What are the Great Things President Joe Biden Has Done While President

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  1. My Esoteric profile image85
    My Esotericposted 3 years ago

    This is, of course, an open question since he has just started his four years, but since the RINO Party is already saying defeating Covid and growing the economy is a disaster, I thought I would start a thread that proves them wrong.

    I just listed two things he has done:

    - Got America well on its way to putting the pandemic behind us
    - Started the economy growing again. Already he has decreased the Public Debt to GDP ratio from Trump's historic high of 131% to 127% in the span of three months.
    - First time unemployment claims are at pandemic lows for several weeks running now.

    1. Sharlee01 profile image85
      Sharlee01posted 3 years agoin reply to this

      Total nonfarm payroll employment rose by 266,000 in April, Hopefully, May's numbers will improve. Many states have removed the Bidens $300.00 incentive not to return to work. So we have a chance of seeing better numbers.

      Inflation speeds up in April as consumer prices leap 4.2%, fastest since 2008 We are in a recession. at this point. Gas prices souring, as well as consumer goods. It will be interesting to see if our economy corrects these problems. However, I bet not.  https://www.cnbc.com/2021/05/12/consume … -2021.html

      Not sure why you feel Joe gets a gold star for his handling of COVID?

      I give total credit toTrump's Operation Warp Speed that has been truly the ones handling the Vaccine rollout. Not one of that teak was canned when Biden took office.

      He also has lost his bid to have the Jan 6th protest investigated by Congress.

      Then there is the border problem with drugs and migrants pouring at a record-breaking rate.  More fentanyl collected by border patrol in the first four months than all of 2020. Need I mention 22 thousand unaccompanied children we are now responsible for.

      Not sure you should have not waited a bit before celebrating Biden's first few months in office. He is failing on every count.

      1. My Esoteric profile image85
        My Esotericposted 3 years agoin reply to this

        "Many states have removed the Bidens $300.00 incentive not to return to work. So we have a chance of seeing better numbers." - Florida is one of those states and has a severe problem of hiring in "fast food" type businesses.  The enhanced unemployment ends mid-June. 

        I am open to believing that it maybe responsible for the hiring problems.  I also would not be surprised if it is other reasons some say.  Come July 1, we should know.

        As to the recession - Reuters reports this:

        "The U.S. economy is growing at its fastest rate since the early 1980s while household bank accounts are bulging with cash doled out by the federal government to blunt the impact of the coronavirus pandemic.

        Over 900,000 jobs were added in March and a Reuters poll of economists expects just under one million more for April, although some forecasters expect double that gain.

        Is the United States still in recession?"

        But then follows up with this - "Common sense and a lot of data say no, but the Business Cycle Dating Committee, a panel organized by the National Bureau of Economic Research that acts as the official arbiter of U.S. recessions, has not yet pinned down an end date for the contraction it said started after February 2020, around the onset of the pandemic"

        My guess is the NBER will declare an end to the recession sometime around the end of July when the 2nd quarters numbers are in (assuming they show positive growth again)

        Inflation has been abnormally low since the Great 2008 recession.  I hate to see it, but inflation MUST grow because prices have been depressed for so long now.  The question is can the Fed keep it from increasing too much.

        As to gas prices, Trump, Biden, Congress, and hardly anybody else has control over that.  There are only a very few things that determine the price of oil, and therefore gas.  They are 1) supply, 2) demand, 3) market speculation, 4) events that potentially can impact the supply of oil (e.g. war, Trump getting out of the nuclear deal, Saudi Arabia getting pissed at the world), and 5) events that decrease demand (e.g. the pandemic).  Obviously a president can (and have in the past such as Bush 1'd defense of Kuwait and Bush 2's invasion of Iraq) or Congress can do things that lead to cause number 4, but it has to be pretty big and long
        lasting.

        The border problems with drugs have been there for generations and won't decline until America can solve its own addiction problem.  The problems with migrants won't go away until the reasons driving migrants to the US are reduced.

        This "failing on every count." is where you lose me because it is simply not true unless you claim he failed getting people vaccinated or got the economy growing again.

        1. Sharlee01 profile image85
          Sharlee01posted 3 years agoin reply to this

          "Inflation in April accelerated at its fastest pace in more than 12 years as the U.S. economic recovery kicked into gear and energy prices jumped higher, the Labor Department reported Wednesday.

          The Consumer Price Index, which measures a basket of goods as well as energy and housing costs, rose 4.2% from a year earlier. A Dow Jones survey had expected a 3.6% increase. The month-to-month gain was 0.8%, against the expected 0.2%.

          Excluding volatile food and energy prices, the core CPI increased 3% from the same period in 2020 and 0.9% on a monthly basis. The respective estimates were 2.3% and 0.3%.

          The increase in the annual headline CPI rate was the fastest since September 2008, while the monthly gain in core inflation was the largest since 1981.

          Energy prices overall jumped 25% from a year earlier, including a 49.6% increase for gasoline and 37.3% for fuel oil. That came even though most energy categories saw a decline in April.

          Prices at the pump, which fell 1.4% in April, have resumed their climb in May, with the national average eclipsing $3 a gallon for the first time since November 2014, according to AAA. Further rises are likely from Friday’s cyberattack that shut down Colonial Pipeline’s main transmission line from Houston to New Jersey.

          Used car and truck prices, which are seen as a key inflation indicator, surged 21%, including a 10% increase in April alone. Shelter, another key CPI component, was up 2.1% year over year and 0.4% for the month."

          Source Article was written by

          Jeff Cox
          Finance EditorJeff Cox is the finance editor for CNBC.com where he manages coverage of the financial markets and Wall Street. His stories are routinely among the most-read items on the site each day as he interviews some of the smartest and most well-respected analysts and advisors in the financial world. He also is a frequent guest on CNBC.
          I have offered the facts that are relevant as of today.

          I have not added options, just known facts.
          https://www.cnbc.com/2021/05/12/consume … -2021.html

          And yes the economy may in the near further show better job growth due to people getting vaccinated and back to work. However, these are people that are returning to pre-Biden jobs. Biden has killed jobs, not created jobs.

          Biden's economy is faltering, and his policies will surely put the country into a depression if Congress can shove them into law. This administration is shockingly dangerous, and it would very much seem many American's are in a media-induced stupor.

          1. My Esoteric profile image85
            My Esotericposted 3 years agoin reply to this

            "Biden has killed jobs," - proof for this obviously false statement would be nice since facts state the opposite.

            "Biden's economy is faltering, " - proof for this obviously false statement would be nice since facts state the opposite.

            "This administration is shockingly dangerous," - proof for this obviously false statement would be nice since facts state the opposite.

            And what is the point of your article other than to state the obvious, that after prices have been artificially held down for all of these years, inflation is bound to happen.  No one should be surprised by this at all.

            1. Sharlee01 profile image85
              Sharlee01posted 3 years agoin reply to this

              "Biden has killed jobs," - proof for this obviously false statement would be nice since facts state the opposite."

              TWO WORDS KEYSTONE PIPELINE

              "Biden's economy is faltering, " - proof for this obviously false statement would be nice since facts state the opposite.

              Maybe you could take that up with the stats Jeff Cox
              Finance EditorJeff Cox is the finance editor for CNBC.offered...


              "This administration is shockingly dangerous," - proof for this obviously false statement would be nice since facts state the opposite.

              Again Jeff Cox
              Finance EditorJeff Cox is the finance editor for CNBC says differently...


              "And what is the point of your article other than to state the obvious, that after prices have been artificially held down for all of these years, inflation is bound to happen.  No one should be surprised by this at all."

              Nothing was artificial about the Trump economy, all stats in regards to GPD, job growth, lowest unemployment, and to top it off a wonder strong stock market with great consumer confidence. If not for a worldwide pandemic we would have continued to enjoy a prosperous country.

              Now, we are tanking on all counts the Biden administration stands for nothing more than free free free which shows nothing but fiscal irresponsibility. Yet he and his cronies are aware none of his policies will or were expected to come to fruition. All cheap politicking promises.

              I think you would be better off sticking with insulting Trump than trying to bolster or support a man like Biden. Just saying

              I see you skipped over my comment where I laid out Joe's blunders with the three pipelines. These were all doozies.  I mean really huge mistakes. Poor judgments and one can see Biden is not presidential material. He is drowning in the problems he created.

              1. My Esoteric profile image85
                My Esotericposted 3 years agoin reply to this

                Oh, Keystone Pipeline, the environmental disaster waiting to happen?  Actually, it is already happening on the leg that already got completed by going around America's EPA laws which is leaking three times as much as pipes carrying normal crude.  There have already been a dozen spills from this pipeline - and now you want more.

                Of course you force me to repeat the truth.

                GDP - Trump and Obama were the same in the end.

                Job Growth - Obama did a much better job than Trump

                Unemployment - Trump did nothing to make it better, name me one policy HE created that impacted unemployment.  What you can say about Trump is he didn't screw up what Obama started.

                Stock Market Growth - In terms of percentage growth, Obama did better, in fact most previous presidents did better than Trump.  Biden is putting all of them to shame.

                1. Sharlee01 profile image85
                  Sharlee01posted 3 years agoin reply to this

                  Keystone Pipeline --- Slow down we were discussing your comment in regard to COVID death tole under Trump vs Biden. I see you're in a tizzy and trying to put space between our conversation.

                  When Biden took office there had been 400,000 deaths in 11.5 months.
                  At this point, Biden has been in office for 4.5 months the number added to the count is 212,219.  Today's number showing 612,219 deaths. As you can see the percentage of deaths is higher for Biden --- Just a fact   
                  https://www.worldometers.info/coronavirus/

                  Trump's policies stop China travel, provide the task force and you God Fauci.  He also provides us four vaccines by putting up cash for  5 companies to do research and development. All but Pfizer took cash. for research and development. Pfizer signed a huge contract to provide our vaccine before any other country, and the option to order millions of more doses as needed. Facts are facts. You can keep denying them, but they don't go away.   https://www.scientificamerican.com/arti … roundwork/

                  Without Trump's policies, Biden would be drowning in a disaster.

                  1. My Esoteric profile image85
                    My Esotericposted 3 years agoin reply to this

                    There you go again misrepresenting the facts again.  You need to get your timelines straight.

                    When Biden took office there were 459,000 deaths and active cases were just peaking.  In the next two weeks, another 50,000 died from those Trump era cases (which spiked like that because Trump FAILED in getting his base to take Covid seriously, hell, he not only failed, he actively made it worse).

                    It took Biden about 4 - 6 weeks to 1) develop a production and distribution plan [b]from scratch because Trump failed to make one[/b and then implement it.  So any deaths in that time frame are also on Trump.  That would be at least another 40,000.  So Biden's starting number can't be any less than 549,000.  So that at a minimum, 90% of the covid deaths resulted from Trump's ineptitude.

