Blue Wave, Red Wave, or Turbulent Purple Waters?

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   RJ Schwartzposted 5 years ago

   I'd like to express my thanks to everyone here on HP and on many other sites across the nation.  Most days we get engaged in the "topic of the day," and we debate it until there are no talking points left to ponder.  Other days, we prognosticate and make predictions about how things are going to turn out.  And on those rare days when political news is scant, we find time to catch up on our commenting on other Hubs or articles. It's an honor to 'argue' with most of you.
   
   We find it engaging and important, however our debates are much more than that.  This small group of focused political junkies on HP helps many people see both sides of every issue; sides which they may never be exposed to otherwise.  We are performing a small public service by debating things in a public forum that most of the mainstream media can't do, simply because of their formats.
   
   I hope at the end of the day tomorrow, regardless of how you are feeling, that everyone will continue to participate in the Electoral process here in America and exercise the Constitutional Rights afforded to you by your citizenship in this nation.  Let your voices be heard by casting a vote for the person you feel will best represent your own personal beliefs.  Stay safe and good luck!

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      PrettyPantherposted 5 years agoin reply to this

      Nice post, RJ. I concur.
      
      Thank you for posting this.

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         MizBejabbersposted 5 years agoin reply to this

         Ralph, that is a very nice post. We voted early to avoid the rush. It is very nice to be able to walk right in and cast our ballots without waiting in line for hours. I recommend it. Now tonight we are waiting to see if the waters are blue, red, or purple.

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            RJ Schwartzposted 5 years agoin reply to this

            So what do we think on the "day after"?  Sounds like if the nation is going to keep moving forward, maybe the two parties will have to start working together, just like they used to in the old days; when government was more civil and issues were resolved by good old fashioned compromise.

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               PrettyPantherposted 5 years agoin reply to this

               Most of us would welcome that. Only extremists think "compromise" is a dirty word.
               
               Pelosi specifically mentioned an infrastructure bill as a possible bipartisan effort. What will Trump and the Republicans say?

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                  RJ Schwartzposted 5 years agoin reply to this

                  The nation is literally exhausted from the back and forth rhetoric between the parties - from reading the news, Nancy Pelosi and President Trump spoke and there were no mentions of anything other than moving the country forward....but as like everyone else, I'll believe that when I see it.  Personally I'd like to see real reform on immigration as it was one of the top items on exit polling for many people.  America cannot support constant illegal entry anymore.

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                     wildernessposted 5 years agoin reply to this

                     From what I saw, the #1 priority on people's minds was health care.  Immigration and Infrastructure came in far behind...while ignoring that if we quit providing free health care for 10 million aliens it would do a lot to cut costs of our own health care.

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                        JAKE Earthshineposted 5 years agoin reply to this

                        Actually, if congress repeals the trillions in insane Corporate Welfare Tax Cuts Mr. Trump and republicans just gave the greedy filthy rich so they can shower every morning in thousand dollar bills, we'd be well on our way to implementing a "Medicare For ALL" plan which would provide ALL Americans with comprehensive healthcare:
                        
                        ooooooooh righty republicans think that's just bad lol:

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                  wildernessposted 5 years agoin reply to this

                  Can't imagine Pelosi working with Republicans, and specifically with Donald Trump, on anything at all.  And can't see any thinking person believing she will, either - there cannot be a more partisan member of congress than Pelosi.

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                     hard sunposted 5 years agoin reply to this

                     It might not even be Pelosi in charge. But, I think you could say the same about most any Republican so there's not much point here. The only thing we can do is wait and see.

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                        wildernessposted 5 years agoin reply to this

                        No argument there.  I don't think there is one legislator out of a hundred that is willing to actually work with someone with different ideas.

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               MizBejabbersposted 5 years agoin reply to this

               I think that's a great idea and I'm all for it. I have to say that I really thought the Dems would gain the Senate and the GOP would keep the House. Surprise, surprise!

