Trump II

[Alan Goldhammer]

Yes, I am aware of the rumor. My point still stands. The public already knew he cheated on his wives, slept with numerous women, bragged about grabbing a certain kind of them by the..., etc. Does anyone really believe that the rumor (or even if true) about him just watching a bizarre act is that damaging?

Noting about him is damaging in the minds of the true believers.  Even when the media call him out on lies and provide the documentation it doesn't seem to matter as it's just Trump being Trump in the minds of his supporters.  Now maybe you think that's just fine and this is just all high (or low) comedy and that's fine, you can have that opinion.  You also have to respect that a lot of us are just tired of all the lies and innuendos.  I can remember as a kid sitting with my mother watching the Army/McCarthy hearings on our first TV.  Go back and read a little history and you will see how lies and innuendo can damage this country.

[Raul_82]

Because he is no longer campaigning? Shouldn't someone in his office behave act as a president for all Americans?

Voting for someone in the hopes that he will change the MO after the election is not a very bright idea. However I don't think most of his voters were expecting any different and so far they seem pretty chill with everything that's going on.

[Slobodan Blagojevic]

... a lot of us are just tired of all the lies and innuendos...

Someone said that Trump supporters take him seriously, but not literally, while his opponents take him literally, but not seriously.

As for "lies and innuendos," count me in. Except, for me, the "lies and innuendos" come from both sides.

[scyth]

It's a lot like Putin's MO. When people like him talk about a win-win situation, he means I win, and then I win again.

reading UNIAN again, Bart ? Putin is a straightforward transactional person... if you have a fair trade you will get a fair deal

[scyth]

Rather than trying to develop better international relationships with our allies

you mean bloodsuckers who can't spend even 2% on their own defense ?

[Bart_van_der_Wolf]

A lofty and noble goal, but utterly naive.

Politics is about representing interests of your constituents, not "all Americans,"

So why even the interests of his constituents then, instead of those of his sponsors and some lobbyists?

A 'Lesterland' indeed, as Lawrence Lessig made clear, and maybe worse a 'Trumpland' in his case.

Good luck to all then.

Cheers,
Bart

[Alan Goldhammer]

Someone said that Trump supporters take him seriously, but not literally, while his opponents take him literally, but not seriously.

As for "lies and innuendos," count me in. Except, for me, the "lies and innuendos" come from both sides.

Yes, but I find it a bit murky in terms of what is literal and what is serious.  Today he was at a meeting of local county sheriffs and the topic of civil asset forfeiture came up (a highly controversial practice where assets are seized from people who are suspected but may never be convicted or even charged with a crime).  A sheriff from Texas said that there was a state legislator who was proposing a law to require a conviction before the money could be received.  Here's what Trump said in response, “Who's the state senator?” Trump asked. “Do you want to give his name? We'll destroy his career,” he joked, to laughter from the law enforcement officials in the room.

Now, I'm sure this is a joke but was it really.  I sometimes feel that we are in the Twilight Zone when Trump speaks.

[pearlstreet]

I'm depressed.  We went from the blowhard in chief, to the blow-hole in chief.  When President Obama was elected I genuinely wished him well.  I saw hope for reconciliation.  All that evaporated.  I got to a point where I could no longer tolerate being "talked down to" by my president.

Then, the 2016 elections.  What I've come to call the no-choice-choice.  We ended up with the blow-hole in chief.  I can say that he tapped into some seething anger among those in the U.S. who have felt increasingly disenfranchised over the last couple of decades.  They would rather have what they perceive as "an honest evaluation sans PC nonsense" - even at the expense of it coming from someone who is venal, vulgar, narcissistic, and largely unable to string together three coherent sentences in a row.

I've come to agree with Jay Leno, "Every time I think I'm a democrat they do something stupid.  Every time I think I'm republican, they do something mean."  A pox on both their houses.  In the same way that we've come to a post-modern consensus philosophically in the west, we're rapidly coming to a post-US dominance (for good and ill) in the world.  And as history so plainly shows, this great society will be destroyed from within (by both left and right) and become a client-state to some other dominant society that is monolithic in its consensus (even if a forced consensus).  It has been ever thus.

Rand

+1+1+1

[Raul_82]

you mean bloodsuckers who can't spend even 2% on their own defense ?

If that's your view of all US allies, then not even Trump's wall will be long enough for your protectionist needs.
Should we start closing embassies?