                    As I said before, good for Trump for authorizing Warp Speed which produced two vaccines in record time.

                    Bad for Trump for:

                    - Having no plan to distribute them
                    - Lying to America about how deadly virus was
                    - Encouraging Americans not to wear masks
                    - Encouraging Americans not to social distance
                    - Not reigning in RINO governors who played fast and loose with their citizens lives
                    - Not letting the paper tiger so-called Task Force do its job
                    - Not ... and the list is very long so I'll stop here.

                    Trump had virtually no policies and what ones he did have left America in a total mess which Biden now has to clean up.

                2. Sharlee01 profile image85
                  Sharlee01posted 3 years agoin reply to this

                  I have nothing more to say in regards to the Trump economy or will I travel back to what his name economy. 

                  I from this point on am unwilling to feed into your obsession with Trump. We have a new administration, I am very much interested in keeping tabs on the now, and the future.

                  It is very clear you just can't digest facts even though I always take time to make every effort to provide facts. Not sure it healthy to ruminate on the past.

          2. My Esoteric profile image85
            My Esotericposted 3 years agoin reply to this

            "Biden has killed jobs, not created jobs." - I will grant you that most new hires are into jobs lost during the pandemic, that only makes sense given we are still in a recession - but the fact is, he has added more than 2,000,000 jobs.

            Now, please tell what jobs has his policies killed?  What industries has his policies shut down or put into decline that didn't need to be like the Keystone Pipeline?

            And so what if inflation is above average right now?  It is just making up for being artificially low (mainly through Fed policy) for so long and then for the last year because of the pandemic.

            Now, if it doesn't head back down over the next six months, then you will have something to complain about, but not now.

            1. Sharlee01 profile image85
              Sharlee01posted 3 years agoin reply to this

              As far as Ima concerned-- to make this short.

              Biden killed Keystone due to it being a Trump accomplishment. He could careless about the 11.000 jobs or the collateral damage... He is a tool

              He kissed Putin's ass by lifting the heavy sanctions that were placed on Russia by Congress. He's a tool

              Anyone in their right mind can see the hypocrisy in this ridiculous vendetta just maybe kidding themself.

              And if you feel you know more about inflation and predicting the economy than economists. Oh well

              The future under Biden remains to be seen. However, what I have seen is non-sensical, and in some cases could be very detrimental to the
              Country.

              But, have faith, it already appears many are having great
              buyer's remorse.

              1. My Esoteric profile image85
                My Esotericposted 3 years agoin reply to this

                "Biden killed Keystone due to it being a Trump accomplishment. " - Trump approved Keystone after Obama stopped it to reverse anything Obama did.  It was an environmentally disastrous decision which Biden FIXED.

                "He kissed Putin's ass by lifting the heavy sanctions that were placed on Russia by Congress." - Which sanctions on Russia did Biden lift?  I think you are passing on right-wing fake news (unless, of course, you are talking about Nord Stream which was done for national security reasons)

                Yes, I do know a lot about inflation because I was an economic analyst for the Air Force.  I took many courses in economics, I have listened to many lectures on various aspects of economics, I have written about economics, and I read the analysis and opinions of other economists.  What is your background?

                What constitutes "buyers remorse"?  Is it the trouncing Trump is taking in job approval polls from Biden?  What is Biden's range? 53 to 55%?  What was Trump's range? 38 to 45%.  Do you mean that buyers remorse?

                1. Sharlee01 profile image85
                  Sharlee01posted 3 years agoin reply to this

                  Guess ya just won't read the list I provided you with two long pages of sanctions trump slapped Russia with... I give up.

                  Biden under fire from Congress for waiving sanctions on Russian gas pipeline company
                  https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/nation … s-n1267975
                  https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-57180674
                  https://www.politico.com/news/2021/05/1 … ine-489437

                  It would seem you don't believe facts when provided or respond with any form of acknowledgment of the sources.

                  Lots of articles in regards to voter's buyer remorse...

      2. Sharlee01 profile image85
        Sharlee01posted 3 years agoin reply to this

        Thought you might like to check out the polls today. The funny thing Trump and Biden have the same poll approval stats today on the chart. Biden is headed in the wrong direction.

        The Rasmussen Reports daily Presidential Tracking Poll,  for Wednesday shows that 49% of Likely U.S. Voters approve of President Biden’s job performance. Fifty percent (50%) disapprove.

        The latest figures include 29% who Strongly Approve of the job Biden is doing and 40% who Strongly Disapprove. This gives him a Presidential Approval Index rating of -11. (see trends)  https://www.rasmussenreports.com/public … ack_july07

        1. My Esoteric profile image85
          My Esotericposted 3 years agoin reply to this

          538 likes their methodology so I do watch Rasmussen's polling.  I do, however, keep it firmly in mind they are historically biased to the Right, so having lower numbers for Biden (and higher numbers for Trump) is no surprise.

          I looked at their chart and I don't see where Biden and Trump have the same approval numbers.  It looks like Trump is 10 points lower.

          I also look at the RealClearPolitics trend.  It shows that Bidens nutmbers have been pretty steady since February.  His high was 55.8, shorly after he took office and would be expect to be his high point.  His low was 51.4, a few days ago.  It is currently 52.5.

          Now that is only a 4.4 point spread over the last four months, which is pretty stable as polling goes.  I would expect it to drop from his high because progressives are pissed off that he has taken a more pragmatic approach to governing and is trying (as much as the RINOs will let him) do things in a bipartisan manner.

          https://www.realclearpolitics.com/epoll … -7320.html


          On the other hand, Trump's job approval rating started out at 45.3 shortly after taking office and he hit a low of 37.1 in Dec 2017.  That is an 8.2 point swing.  After that he tracked between 43 and 45 for most of his term; significantly worse than Biden's current numbers.  Only once, on March 28, 2020, did Trump approach Biden's level when he averaged 47.1 before plunging back down to 41.6.

          As I said before, I expect Biden to track between 50 and 60%, depending on how mad the progressives are at him.

          What was Trump's average presidential approval rating?  Glancing through the history of Trump's Rasmussen numbers, I see many -11 numbers as well.

          I saw that YouGov, which tilts Blue about half as much as Rasmussen tilts right only has a -5 point differential of the same time period.

          1. Credence2 profile image81
            Credence2posted 3 years agoin reply to this

            What is the Trumpers' explanation for the difference in the approval numbers between Trump and Biden?

            1. My Esoteric profile image85
              My Esotericposted 3 years agoin reply to this

              You also have this.  Today, Trump sued those who kicked him off of their platforms because of his dangerous lies.  This might be the reason why - "In May, an analysis by NewsWhip, a social media tracking firm, found that interactions about him on social media have fallen 91% since January . ", lol

          2. Sharlee01 profile image85
            Sharlee01posted 3 years agoin reply to this

            Oh my gosh, you know or should have caught that I was pulling your chain. I have expressed my view of polls to you on many occasions. I don't in any respect find them relative or to be honest, I just don't trust them.

            1. My Esoteric profile image85
              My Esotericposted 3 years agoin reply to this

              Of course you don't, they don't give you the answers you need.

              1. Sharlee01 profile image85
                Sharlee01posted 3 years agoin reply to this

                Well, maybe your right. However, watching Biden go downhill makes me think I might have been wrong about trusting polls.

                1. My Esoteric profile image85
                  My Esotericposted 3 years agoin reply to this

                  "downhill", you mean like Trump? LOL.

            2. Credence2 profile image81
              Credence2posted 3 years agoin reply to this

              Cmon Sharlee, you only distrust those polls that deliver information contrary to what you want to hear or believe.

              1. Sharlee01 profile image85
                Sharlee01posted 3 years agoin reply to this

                I have reconsidered my view --   Maybe the polls are showing a true picture of what American's are feeling about Biden. The daily polls do appear to indicate the countries view of Biden's poor job abilities, and lack of leadership. 

                Even Democrats are very disappointed with Joe... And it is showing in the polls.  "Biden’s Approval Takes a Hit, Driven by Sagging Hopes Among Democrats"

                "President Biden’s approval rating has taken a dip in recent weeks — but it’s not even close to the drop in support for Congress’s performance, as negotiations over legislation in Washington have ground to a virtual standstill.

                That’s the top-line takeaway from a national poll released on Wednesday by Monmouth University. But here’s the secondary message: Democrats are the ones growing most disillusioned, and fast.

                Back in April, when Mr. Biden was making big legislative strides, 83 percent of Democrats said they thought the country was moving in the right direction, according to a Monmouth survey at the time. But in Wednesday’s poll, just 59 percent of Democrats said that.

                The share of Democrats saying the country was on the wrong track rose by 20 percentage points, to 32 percent."   https://www.nytimes.com/2021/06/16/us/p … ating.html

                https://www.monmouth.edu/polling-instit … 61621.pdf/

                1. Credence2 profile image81
                  Credence2posted 3 years agoin reply to this

                  I understand, but Biden would do a whole lot better when he realizes the mistake of trying to negotiate with Republican on this bipartisan stick is as futile as asking a grizzly to use the toilet.

                  The momentum for Biden has stopped because of Republicans and their deliberate obstruction. That needs to be eliminated thru the use of any and all tools within the Democrats' political tool boxes

                  1. Sharlee01 profile image85
                    Sharlee01posted 3 years agoin reply to this

                    Well, they certainly have a toolbox, but it might be time for them to understand their tools have become old, and inefficient. Biden knows Congress and he knew that he would be stymied by the rightwing of Congress.  He perhaps should have kept his campaign promises to a minimum, and more realistic.  It would also help if he stepped up and addressed current problems like the border. He ignores it as if there is not a problem as he does with a crime. These problems will plague him and keep his jib approval low. Plus, the chatter on the street is all about Biden's lack of leadership in solving problems or at best recognizing problems as such.  The old political shell game --- look here not there, does not work any longer. Hey, just my opinion, I see him going down fast. Maybe the polls are accurate after all.

                  2. My Esoteric profile image85
                    My Esotericposted 3 years agoin reply to this

                    I guess I am more of a pragmatist and believe that IF Biden can achieve a bipartisan deal on the infrastructure-lite bill, it would be worth the effort for America.  At the moment, it does look like he has the votes - if the Progressives don't sink it wanting the perfect over the doable.

                2. My Esoteric profile image85
                  My Esotericposted 3 years agoin reply to this

                  I often will look at individual polls to see what the details say (I never pay attention to the headlines that go with them since they are mostly attention grabbing hyperbole).  But to see a much truer picture of the trend and deviations, I look at averages of polls, such as those published by RealClearPolitics.