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               Jean Bakulaposted 5 years agoin reply to this

               I expected Democrats to win the majority in the House. There were too many seats to defend and a few to win for the Senate. But there is usually a "flip" to whatever party the President isn't in any midterm election.
               
               I hope they can work together and find some compromises, but wonder if it's possible. It seemed clear health care is on everyone's minds. If the D's can get their act together and put forth some good ideas, it would be a good thing.
               
               I was watching MSNBC, and as soon as it was clear the D's got the majority in the House, a "Breaking News" scroll came on that already made a threat about Trumps's tax returns. Although I think he should release them, and don't know who said this, it was a poor way to kick off what has the potential to be a compromise of ideas. I hope the D's don't blow it. I was happy to see so many women elected to office.
               
               It was sad then to see that Trump fired Sessions already. Was it to steal the Democrat's thunder? He was angry and rude to the press. They also came off as rude, but it is their job to get answers to their questions, so they are placed in a hostile situation with this President who can't stand the press. Most Presidents don't like the press, but have an easier time getting along.
               
               We can't have a real democracy without a free press, and the fact he got rid of Sessions so soon doesn't bode well. He can't obstruct this investigation, so Mueller better act fast if he has anything. I didn't expect Trump to be gracious, but he seemed and looked furious at the press conference, insisting people liked him. He isn't going to change. He still thinks it's Celebrity Apprentice and it's all about him. He thinks the FBI is there to protect him, not understanding that these bodies are to protect the American people. It's not the mob.
               
               We can only hope the D's in the House won't obstruct everything, since there are areas where agreement can be found. But then when Obama was President, it was 8 yrs. of obstruction. So I'm somewhat happy, but don't expect much.
               
               I also heard Pelosi was eventually going to step down and Adam Schiff would be the majority leader. I think it's time for a change there.

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                  wildernessposted 5 years agoin reply to this

                  I have to disagree on the media "asking questions".  For the most part, they did just that, but the episode that caused the ruckus and Trump's violent reaction was not a question at all; it was an outright attack, via a speech, on his actions.  Things like "Why are you setting Americans against Americans" are not designed to get an answer; they are designed and asked in order to make a political statement. ("Have you stopped beating your wife yet" comes to mind.) As such they do not deserve either an answer or a platform to be asked.  Finally, when a reporter refuses to give up the microphone when asked to, it's time that reporter left the room.  Same for one that simply stands and begins speaking without ever being recognized.

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                     Jean Bakulaposted 5 years agoin reply to this

                     I respectfully disagree. I saw the clip and Trump said the reporter "attacked" the woman on his staff, he clearly did not. He doesn't want a free press, so it's now turned into a very hostile situation. All press pools ask questions they know won't get an answer, there are so many attending the briefings and it's a coup to be called on. Could they be more polite? Of course.
                     
                     At the risk of being repetitive, no POTUS likes the press. He makes situations hostile, and I would go as far as to say he likes to create an atmosphere which encourages violence. It's like the rallies. He sets the tone for the country, and people are getting more and more violent, because he is telling them in code that it's OK to act like an a$$.

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   Kathryn L Hillposted 5 years ago

   Turbulent purple waters! Sounds yucky. I won't put one toe in it!
   
   Now, if the waters were more reddish, they would be wine colored. That would be okay!
   

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      Ed Fisherposted 5 years agoin reply to this

      Red Blend ?

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      RJ Schwartzposted 5 years agoin reply to this

      mmmm....I'm sure people will need more than wine after tonight

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         Kathryn L Hillposted 5 years agoin reply to this

         me.

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   RTalloniposted 5 years ago

   Thanks for positive encouragement to vote!  Outcomes are going to be interesting on so many levels. Watching various ads from across the country is a wonder. In South Carolina one candidate is pro legislation for veterans getting Medicaid. If he were pro veterans getting the same health care he gets he would be on to a good thing, or if he were going to use Medicaid services rather than his exclusive health care providers his professed care for veterans would be believable. Veterans deserve better than Medicaid services. If that's all they can get, well, it is what it is, but they deserve better. The point is, yes, let's vote! But please think through the vote!