[Rob C]

It's even more like Brexit than Brexit!

The same denial from the voters to what they actually brought upon themselves; the same ass-kissing from the very politicians who rejected the concepts - and the candidature - but now promote them so as to retain political power.

It makes one internationally sick.

I just watched a Beeb (BBC) documemntary on Sicily, where the guy running the show was all smiles, and happy filming away in various markets. I also remember a Rick Stein show on the same island from a few years ago, where they had to quit filming rather rapidly because they hadn't paid the mafia boss controlling the market... I wonder if the newer show was courtesy such a payment - or two? Does it matter? Yes, it does, because that's what happens in countries where the power of law and/or governance runs into disrepute. Can you make the connection? Casinos, gambling, think about it for a second or three. Are the barbarians still without?

Rob C

[scyth]

If that's your view of all US allies, then not even Trump's wall will be long enough for your protectionist needs.
Should we start closing embassies?

for now let us just consider those useless puppets who don't do 2%... then those @ 2% who still spent much less (yes, UK - this is about you) then we are.

[HSakols]

The nomination of Besty Devos, while not surprising, makes a mockery of our public education system.  Forget our borders, soon we will build walls within our communities.  This is what leads to racial and social division at its worse.  As a pubic educator (elementary teacher) this decision makes me sad and angry.  Social Injustice!

[Schewe]

Do  you really think that 60+ millions that voted Trump and 60+ millions that voted Hillary have much in common, let alone the same interests?

Yes, we are all Americans...we all want the ability to work and contribute to the common good. We all want safety and health for ourselves and our children. We want social justice and fairness in the dealing of civilians by the government. We all want freedom and right to pursue happiness. We all expect the government to respect the Constitution and its citizens...

So far, I've seen Trump act to benefit the wealthy (that really don't need the help), big business, cut regulations (many designed to protect consumers) put forth really bad people to be on his cabinet not to mention taking off the Joint Chief of Staff and putting Bannon on the National Security Council, Homeland Security Council and Principal’s Committee. So, a political appointee on the NSC? Really?

Here's a list of his executive actions and memorandums as of Feb 3rd (you can check what they mean HERE)

20. “Fiduciary rule” delay
19. Reviewing financial regulations
18. Cutting regulations
17. Lobbyist bans
16. Reorganizing the top security councils
15. Plan to fight ISIS
14. Blocking refugees and all visitors from some countries
13. Reshaping the military
12. Border wall
11. Deportations and sanctuary cities
10. Review manufacturing regulations
9. American steel in pipelines
8. Speeding up environmental reviews for all priority infrastructure
6 + 7. Speeding approval of Dakota Access and Keystone Oil Pipelines
5. Federal hiring freeze
4. TPP.
3. Abortion
2. Regulation freeze
1. ACA rollback

So, how many of these will actually benefit Trump's constituents? The rest of the country?

He's put billionaires up for Treasury & Commerse, an EPA hater for EPA, Somebody who wants to do away with Medicare/medicaid, a former Texas governor to handle Energy who didn't even realize that included being in charge of the nuclear arsenal, a women who's never attended public school for education a Dr who has no executive experience for HUD and the eco of Exon as Secretary of State, Mitch McConnell's wife for Transportation, the former executive of World Wrestling Entertainment Small business administration...really? OMG!!!

And he's gonna be for the little guy in the flyover states? He's gonna bring back manufacturing jobs? Only if he outlaws robots...he's gonna bring back coal mining to West Virginia and Kentucky only if we're willing to surpass China for dirty power generation (wanna wear a mask outside like they have to do in Beijing?)

Naw, a seventy year old guy who has made his reputation and money off the backs of little guys is never gonna learn how to suddenly care about people he barely knows exist (unless they work for him in his companies).

The Trump supporters have been deluded by a scam artist. Even the Introduction of his book The Art of the Deal says it all: " Donald Trump was a young entrepreneur entwined in many controversies, but knew (and still knows) how to use these controversies to his own benefit. He has always been skilled at living large and doesn't take no for an answer."

Has Trump given any indication he's actually working on behalf of the people and not himself? Please, point out to me anything he has done solely for the benefit of the American people, his constituents...

[Alan Klein]

The nomination of Besty Devos, while not surprising, makes a mockery of our public education system.  Forget our borders, soon we will build walls within our communities.  This is what leads to racial and social division at its worse.  As a pubic educator (elementary teacher) this decision makes me sad and angry.  Social Injustice!