                  In the case of Biden Job Approval (and I have already pointed this out) the averages show no particular trend other than what one would normally expect from early in a term to a little bit down the road.  As you can see in the link below, Biden's Approval numbers have remained fairly constant with a small range between the high (55.7) and low averages (51.4).  Average those two numbers and you get 55.3, which is just a little bit above 52.5 it is currently at.  These numbers put a lie to the headlines you quote.

                  I also need to remind you again, since you refuse to recognize it, that one of the things putting downward pressure on Biden's numbers is the pragmatic way he is trying to do his job working with Republicans where he can.  The Progressives don't like that.  They, like the RINOs, don't want real legislation, they just want headlines.

                  https://www.realclearpolitics.com/epoll … -7320.html

                  As to Right Direction, your baseline is what it was during the Trump administration - which was a dismal 35% until it tanked with the pandemic.  On the other hand, under Biden, it is much better, averaging around 42%, the highest since 2009 when people were seeing evidence Obama's stimulus was pulling America out of a near Depression.  Given that, I suggest that your assessment of how terrible things are is way off base.

                  People are feeling pretty good today compared the Trump (or even Obama) administration.

                  https://www.realclearpolitics.com/epoll … y-902.html

                  I couldn't find any other polls to back up or disprove your claim about the Monmouth poll.

                  A recent study of what happened during the 2020 election, compared to the 2016 election, came up with these results:

                  - Biden gained more ground with voters in all age groups except between 30 - 44 than Trump did.  While both improved in the 30 - 44, Trump improved more.

                  - Trump actually improved his results slightly in Urban areas.
                  - But, he gave up a lot ground in both Suburban and Rural areas


                  - Trump improved with those that had a high school diploma or less
                  - Trump did worse with those that had some college
                  - Both improved slightly with those who had college degrees
                  - Biden did better with those who had post-graduate degrees.

                  - Biden did relatively better than Trump with both men and women than Clinton did
                  - Biden improved with White Men while Trump declined
                  - Trump did relatively better with White Women than Biden, although both improved
                  - Biden lost voters with Black and Latino Men and Women while Trump improved quite a bit.  It was more pronounced with the Latino Men.

                  - Over all, Biden did better than Clinton with people making less than $100,000 than Trump did between the two elections
                  - Trump's biggest gain was with people who earned between $100K and $200K

                  - This is what killed Trump, he did a lot poorer with Moderate voters in 2020 than he did in 2016 while Biden did a lot better than Clinton.
                  -

      3. gmwilliams profile image86
        gmwilliamsposted 3 years agoin reply to this

        Biden is an ABYSMAL FAILURE as president, even a smart 10 year old is COGNIZANT of this.

        1. Valeant profile image77
          Valeantposted 3 years agoin reply to this

          Well, writing with caps certainly fits the 10-year old description.

        2. My Esoteric profile image85
          My Esotericposted 3 years agoin reply to this

          Spoken like a true delusional Trump Republican.

    2. Credence2 profile image81
      Credence2posted 3 years agoin reply to this

      When I walk around a see so many "help wanted" signs, I think that we are on the way back. More jobs than there are people to fill them, I haven't seen that for a while. So, we have an employees market, and wages and working conditions in certain industries will have to improve or people will avoid these jobs and stay home with papa, even if all the unemployment benefits are cut.

      1. Ken Burgess profile image69
        Ken Burgessposted 3 years agoin reply to this

        There are plenty of people to fill those jobs.

        The jobs are not offering enough money, so no one is willing to fill them.

        I see this adjustment in realities today, where in order to get someone to do a job that paid $11.00 three years ago, you now have to pay $15.00.

        If wages don't adjust, the people won't do those jobs... or you get what you pay for, terrible employees.

        1. Sharlee01 profile image85
          Sharlee01posted 3 years agoin reply to this

          Amen

        2. wilderness profile image75
          wildernessposted 3 years agoin reply to this

          "The jobs are not offering enough money, so no one is willing to fill them."

          Or at least they aren't offering as much as Uncle Sam is offering to stay at home. 

          I would observe that if wages have risen 36%, from $11 to $15, in just 3 years we have a really major problem on our hands in the form of runaway inflation.  Businesses can't afford that kind of increase without increasing prices, and higher paid employees are going to demand the same thing as prices rise and they watch unskilled labor being paid what the same thing they are. 

          But I'm not seeing that in my area.  Starting wage is nearly the same as it was - around $10 - and hasn't changed much.  Take away what Uncle Sam is giving them as "unemployment" because of the pandemic (that no longer exists, from a job perspective, in my area), and those jobs will be filled pronto.

          1. Castlepaloma profile image76
            Castlepalomaposted 3 years agoin reply to this

            With grand inflation and wages growth of 36%.

            Bring back the Latino labour and Chinese goods to help balance. Civil wars and shut down of free markets won't help.

            1. wilderness profile image75
              wildernessposted 3 years agoin reply to this

              Neither will removing American workers from earning a wage.  It might, short term, result in lower prices, but that will catch up after those without jobs demand that others support them, whereupon those with jobs demand more money because they now have to support multiple families.

            2. My Esoteric profile image85
              My Esotericposted 3 years agoin reply to this

              I have no idea what you are talking about Castle.

              1. Castlepaloma profile image76
                Castlepalomaposted 3 years agoin reply to this

                Canada with its diverse cultures and international trade is our strength that US once had and now loosing. Until US starting too much divided labels, cancel cultures and trade. Cheaper labour and Chinese products make a better balance here in Canada.

                Think I have run out of ideas upon deaf ears for any  solutions for the US.

                1. Sharlee01 profile image85
                  Sharlee01posted 3 years agoin reply to this

                  I will say you have provided lots of food for thought...

          2. My Esoteric profile image85
            My Esotericposted 3 years agoin reply to this

            There are three possible things economists think are leading to the inability to staff low wage jobs: 1) the problems associated with not all schools being open, 2) fear of catching Covid, and 3) the unemployment bonus.  Only time will tell which one(s) had the most impact.

            In Florida, the bonus goes away in mid-June.  Come July, we will find out if the unemployment bonus was a factor.

            " pandemic (that no longer exists" - you do live in a fantasy world don't you?  Why don't you ask the families of the 550 people (mostly Trump supporters) who still die a day if the pandemic is over.  Or ask the 20,000 a day still catching Covid.  I bet they will all laugh in your face.

        3. Kathryn L Hill profile image80
          Kathryn L Hillposted 3 years agoin reply to this

          My surmise is that many people don't need money at the present time. Maybe they have discovered they don't need so much, they have enough to live on and / or, that free-time is very enjoyable. When they need money, they'll go back to work.

          1. My Esoteric profile image85
            My Esotericposted 3 years agoin reply to this

            Then there are these other reasons such as:

            1. Until recently, fear of catching Covid by being forced back to work from the cut-off of unemployment in there state. I recently posted the story of one such woman.  Of coarse, this reason now really only applies to those that have valid reasons for not getting vaccinated, which she apparently did.

            2.  Child care is still unaffordable in many places.

            3. Some people need time to find the right job and may need to relocate

            4. Available jobs do not offer women with children flexible options who can't afford child care.

            https://www.cnbc.com/2021/07/08/nobel-w … work-.html

            1. Kathryn L Hill profile image80
              Kathryn L Hillposted 3 years agoin reply to this

              More guesses:

              Women are going back to work sooner than young men who are at home on their games, (being catered to by overly indulgent parents.)

              More men are home taking care of children.

              Older workers are not going back to work because they decided to retire.

              Those who are working know there's a chance of dying from Covid but they also know that if they don't work, they and their loved ones will die.

              The youth who could be working at entry level jobs would rather not work next to low-pay undocumented workers.

              The youth are not trained for higher level jobs as they cannot compute, write or deal with other humans effectively.
              .

            2. My Esoteric profile image85
              My Esotericposted 3 years agoin reply to this

              And there are these reasons as well

              "They're in this situation because during the pandemic, many workers were laid off, as safety measures required some restaurants to close dining entirely. Eventually, when restaurants started re-hiring, they found a smaller pool of potential employees. Some moved away, others found new jobs in other industries. Some are still staying home to care for children or other dependents. Some, fed up with what are often low wages for the arduous work, vowed never to return."

              1. Credence2 profile image81
                Credence2posted 3 years agoin reply to this

                I think that it is great that now it is "labor" rather than capital that have the upper hand in today's job market.

                It is like the President said, things are going to get rough for employers unless they pay more and offer better benefits to potential employees.

                1. Kathryn L Hill profile image80
                  Kathryn L Hillposted 3 years agoin reply to this

                  ... whoever  n e e d s  work, (to earn money,) will take whatever work they can get. Employers can only do what they can do.

                  1. Credence2 profile image81
                    Credence2posted 3 years agoin reply to this

                    When have you ever seen a circumstance like this one in the recent past?

                    Meanwhile the businesses will hemorrhage waiting for those employees to reach the point of starvation before they return to work. How long can business afford to wait?

                2. My Esoteric profile image85
                  My Esotericposted 3 years agoin reply to this

                  For my own business, moving to $15/hr right now minimum would mean shutting down (and firing 50 people) or laying off a lot of workers to cut costs, while putting even more work on those remaining. Our payroll is around a million dollars a year.

                  We do not have the luxury of raising our prices to accommodate as our clients will simply move from a company that provides a lot of service and flexibility to the industry giants that don't.

                  There are a LOT of small businesses in the same boat as I am.  What I suspect will happen, so long as we keep Democrats in office, is the gov't will now have to start subsidizing those who can't afford $15/hr.

                  We have managed to raise starting pay from $10 to $12/hr and our pay ranges from $12 to $25/hr.  As conditions allow, we keep pushing that up.

                  This is why I oppose any minimum wage at all and support transfering that function to an expanded Earned Income Tax Credit.

                  1. Credence2 profile image81
                    Credence2posted 3 years agoin reply to this

                    I can't claim to be in your place nor understand your situation. It seems to me that the very concept of small business is being "Amazoned" and "Walmarted" out of existence. What chance do you really have?

                    It is becoming more difficult to live on the wages provided on the bottom rungs of the economic ladder. The part of central Florida I live in is seeing a stark increase in real estate costs, when it was recently a sleepy backwater. Urban areas and  entire states are forced to disregard the $7.25 and hour minimum. Regardless of what conservatives may say, the minimum wage has lost a great deal of buying power over the last 50 years. If people can't afford to live on what their being paid, you are suggesting the that tax payer subsidizes the difference between what is a reasonable cost to live and what employers are willing to pay? Conservatives would much rather create Dickensian society of beggars that include women and children, then pressure the capitalist class to move away from a piecework, sweatshop mentality.