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      MizBejabbersposted 5 years agoin reply to this

      Rtalloni, You're right, our wonderful veterans deserve the best of health care, but they don't always get it. If a veteran can get better health care on medicaid, then I'm for it. My husband is a Vietnam veteran, and we live in a city with a large regional VA hospital that offers both mental and physical care. However, we still carry private insurance along with his medicare because he still does not get the best of care from the VA. For instance, he has had to go outside the VA for total knee replacement and for rotator cuff surgery. Then the VA sent him to a private cardiologist to determine if he needed a pacemaker. Then the records from that cardiologist got lost. Hubby went back to him on our private insurance and they made an appointment for an evaluation for a pacemaker for which we were going to have to fork over a large deductible. Five days before that appointment, I took him to the emergency room at the VA. That night he nearly died. Three days later the VA installed a pacemaker (they called in a cardiovascular surgeon from the university hospital) and he cancelled the appointment with the private doctor. However, he still keeps his non-VA doctor appointments because the VA has no cardiologist on staff.
      I know that we got off subject here, but I felt like you needed an explanation of why some of our veterans might need medicaid until something can be done to upgrade the system that is supposed to take care of them. His story is typical, and many veterans die or go without medical care for lack of VA service. We are fortunate that we can afford private insurance to supplement my husband's VA care.

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         RTalloniposted 5 years agoin reply to this

         Yes, I do understand. The VA system is overburdened. However, the Medicaid system is a step down, not up. In some cases Medicaid services may be better than nothing, but not always is that true. There are some great health care workers in the system but those few are so limited and overburdened it's impossible to describe. And what patients suffer in the system called health care is not reported. People think they want government health care but they need to think again. Liberal sounding politicians make these decisions while their own health care is protected. The class system such people promote is stunning. I'm thankful you and your husband are able to have the supplement.

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            MizBejabbersposted 5 years agoin reply to this

            I think you and I agree on most points. One thing I forgot to mention was that a lot of veterans have to travel hundreds of miles to a VA medical center. I know that they are reimbursed for their travel expenses, but it is hard for me to imagine having to travel 150-300 miles for routine care, much less when facing an urgent problem. I believe in an emergency, they are allowed to see a local physician but after they are stabilized, they must be taken to a VA facility.
            Medicaid is not the ideal thing to have, however, neither is the government sponsored "free" insurance that is not considered medicaid. Many doctors don't accept either one. My son was on government insurance because he couldn't work and was refused disability. Disability claimed that he could work, but he had been a salesman and a restaurant worker. Nobody in their right mind would hire someone with a measles-like rash all over his body, plus he couldn't stand on his feet all day. He really didn't have much choice in his medical care. He had an autoimmune disease that was killing his kidneys, and I blame his death on having to go to a teaching hospital for his care. He did not receive proper care and died of blood clots in his heart. My husband believes that they let him die so they could study his rare disease. It actually appears that way to me.

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   hard sunposted 5 years ago

   Thanks for the thread. I also appreciate the vast majority of those who comment here. I feel I learn some things from most of you, whether we disagree or agree. May the best candidates win who will see our nation through some very divisive times.

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   hard sunposted 5 years ago

   We could have a month long budget discussion, including military, infrastructure, etc. Otherwise we are "ignoring" a whole lot of factors when we say we want a better healthcare system.

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   PrettyPantherposted 5 years ago

   Watching Trump presser right now. He is not going to stop being divisive. Just called the press the enemy of the people again. He is combative, rude, and authoritarian.

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      wildernessposted 5 years agoin reply to this

      LOL  And those idiot reporters weren't!  Got it.

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         PrettyPantherposted 5 years agoin reply to this

         They were behaving the way reporters have behaved for hundreds of years. Trump is the only President with an ego so fragile he can't handle it without being abusive.

