions, the environment, social programs, healthcare, immigration, civility and indeed life on earth, than I am about Nikki Haley's political maneuvering, suckery, enabling and possible 'presidential run' aspirations.

Haley is the very least of the suck-up faux Trump-loving Repubs, IMHO! She joined the club a long time ago. Nothing she says or does in regard to 'Trump loyalty' is a surprise nor anything to gnash teeth over. Forget about hoping she was making some kind of statement in support of women by resigning. Obviously not. In regard to NH, as far as I'm concerned, she can rise and fall with the rest of the Trumpublican crew.

 

[VIETgrlTerifa]

Exactly. For better or worse, these people will forever be associated with this used toilet known as the Trump administration.

 

[ballettmaus]

Again, all part of the Trump circus craziness, but I'm more concerned about the threats to our institutions, the environment, social programs, healthcare, immigration, civility and indeed life on earth, than I am about Nikki Haley's political maneuvering, suckery, enabling and possible 'presidential run' aspirations.

As I said, Haley's (and every other cabinet member's) sucking up to Trump is part of that threat. Also as I said, she (and everyone else) swore an oath to the Constitution. Not the President. She (and everyone else) should not act like a loyal subject because that is not what they are supposed to be. If need be, they, too, are supposed to be a check on the President.

 

[ballettmaus]

Apparently, there was an op-ed with Trump's name in USA Today. The WaPo fact-checked and found that almost the whole op-ed was misleading or false. https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2018/10/10/fact-checking-president-trumps-usa-today-op-ed-medicare-for-all/?utm_term=.fc90b433e85f

Why did the WaPo have to do the fact-checking and why did the USA Today run the op-ed without providing a fact-check in the first place?

 

[caseyedwards]

Opinions are not false necessarily! If you say the democrats plan to pass Medicare for all will damage healthcare it’s not like that’s false!

 

[VIETgrlTerifa]

Speaking of needing to laugh because otherwise you'd cry, SNL is alright and all (I'm not really a fan), but nothing beat MadTV in its prime when it came to political satire and commentary. I sure could use some of this for this administration:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TsGvrKRrDYM

 

[LilJen]

Exactly. For better or worse, these people will forever be associated with this used toilet known as the Trump administration.

Hey now, that's a bright shiny GOLD toilet, don't forget. The best toilet ever. Tremendous toilet.

 

[aftershocks]

As I said, Haley's (and every other cabinet member's) sucking up to Trump is part of that threat. Also as I said, she (and everyone else) swore an oath to the Constitution. Not the President. She (and everyone else) should not act like a loyal subject because that is not what they are supposed to be. If need be, they, too, are supposed to be a check on the President.

Again, not news and not a surprise. Nikki Haley's suckery is the least of our worries IMO. Sure it's part of the whole asinine and threatening Trumpster dumpster disaster, yet she's not the star of this 'swamp creature' show. But if you want to make Haley the smarmy, dangerous poster child for acting like a faux loyal Trumpublican, go ahead. There are so many in the Trump swamp who are standing in line to 'take the l'orange cake' lick it and eat it too way ahead of good 'ol smart gal Nik. Sometimes it pays to take a breather from going off and raising the temperature level on every distracting, sad and offensive thing that's happening with this administration. The really serious deadly stuff they are doing and getting away with, that will have dire long-term impacts, often floats underneath the radar. Don't forget that this is the reality tv show Celeb-presidency, with sound and fury, numbskull cheap thrills, sideshows, and death defying tricks and twists that are scarier than a Ringling Bros/Barnum & Bailey extravaganza extraordinaire. Pull back a bit and gain some perspective.

With that in mind, take a listen to Trevor Noah's recent right-on analysis of the real and present danger of what Trump is doing: Weaponizing Victimhood https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4LZ3P1sv9jE Trevor Noah is brilliant, and he speaks truth to rigged power so effectively.

Trump is getting away with his shtick because he's shielded by the prestige of the office he holds, and also perhaps partly because so many of us are overdosed on Trump insanity. You gotta laugh sometimes and take a breather from the madness, and/ or actively get involved in doing something productive in your own life, your own community and your own family that's within your sphere of influence. Find a safe space among people who understand you and who can hear you and who are willing to actively engage in intelligent dialogue, not endless griping and OTT arguing. Take a risk on doing something you believe in, something that gives you hope, meaning and perspective.

 

[Artistic Skaters]

Hey now, that's a bright shiny GOLD toilet, don't forget. The best toilet ever. Tremendous toilet.

I would enter a , but I don't want to be chastised & told I'm ignorant for twenty posts afterward, so I'll just make it a instead.

 

[once_upon]

I'm am not certain this divide done by Trump and his supporters will ever be healed. This country is divided with no wish to find middle ground.

I truly don't understand why it is so hard for us to be kind to each other.

The goal in life should not be to win, but to care for each other.

 

[ballettmaus]

Again, not news and not a surprise. Nikki Haley's suckery is the least of our worries IMO. Sure it's part of the whole asinine and threatening Trumpster dumpster disaster, yet she's not the star of this 'swamp creature' show. But if you want to make Haley the smarmy, dangerous poster child for acting like a faux loyal Trumpublican, go ahead. There are so many in the Trump swamp who are standing in line to 'take the l'orange cake' lick it and eat it too way ahead of good 'ol smart gal Nik. Sometimes it pays to take a breather from going off and raising the temperature level on every distracting, sad and offensive thing that's happening with this administration. The really serious deadly stuff they are doing and getting away with, that will have dire long-term impacts, often floats underneath the radar. Don't forget that this is the reality tv show Celeb-presidency, with sound and fury, numbskull cheap thrills, sideshows, and death defying tricks and twists that are scarier than a Ringling Bros/Barnum & Bailey extravaganza extraordinaire. Pull back a bit and gain some perspective.

I'm currently one of the most active posters in PI whereas you pop in every now and then and often post links to things that we've already discussed. (Most recent example, Hillary Clinton's appearance on Madam Secretary).
I've also expressed concern about Trump's rhetoric long before the election and was the first poster to express doubt that the institutions would hold and to express concern over the damage that Trump would do to democracy. So, I'm well aware of what this "presidency" is (or isn't) and I'd appreciate if you spared me the lecture.

You may find Haley's sucking up funny. I don't because it's part of the bigger picture that is the Trump threat to the institutions and I believe that dismissing the little things played a role in giving us Trump. You obviously disagree and since we are repeating outselves, I'm going to leave it at that.

 

[ballettmaus]

A transgender student was left behind during an active shooter drill because teachers didn't know which locker room to send her to. https://www.snopes.com/fact-check/transgender-student-unprotected-drill/

Thanks Betsy DeVos! (If there were a shooter in the school, why on earth does it matter if the kids are in the gender-correct locker room to begin with? Who freaking cares as long as they are safe?)