                    I can't imagine a society without a minimum wage as I noted that virtually every country in the world has one, and there has to be a reason for that.

                    I paid 15 cents for a MCD cheese burger in 1965, now I pay $2.50 for the same sandwich. I cannot think of ever really evading the reality of inflation, just its extent.

                    You and I know that the Rightwingers would virtually have a cow regarding encroaching socialism that would be involved in basically having the government subsidize a guaranteed wage for everyone. Is that not part of what the Earned Income Tax Credit would involve?

              2. Kathryn L Hill profile image80
                Kathryn L Hillposted 3 years agoin reply to this

                Where are the young men?
                -  overseas in the military? working for Amazon?  at university? at home?

                1. Credence2 profile image81
                  Credence2posted 3 years agoin reply to this

                  Anywhere except at the piecework factories they are being invited to return to...

                  1. Kathryn L Hill profile image80
                    Kathryn L Hillposted 3 years agoin reply to this

                    In the 70's I worked at Hood River pear/apple Cannery. I had to stand in one place sorting pears on a conveyor belt. My friend had it much better. He got to sit with the ladies and peel. I would see him from my lofty location chatting merrily with the ladies. I consciously hallucinated to endure the boredom of sorting large, medium and small sized pears. It took me three months of this type of work to determine to get my degree and teaching credentials, no matter what it took. So, here I agree with you!

                    Nevertheless, the money I made helped me continue my travels and get back home to enroll in college.
                    Money is money.

                2. My Esoteric profile image85
                  My Esotericposted 3 years agoin reply to this

                  The sad fact is that labor group was forced out of the market.  When I was young, a long, long time ago, I started out working at McDonalds and Taco Bell.  Everybody else there, save the manager, were in my age group. That is where the young first started getting their job experience.

                  Flash forward to 2013 during the recovery from the Great 2008 Conservative Recession.  Younger workers were being replaced by older workers trying to earn a long-term, normal living on $7.25/hr.  Until the pandemic, that dynamic only got worse. 

                  Why would these businesses hire the older worker instead of the young men?  Older workers are more reliable with less costly turnover.

    3. Kyler J Falk profile image80
      Kyler J Falkposted 3 years agoin reply to this

      As far as I know, RINO is an acronym for "republican in name only" and that would make them for your side, no? Everything else is a big "yikes" from me.

      1. My Esoteric profile image85
        My Esotericposted 3 years agoin reply to this

        That is exactly what RINO stands for and as I point out in another forum I created on the subject, today's so-called Republican Party bears no resemblance to the Republican Party Abraham Lincoln started.  For the most part, Lincoln's party holds principles that are diametrically opposed to today's Republican Party which is why a much more correct label is RINO. 

        Who is today's RINO party more in line with philosophically?  The conservative southern Democrats of Andrew Jackson's era.

        1. wilderness profile image75
          wildernessposted 3 years agoin reply to this

          Is that an insinuation that the Democrat party, with it's massive give-away programs, total fiscal irresponsibility and ever growing demands for more government control over people's lives is the same as what it began as?

          Or have both changed beyond recognition from what they were?  Are Democrats DINO's - Democrats in Name Only as a result?  (Note that the name DINO is singularly appropriate as a Dinosaur - the biggest land animals to ever walk the earth - and DINO's want the biggest government possible.)

          1. My Esoteric profile image85
            My Esotericposted 3 years agoin reply to this

            Nope, you are entirely correct - DINO is appropriate when comparing today's Democrats to yesterdays Democrats.  Fortunately, the Democrats dropped their pro-slavery, anti-civil rights, conservative past and took on the mantle (mostly) of Lincoln's liberal Republican Party (which also was the party of a strong federal government)

            "Or have both changed beyond recognition from what they were? " - Don't say that too loud because there are many so-called Republicans on these forums who will crucify you over that TRUTH.  On the other hand, it is my opinion, because I don't have any observations to back this up, that most forum participants on the Left would very much agree with you and are happy that Democrats moved on to a much better place and are now on the right side of history.

            On the other hand, it is the RINOs who took their once great party over to the Dark Side.

            1. Sharlee01 profile image85
              Sharlee01posted 3 years agoin reply to this

              "On the other hand, it is the RINOs who took their once great party over to the Dark Side."

              Or has the new Republican party just morphed into the Kennedy era democrat?  Don't ask what your country can do for you, but ask what you can do for your country"...  The Dems of that era buffered their ideologies with common sense. As Republicans have always been known for. We have not gone to the Darkside, just tweaking our party to put America, and American's first, and then consider where we can make a true difference in other lands.

              Another thought the DINO's became extinct, whereas RINO's have thrived...

          2. Sharlee01 profile image85
            Sharlee01posted 2 years agoin reply to this

            It seems while many are being sidelined with the State Of The Union speech, critiquing how what, and who yelled what --- We have so many very important issues that are being sidelined by this BS.

            Hopefully, some are tuning into the various GOP hearings this week. CSpan has clips of all... And I must say, it appears that many are being pulled away from some serious hearing with the dribble in regard to the SOU speech.

            Hopefully, we all have not become willing to fall into "look over here, nothing to see over there"...

          3. Kathleen Cochran profile image71
            Kathleen Cochranposted 13 months agoin reply to this

            Wilderness, I don't know about the rest of the country, but in Georgia where I live, the parents of the most die-hard republicans here today were once Democrats. But their perception of the changing priorities of that party caused them to be drawn to the Reagan GOP. Then abortion became the only issue they were concerned with and the only issue they voted on. Now that R v W has been overturned, they remain GOP because Democrats have been so demonized for so long, they dare not change.

        2. Castlepaloma profile image76
          Castlepalomaposted 3 years agoin reply to this

          Eso

          Biden is around the same pace as Trumps covid deaths stats.

          To compare Lincoln civil war American deaths to covid death on a per capita basis. Multiple civil war deaths by more than 100 times greater than covid. Wail half the US population were slaves.
          Not the greatest examples.

          1. My Esoteric profile image85
            My Esotericposted 3 years agoin reply to this

            Your claim that "Biden is around the same pace as Trumps covid deaths stats." is demonstrably incorrect.

            On the other hand, without doing the math, I would say your claim about relative deaths on a per capita basis is probably correct for the Civil War; maybe even WW II.  That is the problem with using raw numbers over time, they lose context.

            But in terms of visualizing the devastation caused by Covid and Trump's failed policies toward it, it is still a valid comparison.

            1. Castlepaloma profile image76
              Castlepalomaposted 3 years agoin reply to this

              Trump was 375,000 covid death the end of 2020.
              Death now 600,000 and part of 2020 Biden was elected. So its close to par and  covid deaths with Trump. Plus at this time a year ago, covid deaths are higher.

            2. Sharlee01 profile image85
              Sharlee01posted 3 years agoin reply to this

              When Biden took office there had been 400,000 deaths in 11.5 months.
              At this point, Biden has been in office for 4.5 months the number added to the count is 212,219.  Today's number showing 612,219 deaths. As you can see the percentage of deaths is higher for Biden --- Just a fact   
              https://www.worldometers.info/coronavirus/

              Trump's policies stop China travel, provide the task force and you God Fauci.  He also provides us four vaccines by putting up cash for  5 companies to do research and development. All but Pfizer took cash. for research and development. Pfizer signed a huge contract to provide our vaccine before any other country, and the option to order millions of more doses as needed. Facts are facts. You can keep denying them, but they don't go away.   https://www.scientificamerican.com/arti … roundwork/

              Without Trump's policies, Biden would be drowning in a disaster.

              1. Castlepaloma profile image76
                Castlepalomaposted 3 years agoin reply to this

                CDC: Half of US adults are fully vaccinated against COVID-19The U.S. passed a major milestone Tuesday when it was reported by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention that more than half of Americans over the age of 18 are now fully vaccinated.

                You would think the death toll would better than last year.

                In pharmaceutical we trust, has a scary thought after all the lab animals died from the tests.

                1. My Esoteric profile image85
                  My Esotericposted 3 years agoin reply to this

                  Are you saying it isn't?  The average daily death toll per million in 2020 was roughly 6.5.  Today it is about 1.6 (mostly RINO).  Seems like quite a reduction to me.

    4. Sharlee01 profile image85
      Sharlee01posted 3 years agoin reply to this

      I thought you may want to put this on the list to "Great Things Joe Biden Has Done While President"

      Hey Joe what the hell did you do?

      January 20, Biden’s very first day as president, he shut down the Keystone XL pipeline. He gave11,000  citizens that had high-paying jobs the boot, many unionized. While these unemployed American workers went on unemployment,  Russian President Vladimir Putin most likely toasted Biden with a nice cold shot of Vodka.

      Canadian oil now is trapped underground, Keystone’s cancellation curbed long-term supplies of crude oil. and quickly boosted global prices for Russia’s key export.   Indeed, for this and other reasons, crude has crept from $53-per-barrel at Biden’s inauguration to over  $66  — up 25%

      Let's move on to the second feature in Joe's circus --- The Colonial Pipeline. Which was shut down on May 7 after a Russian ransomware attack.   Carteresque gasoline lines soon stretched from Georgia to Washington, D.C.  What did Ol' Joe do? He hides in the White House and is silent until May 10, when he offered up a  tepid blurb that exonerated the Kremlin. where was Biden’s outrage? Where was Biden’s outrage? Why did he not publicly demands that Putin answer for this hack?

      No, what he did was to then rewarded the Kremlin for its acquiescence in the Colonial caper by scrapping sanctions against the Nord Stream 2 natural gas pipeline between Russia and Germany.    Biden was asked by the press why he decided to take such a step.

      Boden --- "Because it’s almost completely finished, number one," he replied. Biden then continues on with these confusing words. "The idea that anything that — and it’s not like I can allow Germany to do something they’re not."  This sentence makes no sense whatsoever... No really!  (this man is senile.)

      I must also point out Biden’s betrayal also fails on environmental grounds. Germany will not import American liquefied natural gas, as President Donald J. Trump pressed Chancellor Angela Merkel to do.  Nor will Germany swap gas for wind farms, solar panels, or geothermal plants. Instead, Germany will burn Russian natural gas. While that fuel is one-third cleaner than oil and twice as clean as coal, Germany and some neighboring nations still will turn gas into energy and carbon dioxide. So Joe, what about your concern about the environment?  Does this all seem half-ass backward?

      Page 308 of Keystone’s environmental impact statement says that its oil would have generated up to 178 million metric tons of CO2 annually.  What did Joe state?  "Killing Keystone was a beautiful thing."

      Nord Stream 2 would carry up to 55 billion cubic meters of natural gas from Ust-Luga, Russia to Greifswald, Germany. That gas, according to Gen Less’s online calculator, would generate 132 million metric tons of CO2. So, by speeding Nord Stream 2, Biden will have combusted 74 percent of the anti-global-warming "benefit" that he created by junking Keystone.