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      JAKE Earthshineposted 5 years agoin reply to this

      "Watching Trump presser right now. He is not going to stop being divisive. Just called the press the enemy of the people again. He is combative, rude, and authoritarian."
      
      AND will be impeached:

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         wildernessposted 5 years agoin reply to this

         Better look up who makes the vote for actual impeachment, and what it requires.  Make sure you're sitting down when you do; the shock to your dreams could be deadly.

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            JAKE Earthshineposted 5 years agoin reply to this

            When the LONG overdue congressional investigations begin to uncover the horrifying truth as the Mueller investigation already is, the senate will be forced to reconsider the unlawful act of protecting the most corrupt, illegitimate president in history who could obviously care less about you, your family or this crumbling country:
            
            It may be as easy as a subpoena for his tax returns but who knows, maybe not:

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               wildernessposted 5 years agoin reply to this

               Please.  Please be sitting down when you look up that minor bit of information.  Your dreams will certainly suffer a major shock.
               
               I DO wonder about subpoenas for tax returns though: can liberals find a judge corrupt enough to agree to that when the only reason is "We're searching desperately to find something to get Trump out of office and need you to violate your oath and help us.  Plus, we hate him".  Perhaps the ninth circuit, but from there it goes to SCOTUS of course.

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                  JAKE Earthshineposted 5 years agoin reply to this

                  You can't be serious wilderness: FYI Michael Cohen, Stubby's former personal attorney was negotiating business in Moscow while he was running for presidential office and Mr. MAGA desperately tried to cover it up and to this very day he denies it: UNREAL and Beyond Dishonest:
                  
                  Just one example of why congress will have no problem with subpoena power to uncover the cover up:

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                     wildernessposted 5 years agoin reply to this

                     They may indeed get it through an unethical, liberally biased  judge.  SCOTUS is another matter, don't you think?

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                        RJ Schwartzposted 5 years agoin reply to this

                        Jake, did you read the news?  Jeff Sessions is OUT at DOJ

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                           JAKE Earthshineposted 5 years agoin reply to this

                           YES RJ, and the CODE Red Constitutional Crisis we've been forced to endure since Mr. Trump was inaugurated just turned into a color that we need to invent that's redder than red:
                           
                           There are so many reasons for Donald to be impeached and or indicted and I started a thread which documents all the criminal and civil evidence available now to the public, but it's un-constitutional, a federal crime to receive monetary consideration and or gifts from foreign entities and that's just a no brainer:.
                           
                           Mr. Trump and we presume his entire family has been receiving gifts since day one of the inauguration:
                           
                           This is a level of corruption which is un-heard of and it's absurd to think as we speak, it continues:UNREAL:
                           
                           Now I ask you seriously RJ, political affiliation aside, do you honestly believe a sitting president should be allowed receive any kind of benefit from any foreign entity to the extent that he and his family obviously do? The U.S. Constitution which conservatives once adored, says it's a federal crime:

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                              wildernessposted 5 years agoin reply to this

                              "Mr. Trump and we presume his entire family has been receiving gifts since day one of the inauguration:"
                              
                              We all know you presume an awful lot of things.  Unfortunately for you, it is an entirely different thing to prove that your allegations are true; to date you have a 0% success rate in doing that.

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                                 JAKE Earthshineposted 5 years agoin reply to this

                                 Bozo Trump collects money from foreign entities as we speak via at least one of his hotels: Is that direct enough for you wilderness? or how about this?: This is defined as a FEDERAL Crime, a Violation of our Constitution which the Trump Family does right under your nose so far  with impunity as republicans who are complicit in this activity, turn a blind eye and it's one reason WHY the Dems must open major congressional investigations: This level of unprecedented corruption must END:
                                 
                                 Ever wonder why Bozo Trump can't seem to side against Saudi Arabia ???? Well this just might be the answer:
                                 
                                 "Trump hotel in New York got a huge revenue boost from Saudi crown prince's entourage, report says"
                                 
                                 https://www.cnbc.com/2018/08/03/saudi-g … -drop.html
                                 
                                 "Saudi Arabia Is Making Trump Hotels Profitable Again"
                                 
                                 https://observer.com/2018/08/saudi-arab … ble-again/
                                 
                                 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GXl8vRmLeJk

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                                    wildernessposted 5 years agoin reply to this

                                    Did you already forgot what you wrote?  Here - I'll paste it again for you:
                                    
                                    "Mr. Trump and we presume his entire family has been receiving gifts since day one of the inauguration:"
                                    
                                    I presume you have a video of Don Jr. opening his Xmas present from Putin?