My wife  agrees with you.  But she's a retired NYC school teacher in the teacher's union.  Are you a union teacher too?  Me?  I disagree.  The public school system, not Devos, has made a mockery of itself by failing many of the kids it's suppose to teach.  (The breakdown of the family is also a major contributing fault, but that's for another discussion).    Interestingly, while my wife taught, I managed capital construction projects in over 250 NYC schools during a 14 year period prior to my retirement three years ago.  I was constantly in active teaching areas. Many of the buildings had different floors of teaching, most public and some charter.  Whenever I enter the charter floors, the kids were behaving, there was solid teaching going on and the charter staff was still there at 5 and 6pm prepping long after the public school teachers had left.  Minority parents throughout NYC are clamoring for more charter schools to the point there are long waiting lines to get their kids in.  Devos supports charter and other alternative teaching environments.  These will offer alternatives for kids failing in today's public schools and will provide a competitive environment that may push public schools into getting better as well.

[Schewe]

On the heels of Education Secretary Betsy DeVos confirmation comes a bill introduced by Representative Thomas Massie (R-Kentucky). The bill, just one sentence long, reads “The Department of Education shall terminate on December 31, 2018.”

He said: “Neither Congress nor the president, through his appointees, has the constitutional authority to dictate how and what our children must learn. States and local communities are best positioned to shape curricula that meet the needs of their students.” Read about it at his web site (note the press release is a lot longer than the bill.)

What does this wing nut have to do with Trump? During his campaign he talked about eliminating the Education Department or cutting it "way way down," but didn't offer details about how he would do that, or what would happen to key programs if he did downsize.

So, ya wanna get rid of the Department of Education? Putting Betsy DeVos in charge sure seems like a step in that direction. Kinda like putting Scott Pruitt in charge of EPA or Steven Mnuchin in charge of the Treasury department...

Yeah, Trump's for the little guy. Let's make America Great again...let's use a time machine and go back to the 1950's & 1960's all over again. Or maybe he wants to go back further to the times when women didn't have a right to vote or how about back to the antebellum South when the worth of a slave was considered three-fifths of a person during this time in U.S. history.

Van Johnson of CNN called Trump's victory a "whitelash"...I gotta say, that is hard to argue with.

Edit to correct spelling from whitewash to whitelash and add a link

[Schewe]

Leave it to a Canadian paper to keep track of Trump's lies 

The complete list of all 42 false things Donald Trump has said as president (so far)

The Toronto Star’s running tally of the bald-faced lies, exaggerations and deceptions the president of the United States of America has said, so far. (Last updated: Feb. 6, 2017)

Trump would probably call this Fake News!
I call it disgusting.

[Jim Metzger]

Thank. You. Jeff.

Jim

[Schewe]

From Newsweek:

RIGHT-WING EXTREMISTS ARE A BIGGER THREAT TO AMERICA THAN ISIS

Hum, any chance we can get Trump to ban right-wing extremists in America?

Naw, he just wants to ban travelers from those 7 Muslim majority countries and let right-wing wingnutz free range...hum, has Trump even condemned the Trump admirer that murdered those 6 Muslims in that Quebec City mosque?

Oh, yeah...this is what the White House said: "We condemn this attack in the strongest possible terms," White House press secretary Sean Spicer said Monday afternoon. "It's a terrible reminder of why we must remain vigilant and why the president is taking steps to be pro-active, rather re-active, when it comes to our nation's safety and security."

Trump did tweet "A new radical Islamic terrorist has just attacked in Louvre Museum in Paris. Tourists were locked down. France on edge again. GET SMART U.S." on Feb 3 but has yet to tweet about that Quebec City mosque.

[Alan Klein]

You can gripe all you want but he won the election.  All the attacks are pretty meaningless and are just sour grapes.  If he doesn't perform, he'll be voted out of office in 2020.  If he performs, he'll be voted in until 2024.  So you got him for 4 or 8 more years. 

[Slobodan Blagojevic]

Yes, we are all Americans...we all want the ability to work and contribute to the common good. We all want safety and health for ourselves and our children. We want social justice and fairness in the dealing of civilians by the government. We all want freedom and right to pursue happiness. We all expect the government to respect the Constitution and its citizens...

While those might be common goals and ideals, half of the country has a diametrically opposite views how to achieve them from the other half. Even your idea of social justice, for instance, is probably very far from my idea, let alone how to achieve it.