      Environmentalists should be enraged.

      "Gazprom’s Nord Stream 2 will add $3.3 billion to Russia’s annual GDP, Statista estimates. Though a tidy sum, the Kremlin’s jackpot is geopolitical.

      "Nord Stream 2 would enable the Putin regime to further weaponize Russia’s energy resources to exert political pressure throughout Europe," four bipartisan U.S. House members warned Secretary of State Antony Blinken in a February 17 letter. " Oh Well... Plus, The majority of Europe also opposes the Kremlin-backed pipeline,

      IMO Russia’s obvious intention has been to form an alliance with Germany and Austria (also with the Netherlands and Belgium) against Eastern and Northern Europe. NS2 is Russia’s most daring attempt to break up the EU.  Oh well...

      Finally -- Finally, Biden announced that he will meet on June 16, 2021with Putin in Geneva, following G-7 and NATO conclaves.   So it is evident that Putin will pay not even pay a diplomatic price after citizens corked U.S. fuel supplies in exchange for a $4.4 million Bitcoin ransom. Oh Well...

      This president Biden has clearly squandered Trump’s hard-won America's energy independence, added 11,000 American pipeline workers to America's unemployment lines, and screwed up Trump’s diplomacy, which had Germany now depending on Russia for natural gas. Now, Germany will become addicted — not to U.S. liquefied natural gas, but gas from the very adversary that NATO was designed to defeat. Oh well...

      So sorry for so many words. However, Bidens' actions in regard to the two pipelines, have provided consequences that need to be considered.

      1. My Esoteric profile image85
        My Esotericposted 3 years agoin reply to this

        "Canadian oil now is trapped underground, " - Canadian Tar Sand Oil is the worst kind of oil on the planet and is an environmental disaster.  If they want to produce it, let them destroy the forests it is under, process it in Canada and then ship the much safer products to America or elsewhere.  We don't want there gunk spoiling our land through frequent oil leaks that is already happening in pipes they snuck through the system.

        It should be "Nixonesque" not "Carteresque".  In case you forgot, Nixon was president during the long gas lines.  It did happen again, during Carter, after Iran jacked up prices, but it was nothing compared to Nixon.

        "This president Biden has clearly squandered Trump’s hard-won America's energy independence, " - Trump's hard won ..., LOL.  Trump didn't do diddly, we became energy independent under Obama.

        "Germany will not import American liquefied natural gas, as President Donald J. Trump pressed Chancellor Angela Merkel to do. " - WHY?  Could it because American LNG is much more expensive to Germany?  You also failed to mention that Perry DID complete a deal with Poland.

        https://www.economist.com/the-economist … -in-europe

        Yet this from Trump isn't senile??? "So right at the beginning, I said, “That’s the man.” And there was nobody better at that. And I think Hillary had 28 people, and I had Dan. Right? I had my Dan! And he works about 28 hours a day, and he works very hard. But he doesn’t work. I mean, he loves it. He loves it. And his imagination, and really working with all of you, and many of you. He’ll come up with ideas, and you’ll come up with ideas. And he’ll run into my office, he says, “You got to see this.” And a lot of times I’ll go out, and I’ll spend a lot of money on a concept. I’ll say, “Here’s a concept. Come up with this.” And we’ll hire these companies, and they want a lot of money, and they come back. Just happened the other day, right? I said, “That’s terrible. These guys have no talent.”"

        BTW - Why didn't Trump stop Nord Stream 2 when he had the chance?  He had three years to do something but failed miserably.

        As to Nord Stream 2 sanctions.  Biden didn't lift all of the sanctions and for those he did, apparently not wanting to cause a transatlantic rift with Germany while at the same time trying to repair all of the damage Trump did took precedence national security wise.  I ask again, why didn't Trump try to stop it?  Could it be he had a deal with Putin?

        1. Sharlee01 profile image85
          Sharlee01posted 3 years agoin reply to this

          "BTW - Why didn't Trump stop Nord Stream 2 when he had the chance?  He had three years to do something but failed miserably."


          Why didn't trump stop NS2 when he had the chance?  He did. have the construction shut down due to sanctions.  There has been no president in many Decades that was harder on Russia.  I have offered the link time and again on the list of sanctions Trump put on Russia. It would seem you just are not willing to have a look at the huge list. That would be your problem, but facts are facts.

          First I hate to tell you the NS2 was started on Obamas time...
          The first line of Nord Stream (also known as Nord Stream 1[1]) was laid by May 2011 and was inaugurated on 8 November 2011.[2][3] The second line of Nord Stream was laid in 2011–2012 and was inaugurated on 8 October 2012. At 1,222 km (759 mi) in length, Nord Stream is the longest sub-sea pipeline in the world, surpassing the Langeled pipeline. So yes when they say much was built that is a fact. It has been being worked on since 2011. Construction of Nord Stream 2 in Germany began in 2016.

          Trump put sanctions on Russia shortly after entering office. He did hold off a bit due to the sanctions were put together by the Obama administration. The NS2  was affected by the first set of Russian sanctions Trump put on Russia.

          https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa- … SKBN29O1XL

          THEN 2019 --- Again Trump puts sanction on Russia that affects the building of NS2
          https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-50875935

          THEN Jan 18 2021  before leaving the office slammed Russia once again with sanctions that were meant to deter the completion of the pipeline.
          https://www.nytimes.com/2021/01/18/worl … -ship.html

          Then comes Old kiss butt Joe... He lifted the Trump sanctions.
          https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/nation … s-n1267975

          Just because you say it does not make it true...

    5. My Esoteric profile image85
      My Esotericposted 3 years agoin reply to this

      WOW! Biden adds back 559,000 jobs in May (that is over 2.000,000 since February! yet the conservatives says Biden is, lol, losing jobs) and the UE rate plummets to 5.8%. Also, the stock market is higher that Trump ever hoped it would be.  And yesterday, 1st time unemployment dropped to below 400,000, the lowest level since the early days of the pandemic - AGAIN.

      What's not to like?

      1. Sharlee01 profile image85
        Sharlee01posted 3 years agoin reply to this

        Guess the red states that cut the $300.00 extra bucks paid off.  Finally seeing Trump's record-breaking economy coming out of its respite.  The Biden administration certainly has thrown up roadblocks. However, the Trump economy was built strong and thriving.

        1. My Esoteric profile image85
          My Esotericposted 3 years agoin reply to this

          Nice try, that hasn't had an effect yet.  For example, Florida doesn't stop payments for another week or two yet, lol.

          Again, it is only the fake right-wing media and Trump supporters who think Trump's economy was so-called record breaking.  The ONLY two things that broke records was the DOW Jones (which is a poor indicator of the state of the economy) and unemployment.  The rest of his record was no better than or even worse than Obama's.  When will you look at REAL numbers and come to understand that instead of pushing a very false narrative?

          And finally, because Trump so bungled the response to the pandemic, the economy got a lot worse than it should have.

          1. Sharlee01 profile image85
            Sharlee01posted 3 years agoin reply to this

            Sorry fact say differently ---

            Let us examine the success in the first three years of his administration before the coronavirus flattened the economy. The unemployment rate fell less than 4 percent, which was near the lowest in HALF  a century.
            The inflation rate fell to 1 percent, which was even below the target level set by the Federal Reserve. This has kept the interest rates on mortgages and many other loans down to the lowest level in modern times.

            The portion who fell below the poverty line declined to the lowest level EVER  recorded in 2019.

            The wealth of households, including their stocks, savings, and real estate, rose to the highest level IN HISTORY.

            The Census Bureau saw the median income rise to above $65,000, up by more than $5,000 in three years and double the gains from the last decade.

            Almost all of these benefits were most pronounced for minorities, notably Blacks and Hispanics. 

            The best-ever quarterly GDP growth rate has been 33.4% for the third quarter (Q3) of 2020.

            Like I said Trump truly broke records, he worked hard to provide the American people one of the very best economies in our history. Biden already has us in a rut with prices rising quickly on EVERYTHING... Inflation is evident.
            https://www.cnn.com/2021/05/25/business … index.html

            https://www.forbes.com/sites/rickhelfen … 97507ae743

            1. My Esoteric profile image85
              My Esotericposted 3 years agoin reply to this

              Sighhhh - didn't you read what I wrote?  I gave you the unemployment stat.  Even though it was simply a continuation of what Obama started, it did get that low under Trump.

              Your inflation reference is fake news.  You said, without specifying a time, it "fell to 1%" - Not under Trump it didn't.  For the years he was president it was 2.1% (2017), 2.4% (2018), 1.8% (2019), and 1.3% (2020 covid),  FYI - the Fed's target rate is 2%, which Trump missed 2 out of the 3 years without the effect of Covid.  SO, DO you want to restate your claim?

              Now, compare that to Obama from 2009 - 2016 where Obama was below your own metric for 7 out of the 8 years he was president!  How was Trump better than Obama in that regard?  He wasn't, he was Worse.

              "The wealth of households, including their stocks, savings, and real estate, rose to the highest level IN HISTORY." - While true, it misrepresents the real world.  The more important statistic is that this wealth you are so proud of is concentrated in historically fewer hands.  The Record that Trump set was the largest wealth gap since the 1920s.  I bet he is happy with that outcome.

              I will also give you the poverty rate at 7.8% for 2019.  But while I take it at face value, everybody knows Trump loved to try to fudge the numbers to make himself look good.  Consider, since its Great recession high of 11.8 in 2010, it fell to 9.8 in 2016.  It then declined to 9.3, 9.3, 9.0 in 2018.  Then it fell dramatically to 7.8% - it has NEVER fallen that dramatically since they been keeping records.  So, you can understand that given Trump's penchant for cooking the books, I take that 7.8% with a grain of salt.

              Now on to your so-called historic rise in median income:  Yes, it is impressive, but like poverty rate, it is a-historic, an outlier in other words.  Why? Because the survey it is based on may have issues.  It seems that the Economic Policy Institute discovered this -

              "And yet there’s reason to put a big old asterisk on the data for 2019. Although the data release includes information about 2019 only, the data was collected between February and April of this year, right as the pandemic began to spread rapidly and most of the country was locked down. This Census paper discusses some of the impacts the pandemic had on data collection efforts. Overall, nonresponse increased significantly and was more strongly associated with income than in previous years, with nonresponse decreasing as income increases, meaning that income data could be skewed higher than it actually was. Respondents were also less likely to be Black and more likely to be white or Hispanic. Using that information, researchers at the Census provided new estimates for household income over the last four years, provided as a separate working paper and not adjusted in the official Census report."  SO, only time will tell if those numbers can be trusted.