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                                       JAKE Earthshineposted 5 years agoin reply to this

                                       lol: I thank God Tuesday Midterms proved the fact that the vast majority of Americans think nothing like you wilderness:
                                       
                                       If NOT in the greedy corrupt little hand of the Trump Family, where does the money from their properties go?
                                       
                                       
                                       
                                       No, but I know little Donny Junior opens a CASH Register and

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                                          wildernessposted 5 years agoin reply to this

                                          You may be right - seems that a lot of people do not read or think for themselves.  Unfortunately for your own ramblings I DID read what you wrote.  I even copied it for you so YOU could read it.
                                          
                                          Now about that video - do you even have one of Barron getting his birthday gift from Putin?  Or was the whole thing just another made up event from Jake?  One that got read and you got called on?  Again.

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                                       JAKE Earthshineposted 5 years agoin reply to this

                                       And then you wonder why a Crisp Refreshing BLUE Democratic Tsunami of Righteousness Washed over the entire USA to begin the long process of repairing the unprecedented damage Mr. Trump and republicans have already caused?
                                       
                                       I'd suggest you might wanna' go back and read what I said wilderness, I may be mistaken, but I don't believe I said Vladimir Putin pays the Trumps directly, I said, according to our constitution, Donald Trump is committing a federal crime by receiving gifts or money form foreign entities not necessarily Vladimir Putin but could actually include Putin:
                                       
                                       Donald Trump being enriched from any foreign entity is unlawful according to our constitution, it's a 'no brainer' law designed to prevent conflicts of interest and corruption, and there are law suits pending to adjudicate this incredibly serious matter:

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                                          wildernessposted 5 years agoin reply to this

                                          "I said, according to our constitution, Donald Trump is committing a federal crime by receiving gifts or money form foreign entities not necessarily Vladimir Putin but could actually include Putin"
                                          
                                          No, you did not.  You said: "Mr. Trump and we presume his entire family has been receiving gifts since day one of the inauguration:"
                                          
                                          Is there a reading comprehension problem here?  That's the second time I've had to provide you with what you wrote.  Are you having trouble understanding your own words?

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         PrettyPantherposted 5 years agoin reply to this

         I know you want it, but it won't happen unless Rs get on board and we've already seen they're willing to throw our country's ideals and institutions under the bus.

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      hard sunposted 5 years agoin reply to this

      That is THE major problem. How can we expect legislators to work with others of different ideas when we have this as our "leader?"  I think many Americans are not too far off on some of the major issues but this guy makes it impossible.
      
      Whenever I had a boss that acted that way, I told him to get bent and went on down the road.

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   Ed Fisherposted 5 years ago

   Jean , Sadly we cannot begin to have the" free press ' , the one that we once  HAD ,   as your party owns the majority of media and saluted their incredible bias all through Trump's first two years .  CNN and Acosta got exactly what he and they deserved , look at the media ratings and polls............
   
   Democrats , Schiff , Pelosi , Cuomo , will continue their obstructive agenda , they can't help it , they will impeach on more phases of an ongoing bias of hate , that is what they are known for .......Yer what will get past the Senate , not much , as with Clinton they will get an impeachment in the house only .
   
   Conservatives have learned the most important lesson that they EVER will learn these last two years , their is no" compromise " from the left there is ONLY a manifest desire to acquire more from government at all costs ,   more of a dream of democratic /socialism and a creeping movement towards that ! The old democrat is out and the new is in power .

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