              You won't let me talk about Trump's 2020 pandemic economic record (which is TERRIBLE) why should this reckless claim be given any credibility - "The best-ever quarterly GDP growth rate has been 33.4% for the third quarter (Q3) of 2020?  Why didn't you mention in the same breath that the 2nd quarter 2020 was NEGATIVE 31.4% or that 1st Qtr was NEGATIVE 5% or Q4 was only 4.3%?  Isn't what you presented called a deception?

              Of course you didn't bother mentioning that Biden's 1st Qtr 2021 GDP was a very healthy 6.4% why?  Now, if I were being disingenuous, I would have said that there hasn't been a quarterly growth like that since 1984.  But I won't because I know it is an artifact of the economic recovery from the pandemic and doesn't represent anything more than things are getting better under Biden.

              BTW - this INFLATION is a good thing because it show things are improving nicely.  The question is, can it be kept under control?

              1. Sharlee01 profile image85
                Sharlee01posted 3 years agoin reply to this

                Once again, I offered you my opinion, and I offered sources that helped me come to my opinion. An economy is certainly not always measure by unemployment rates. There are many variables to consider, as my comment offered an explanation.  We are in a rescission, in my view due to the Biden administration's poor decision-making, and rhetoric. His rhetoric is causing poor consumer confidence, and we are seeing rising prices and people drawing back from spending. We are on our way to big problems. I certainly hope I am wrong.

                Let us examine the success in the first three years of his administration before the coronavirus flattened the economy. The unemployment rate fell less than 4 percent, which was near the lowest in HALF  a century.
                The inflation rate fell to 1 percent, which was even below the target level set by the Federal Reserve. This has kept the interest rates on mortgages and many other loans down to the lowest level in modern times.

                The portion that fell below the poverty line declined to the lowest level EVER  recorded in 2019.

                The wealth of households, including their stocks, savings, and real estate, rose to the highest level IN HISTORY.

                The Census Bureau saw the median income rise to above $65,000, up by more than $5,000 in three years and double the gains from the last decade.

                Almost all of these benefits were most pronounced for minorities, notably Blacks and Hispanics.

                The best-ever quarterly GDP growth rate has been 33.4% for the third quarter (Q3) of 2020.

                Like I said Trump truly broke records, he worked hard to provide the American people one of the very best economies in our history. Biden already has us in a rut with prices rising quickly on EVERYTHING... Inflation is evident.
                https://www.cnn.com/2021/05/25/business … index.html

                https://www.forbes.com/sites/rickhelfen … 97507ae743

    6. Live to Learn profile image60
      Live to Learnposted 3 years agoin reply to this

      Let’s be realistic. Operation warp speed was a success which gave us vaccines. All this administration had  to do was make certain they were made available to the public. So operation warp speed allowed the economy to open which created jobs. Biden laying claim to anything other than successfully making the vaccines available is a bit of a stretch.

      1. Castlepaloma profile image76
        Castlepalomaposted 3 years agoin reply to this

        It maybe an unwritten law now.

        Vaccinated people now can punch unvaccinated in the face.
        That pretty well, says it all.

        1. Live to Learn profile image60
          Live to Learnposted 3 years agoin reply to this

          Scary. The holier than though attitude of many Americans on this subject does appear to make them believe they can assault each other over vaccinations.

          1. Castlepaloma profile image76
            Castlepalomaposted 3 years agoin reply to this

            Alot of pushback is now starting to happen. It must happen or we will be totally owned by the powers to be.

      2. My Esoteric profile image85
        My Esotericposted 3 years agoin reply to this

        Let's be realistic - While the Warp Speed was a success, it was the ONLY approval Trump can claim regarding the pandemic, every other thing he did made things worse, much worse including his flubbed roll-out of the vaccine (which he did really care if Americans got).  It took Biden to do the hard work of getting shots in a lot of arms. 

        Even hear, because of RINO stupidity, he will have a hard time getting America to herd immunity.  Too many RINOs still believe Trump's exhortations that the virus isn't that bad and not to worry about it (600,000 deaths later)

        No, Operation Warp Speed DID NOT allow the economy to open.  It was Biden's push to get the resulting vaccines in arms that did - and we are still not there.  There are several RINO states subject to additional waves of infection because they refuse to get vaccinated.  Based on his Dec/Jan roll-out debacle, Trump would still be trying to figure out how to 1) get those vaccines produced and 2) how to get people to take them (remember, he hasn't even pushed his own supporters to get vaccinated!, He would still be telling them not to wear masks and not to social distance and that the pandemic was over in May 2020)

        1. Live to Learn profile image60
          Live to Learnposted 3 years agoin reply to this

          I watched a congressional hearing the other day with the CDC and NIH heads claiming not much over half of their employees have been vaccinated. I don’t think all of those are the RINOs and, to be honest, had I known so many in those ranks would refuse the vaccine I might have been less inclined to get vaccinated.

          What do they know that scares them?

          1. My Esoteric profile image85
            My Esotericposted 3 years agoin reply to this

            I see you fell for more conservative Fake News again.  Here is the TRUTH.

            "Federal health officials testified at a Senate committee hearing that about 60% of their employees have been vaccinated against COVID-19 so far. But viral online posts have distorted their comments to misleadingly claim that half of the employees “are refusing” the vaccines. The officials did not say anyone had refused to get vaccinated."

            https://www.factcheck.org/2021/05/scich … cinations/

            Even in my own office, none of which are RINO's (or even real Republicans), only 4 of 7 of us are vaccinated.  One hold out will be vaccinated shortly and the other two are afraid of the short-term after effects of the shots.

            1. Live to Learn profile image60
              Live to Learnposted 3 years agoin reply to this

              Ok maybe it is just your desire to belittle but, honestly, in my opinion 60% equates to not much more than 50%. We are saying the same thing. Does that mean you fell  for the same thing I fell  for?

    7. My Esoteric profile image85
      My Esotericposted 3 years agoin reply to this

      Biden has already gotten GDP back up to the level it was before the Trump-Pandemic Recession.

      The stock market continues to soar under Biden.

    8. My Esoteric profile image85
      My Esotericposted 3 years agoin reply to this

      Because of Joe Biden and his administrations great competency in getting the vaccine in people's arms so fast, some hospitals are reporting they are Covid Free

      https://www.cnn.com/2021/06/06/us/us-co … index.html

      (Although sadly, in those states resisting vaccination, some hospitals are seeing another surge)

    9. My Esoteric profile image85
      My Esotericposted 3 years agoin reply to this

      I am happy to read that the plug is being pulled on the environmentally devesting Keystone XL pipeline.  I thank you Joe Biden (and Barak Obama), the world thanks you, and the earth thanks you.

      https://www.cnn.com/2021/06/09/energy/k … index.html

    10. Sharlee01 profile image85
      Sharlee01posted 3 years agoin reply to this

      "Started economy growing again"

      Really?
      June 10 021U.S. consumer prices soar again and push CPI inflation rate to a 13-year high. The numbers: The cost of living surged again in May and drove the pace of inflation to a 13-year high of 5%, reflecting a broad increase in prices confronting Americans. The consumer price index jumped 0.6% last month to mark the fourth large gain in a row, the government said Thursday

      The rate of inflation over the past year escalated to 5% from 4.2% in the prior month. That put it at the highest level since 2008, when the cost of oil hit a record $150 a barrel.

      Another closely watched measure of inflation that omits volatile food and energy also shot up 0.7% in May. The 12-month rate climbed to 3.8% from 3%, a 29-year high.

      Not sure about where this kind of inflation will lead us. So you may have given credit where it is not due.

      1. My Esoteric profile image85
        My Esotericposted 3 years agoin reply to this

        First you quote ""Started economy growing again" - and then disagree with "Really? June 10 021U.S. consumer prices soar again and push CPI inflation rate to a 13-year high. "  - People who understand economics know that one has nothing to do with the other.  You can have a growing economy with little inflation or you can have a growing economy with a lot of inflation (although it is almost impossible to have a growing economy with negative inflation).  Consequently, what you said makes no sense at all.

        All that data, I am sure, is correct.  But at this point in time it doesn't mean much.  You can look at this way, the economy is reacting to a decade of artificially low inflation.  Like anything that is prevented from reaching its normal lever, when the forces keeping it down are suddenly released then there will be a violent reaction in the other direction - that is just the way things work.  It is up to the Fed to insure it doesn't spiral out of control and ruin what gains have been made.

        1. Sharlee01 profile image85
          Sharlee01posted 3 years agoin reply to this

          "Started economy growing again" - I was being sarcastic.

          My comment was to point out current inflation... I did that. We are currently having inflation. June 10, 2021 ---   consumer prices soar again and push the CPI inflation rate to a 13-year high. The numbers: The cost of living surged again in May and drove the pace of inflation to a 13-year high of 5%, reflecting a broad increase in prices confronting Americans. The consumer price index jumped 0.6% last month to mark the fourth large gain in a row, the government said Thursday.  I quoted a Market Watch article, that provides stats, not predictions. I offered no opinion or really added anything that I could not prove as factual.  You don't like the stats that's your problem. My comment contains stats that are being widely reported. So not sure why you state they don't make sense. They are stats, numbers percentages.

          "All that data, I am sure, is correct.  But at this point in time it doesn't mean much."

          I never said they did...here is what I said.--  Not sure about where this kind of inflation will lead us. So you may have given credit where it is not due.

          https://www.marketwatch.com/story/infla … 2021-06-10

          1. My Esoteric profile image85
            My Esotericposted 3 years agoin reply to this

            And "So you may have given credit where it is not due." is what is disconnected.  The economy and stock market are doing GREAT since Biden was elected.  The fact that inflation is overcorrecting a little bit doesn't take away from that.

    11. My Esoteric profile image85
      My Esotericposted 3 years agoin reply to this

      "Lumber futures have faced significant weakness in the past month following a major move higher during the Covid pandemic. Lumber futures for July delivery fell more than 5% to $1,158 per thousand board feet Tuesday, which is down more than 30% from a record $1,711 on May 10."

    12. My Esoteric profile image85
      My Esotericposted 3 years agoin reply to this

      Congress passed (except for 13 RINOs) and Joe Biden signed a long overdue National Holiday - Juneteenth which commemorates the ending slavery in America.

      Another problem solved.

      1. Sharlee01 profile image85
        Sharlee01posted 3 years agoin reply to this

        I must say you come up with some real chuckles... This takes the cake. First,  I am pleased that Juneteenth has been made a Holiday. However, this was not a pressing problem. Just another opportunity for Biden to pander. In my view, I think many American's realize this was sheer pandering.

        "Biden signed into law a bill to make Juneteenth, or June 19, the 12th federal holiday. The House voted 415-14 on Wednesday to send the bill to Biden, while the Senate passed the bill unanimously"

        You consider this a problem? How about our border to start?  We have Florida sending in National Guard to help secure it, due to Joe refusing to recognize the problem, and Texas now confirming they will continue building the wall.  Biden needs to stop pandering and start solving problems that affect all Americans.

        I for one am very displeased with Biden's job performance. He literally has done nothing. And the summer break is here for Congress. I think it great you posted a three to keep a tally on what you consider Biden's accomplishments. I assume as time goes on we can follow what Biden has done that is positive for the country.

        You may have wanted to add Joe's G7 reviews, they were actually somewhat positive.

    13. Sharlee01 profile image85
      Sharlee01posted 3 years agoin reply to this

      Promise not kept.
      WASHINGTON – The Senate failed to advance a sweeping voting rights bill Tuesday, stalling the Democratic legislation aimed at countering recent restrictive state measures pursued in Republican-led states.

      The Senate failed to advance the For the People Act to the floor for a debate. In a vote of 50-50, it fell short of the 60 needed to overcome a GOP filibuster. All Democratic Senators voted to begin debate, and the Republicans unanimously voted to block it.

      Hearing Peoples Act Bill--- This hearing is very informative, and American citizens really need to listen to the hearing to really have a better idea about what this bill was all about. Senators on both sides can be heard making their case for or against The Peoples Act Bill. You be the judge but make an informed judgment. IMO this bill was unconstitutional, and nothing but a power grab. A power grab that Republicans certainly could have made while they controlled the House and Senate under Trump. But did not...  Why, because they keep to, and protect our Constitution.  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AUmHu6l … p;t=27291s

      One fact that is very glaring in regards to the 2020 election--- We had a historic turnout in numbers of votes cast. Historic numbers. Does this fact stand to provide the need to change our voting laws? Does this fact stand to make it necessary for our voting laws to become Federalized? Does this historic voter turnout call for our Constitution to be amended? Do facts matter any longer when it comes to changing our laws, our Constitution? Or do the media's OPINIONs just matter more?

      1. My Esoteric profile image85
        My Esotericposted 3 years agoin reply to this

        I just saw this - "One fact that is very glaring in regards to the 2020 election--- We had a historic turnout in numbers of votes cast. Historic numbers. Does this fact stand to provide the need to change our voting laws? " -

        THEN Please tell me Republicans are changing them in every Red state???  What the Democrats are trying to do is make sure we keep having historic numbers by cancelling out all of the restrictions Republicans are putting on voting.

        1. wilderness profile image75
          wildernessposted 3 years agoin reply to this

          Do larger numbers of votes give rise to additional probability, no matter how low, of fraud?

          Those magnificent numbers happened because of extreme emotional responses to the election; do such emotions give rise to an increased probability, no matter how low, of fraud (will people cheat more if they are angry or scared)?

          Be honest and then repeat that we need no voter security.

          1. My Esoteric profile image85
            My Esotericposted 3 years agoin reply to this

            We need to protect ourselves from Republican voters[/b\ since they are the [b]only ones found guilty of it in 2020 that I read about.

            I suspect they may give rise to an insignificant rise in probability. But, since it is at an almost imperceptible volume to start with, there was no need for the draconian, Jim Crow measures the Republicans took. 

            It is that fact and the many pronouncements by Republicans in GA, TX, FL, and many other states that this was the most honest election ever which will probably carry the day in DOJ's suit against GA and any other state that is trying to suppress the vote.

            And I am being honest when I say we don't need MORE voter security.  What America needs is more access to voting than we already have to drive those numbers further up.  I think both the John Lewis Act (to reestablish Section 5 in the Voter Rights Act) and Sen Joe Manchin's compromise bill, which no true American should have any problem with, are the answer we need.

            1. wilderness profile image75
              wildernessposted 3 years agoin reply to this

              Is there a reason you neglected to answer or even consider the two questions I asked?

              1. My Esoteric profile image85
                My Esotericposted 3 years agoin reply to this

                Is there a reason you didn't read/understand my response?  Or did you hide two questions in your comment that I didn't answer?

                1. wilderness profile image75
                  wildernessposted 3 years agoin reply to this

                  Here, I'll repeat them:

                  With more voters does the probability that some will be fraud increase?

                  With an emotionally charged election such as we just had, does the probability of fraud increase?

                  You failed to address either one - try again?

                  1. My Esoteric profile image85
                    My Esotericposted 3 years agoin reply to this

                    And I will repeat my answers -

                    - "With more voters does the probability that some will be fraud increase?"  my answer was I suspect they may give rise to an insignificant rise in probability. But, since it is at an almost imperceptible volume to start with, there was no need for the draconian, Jim Crow measures the Republicans took.

                    'With an emotionally charged election such as we just had, does the probability of fraud increase?" - My answer is the same "I suspect they may give rise to an insignificant rise in probability. But, since it is at an almost imperceptible volume to start with, there was no need for the draconian, Jim Crow measures the Republicans took.

                    It is pretty clear the RINO objective is to lower the amount of voting in hopes that they can actually win a national or statewide election.

    14. My Esoteric profile image85
      My Esotericposted 3 years agoin reply to this

      America's economy is booming, but Republicans are Miserable reads the headline.

      HIGHLIGHTS, beyond what I have presented earlier.

      -  " GDP is growing again, surging for the past three quarters after dips in the first half of last year."

      - "The job market is recovering too, as workers in hard-hit services sectors return to employment."

      - "Earnings have rebounded "

      - "US stocks touched record highs on Tuesday. " (Trump's favorite measure)

      - "The housing market continues to sizzle."

      - "it's pretty much back to business as usual for many major cities."

      - "Oxford Economics expects the US economy will grow at an average pace of 7.5% in 2021, the fastest growth rate since 1951." (hopefully it cools down quickly.  If not, the inflation fears may become real)

      -  "Americans are also traveling again. " (driving up gas prices)

      -  "United Airlines announced the largest aircraft purchase in the company's history and the biggest order by any airline in about a decade."

      An interesting finding is that Pre-Trump, the Michigan Consumer Sentiment Index showed that Republicans and Democrats roughly felt the same way.  If the Index was down, both Rs and Ds were down.  If the Index was up, both the Rs and Ds were up.

      During and after Trump, Consumer Sentiment appears to have been politicized along with everything else.  During Trump, Republican and Democratic Sentiment went in opposite directions.  Same with the first few months of Biden - Republicans think things stink while Democrats are optimistic.




      https://www.cnn.com/2021/06/29/economy/ … index.html

    15. My Esoteric profile image85
      My Esotericposted 3 years agoin reply to this

      WOW!!! Biden adds 850,000 jobs in June.  Great work Mr. president.

      https://www.cnn.com/2021/07/02/economy/ … index.html

      1. wilderness profile image75
        wildernessposted 3 years agoin reply to this

        Yep - as governors re-open their states after COVID shut down the jobs come back.  And, of course, it is because of Biden's efforts, not the states and not COVID.

        Now if we could only FILL those jobs in spite of Biden's efforts to pay people to stay home!  I notice that some states are ending his great giveaways and with it the encouragement to sit home rather than work.  Does Biden get credit for that, too?  Will he get credit for giving tens of thousands of people months of paid vacation funded by the tax receipts from those willing to work?

        1. My Esoteric profile image85
          My Esotericposted 3 years agoin reply to this

          Hey you gave Trump credit for things he had nothing to do with, I give Biden credit for things he did do such as - how did I put it for Sharlee - "But what he did do was create the conditions so that those people COULD return to those jobs.  As I said GREAT JOB Mr. President."

          "spite of Biden's efforts to pay people to stay home! " - The Experts disagree with that right-wing myth.

          You will have to wait until July before any analysis of states cutting off aid had any real impact.  Those actions didn't affect June numbers.  So you think the pandemic was a vacation for all of those laid off - typical.

          1. wilderness profile image75
            wildernessposted 3 years agoin reply to this

            LOL  The ONLY thing Biden to re-open the economy was to continue the vaccine program started by Trump.  Individual states did the rest, as you well know.

            I'm positive that the Left Wing, Trump Hating "experts" will deny that giving more free money than they can earn by working to people that won't work is a good way to get them to work.  Fortunately many of us don't fall for the Tall Tale, and in fact predicted exactly what we see happening as soon as the Great Giveaway was proposed.

            Yeah - when you take home more from Uncle Sam than from your job it is a vacation.  Paid time off - it is indeed termed a "vacation", particularly when the new pay schedule is far better than your job provided.

            But Eso, you know this.  And you know that if people are being paid more to stay home than they would get working then they will stay home.  It isn't rocket science to figure that one out, and you are quite capable of making the connection.  Just as your "experts" are.  If we pay farmers not to plant crops, and the payment is far above any reasonable expectation of profit, they won't plant.  No difference, and it has worked for decades.

            1. My Esoteric profile image85
              My Esotericposted 3 years agoin reply to this

              "LOL  The ONLY thing Biden to re-open the economy was to continue the vaccine program started by Trump.  Individual states did the rest, as you well know." - ACTUALLY, you know most of that is FALSE.  All Trump did was sign off on Operation Warp Speed (a major accomplishment) and didn't get in the way (as he is prone to do) of others like Dr. Fauci who did the miraculous work of getting a vaccine ready in 12 months. - That was the TRUE part, the rest is FALSE or mostly FALSE.

              Trump was fumbling the vaccine roll-out terribly by 100% relying on the states, many (all Red) of who are still way behind the power curve.  It took Biden to properly use the Defense Production Act and to nationalize the distribution that got so many shots into so many arms in the states who were willing to get their people vaccinated (mostly Blue).  So NO, "Individual states did not do the rest, as you well know."

              "I'm positive that the Left Wing, Trump Hating "experts" will deny that giving more free money ..." - THE DATA says you are wrong here as well.  The data show that there are many reasons why people aren't taking jobs - the extra unemployment benefit is just one small part of that.

              "And you know that if people are being paid more to stay home than they would get working then they will stay home. " - JUST another right-wing myth.
              https://www.washingtonpost.com/outlook/ … wage-work/

      2. Sharlee01 profile image85
        Sharlee01posted 3 years agoin reply to this

        These are people returning to jobs they held before the pandemic. Biden did not create these jobs. Biden made it rain, and people have just realized the cash is about to end ...     Again CNN

        In my view all Biden's done so far is create inflation and a gigantic problem at the border. And generally trying to spend money that we don't have. IMO -- He is a pure disaster.

        1. My Esoteric profile image85
          My Esotericposted 3 years agoin reply to this

          Did I say he created those jobs???  No I didn't.  But what he did do was create the conditions so that those people COULD return to those jobs.  As I said GREAT JOB Mr. President.

          I use CNN because they publish the TRUTH and it is convenient, unlike your sources. 

          You forgot the record growth in GDP, best since 1951, I think, or was it 1984?

    16. My Esoteric profile image85
      My Esotericposted 3 years agoin reply to this

      More great news out of that jobs report - year-over-year wage increase was 3.6%!!  Not bad President Biden.

      https://www.cnbc.com/2021/07/02/jobs-re … -2021.html

      1. Sharlee01 profile image85
        Sharlee01posted 3 years agoin reply to this

        Part of a bubble, a small bubble at that... I am sure you are aware that employers have had to up the ante to get people back in their jobs. many have just been enjoying staying home on Joe's brilliant plan to give $300.00 more in unemployment. Yes, such a brilliant bit of thinking on Joe's part.

        This "bit" of a wage gain will be well earned when em[loyers cut back on staff, and leave the work to fewer. And oh, those that get the can will be right back on unemployment.

        1. My Esoteric profile image85
          My Esotericposted 3 years agoin reply to this

          So you buy into this right-wing myth as well, I see. " many have just been enjoying staying home on Joe's brilliant plan to give $300.00 more in unemployment."

          The fact is the extra unemployment benefits is only a small part of why people are refusing to work.  For example, many don't think it is safe yet.  https://www.washingtonpost.com/outlook/ … wage-work/

          1. Sharlee01 profile image85
            Sharlee01posted 3 years agoin reply to this

            The money Joe provides has poured back into the economies. It's money that needed to be printed.  His economy is the Trump economy return and fluffy money that has caused inflation.  Hopefully, the rest of the jobs trump created will soon be added to the Jobs numbers. Biden lost our jobs, no way could I give Biden credit for something the Trump administration did.

            In my opinion, Biden is sinking faster than I felt he would. Still hiding, still making non-sensical statements.

            I do not read WAPO --- ever

            Let's have a look at inflation, this is where the rubber hits the road -- when America's start feeling their pockets light ...

            U.S. inflation likely to remain elevated for up to four years
            https://www.reuters.com/business/global … 021-06-25/

            Let's look at inflation where the rubber hit the road --- American's pockets.

            U.S. Inflation Is Highest in 13 Years as Prices Surge 5%
            https://www.wsj.com/articles/us-inflati … 1623288303


            U.S. inflation soars in April to 13-year high, CPI shows, and reveals fresh stress on the economy   https://www.marketwatch.com/story/u-s-i … 1620823628

            1. My Esoteric profile image85
              My Esotericposted 3 years agoin reply to this

              "It's money that needed to be printed.  " - ANOTHER one of your unsupported and false claims.

              If this were true, then Trump printed tons of money, didn't he.

              "I do not read WAPO --- ever" - That is not surprising and it helps explain why you are so uninformed with the TRUTH.

              Rather than your "the sky is falling, chicken little" headlines.  This is what the real question is about inflation:

              "There’s no debate about whether America is experiencing significant inflation. But a short-term increase in prices would be no big deal; in fact, it might even be a good thing, since inflation has been excessively low over the past decade. (Just what I have told you many times already)

              The question is whether today’s price increases are the beginning of lasting trend, or the product of a temporary mismatch between demand and supply, as the economy adjusts to post-COVID crisis conditions. The Federal Reserve, the government entity most responsible for tracking inflation, endorses the latter hypothesis. But some economists disagree."

              https://nymag.com/intelligencer/article … rices.html

              1. Sharlee01 profile image85
                Sharlee01posted 3 years agoin reply to this

                "I do not read WAPO --- ever" - That is not surprising and it helps explain why you are so uninformed with the TRUTH."

                That would be your opinion, which I am not surprised at.

                I offered several economist opinions. take them or leave them. I choose to give them merit.

          2. wilderness profile image75
            wildernessposted 3 years agoin reply to this

            Whether they think it safe or not, precious few would starve rather than go back to their job...if they weren't being paid to stay home.

            1. My Esoteric profile image85
              My Esotericposted 3 years agoin reply to this

              "if they weren't being paid to stay home." - AND WHERE are the studies to back up that claim?  If you produce none, then we know your claim is false.

              1. wilderness profile image75
                wildernessposted 3 years agoin reply to this

                Do you need a study to see if Biden authorized federal unemployment to supplement state unemployment?  I was pretty sure that everyone in the country knew about that.

                1. My Esoteric profile image85
                  My Esotericposted 3 years agoin reply to this

                  Thought so, your claim that Biden is paying people to stay home is false..

            2. My Esoteric profile image85
              My Esotericposted 3 years agoin reply to this

              So, you are encouraging people to get very sick and possibly die in order not to starve?  Is that right?  How big of you.  Or maybe you are telling them to go make their fellow unvaccinated workers very sick and possibly die.  Sounds like it is one or the other or maybe both.

              1. wilderness profile image75
                wildernessposted 3 years agoin reply to this

                LOL  You assumptions are always great to see.  The ability to put ridiculous thoughts into the heads of others takes a special talent.

                How about they just get a vaccination like everyone else and quit living off the charity of others?  If they would rather risk sickness and death, by NOT getting a vaccination, it is certainly a choice they can make, but it IS their choice.

                1. My Esoteric profile image85
                  My Esotericposted 3 years agoin reply to this

                  There are many people who can't get vaccinated.  There are many more who are like you and don't trust the gov't enough to think the vaccination is safe yet.  Many conservatives oppose it on principle (which means you think your fellow conservatives are moochers to).

                  I agree that the vaccines are safe and effective but there are so many like you who believe the lies put out by right-wing propaganda or the evangelical pastors, that it isn't.  It seems to me you would a prime candidate to thinking that way given you have bought into Trump's BIg Lie and his other BS so easily.

                  1. wilderness profile image75
                    wildernessposted 3 years agoin reply to this

                    There are very few that cannot get vaccinated.  But just as you say, the REST of the crowd (99.99%?) make a choice not to protect themselves or others.  Only problem is that that choice includes the choice to sponge off of the efforts of others at the same time.  Unacceptable to any but liberals like you, who rejoice in taking what a person has built in order to give it to someone that would rather stay home.  You make that choice to not protect yourself (or your neighbors, friends and acquaintances), fine...but make the choice to go hungry along with it.  Don't expect others to pick up your needs because you choose not to do it yourself.

                    Now, now, Eso - you really should not be spreading lies like these.  I don't believe vaccines are not safe.  I don't believe the election had fraud to the point of changing it.  You can, of course, make the claim that I do believe these things but it is a flat out lie.  No spin, no twist, no exaggeration...just a flat out lie, and one really beneath you.

    17. peterstreep profile image82
      peterstreepposted 3 years agoin reply to this

      He's trying to rebuild the international trust. The relationship between Europe and the US has shifted dramatically during Trumps reign. Europe understanding that the US is not an ally automatically.
      Another thing Biden has brought is the language of communication. Trump was and is a warmonger in the social media. Constantly provoking. It poisons the discussion on topics where the middle ground was erased and only white or black opinions mattered.
      The press briefings are finally normal again and not a social media show.
      And Biden can recite a poem.

      1. My Esoteric profile image85
        My Esotericposted 3 years agoin reply to this

        "Europe understanding that the US is not an ally automatically." - That is probably one of the top five terrible, possibly irreparable, things Trump did in his short four years - destroy the trust other nations had in America's word.

        It will probably take a few generations of successive normal presidents before the rest of the world will believe we won't implode like we did in 2016 and elect another demagogue like him.  Given that at least a third of Americans have been brainwashed by him, the right-wing propaganda and their helpers Russian, China, and Iran, and the massive effort by RINOs to undermine our democracy, that is no sure thing.

        1. wilderness profile image75
          wildernessposted 3 years agoin reply to this

          After two failed, fake impeachment efforts and years of failed witch hunting for anything that would remove him from the political arena I have to question just who is trying to undermine our democracy.  The concept of a legally conducted election is set aside in favor of media and court challenges to the opponent you don't like any more.

        2. peterstreep profile image82
          peterstreepposted 3 years agoin reply to this

          Yes, I wonder if it will ever be like that again. Besides Trump's questionable foreign political ideas (were there any?) The fast data collection by the American government (Think about the Snowden files, monitoring etc) and the private companies like Facebook, Amazon, Apple,  Thiels Pandora project and others also alarmed Europe. Making them more stringent laws about privacy and data collection.
          It's a sad thing, And the days that the US could ask Europe to help to invade Iraq are over. I think if the US wants to invade Iran for example, Europe would say, fight your own war. It's a good thing and a bad thing.
          I think the US does not have the leverage anymore to police the world. with consequences as more dictators like Erdogan will take advantage.
          Russia is testing Biden by sending troops to the borders, a macho thing he didn't need to do with Trump, as he controlled Trump who was politically naive. (great in social media branding though..)
          So yes, the coming years will be tough for Biden as the political stage has shifted. With China taking over political influence in Africa.
          Interesting to see that more and more Chinese documentaries are seen on Netflix for example. China reaching out in the cultural domain, once dominated by Holywood. In the art scene, China is for a decade or so the avantgarde with important world-dominating galleries.
          I'm afraid that the US lost itself in nostalgia. Trump's fascist slogan with Make America Great again showed this nostalgia to the once Great America. (Ring a bell...German Fascism also longing for the old forgotten days when Germany was a great empire...Nordic myths etc...it's textbook fascism using nostalgia as a weapon.)
          Don't look backwards, but forwards. To me that was always the great power of the US. new tech, new avant-garde arts and design. I hope the US with Biden will have the guts to become a world leader again in fighting the biggest crisis of all the Climate Crisis.

        3. Ken Burgess profile image69
          Ken Burgessposted 3 years agoin reply to this

          The perspective you forward is one from an extreme, I'm not going to put a label to it, other than to say you have voiced and expounded upon every negative thing ever said or written about Trump.

          I have no heartburn over Trump being removed from Office, but, I also don't think the alternative that America was presented is going to prove 'better' for America... especially when it comes to foreign relations.

          You've noted the negatives regarding Trump, let me note that there were some positives however, such as, no one wanted to make a seriously hostile move as they had no idea how he would react, also, they expected that he would look out for America first... not always a bad thing when trying to sit down and negotiate with a foreign nation.

          Biden's recent appearance at the G7 summit held June 2021 11-13th showed to the other world leaders that he is a man of declining mental capability, he had to be handled and managed by his entourage and this was all too obvious to foreign media coverage.

          The American MSM is in full blown protection mode, as voracious as they were in pointing out every gaff or mistake Trump made, they are working just as diligently today to dismiss or explain away any stumble or screw-up by Biden.

          Biden doesn't get that support or protection from foreign media, nor will other world leaders play nice because 'Good ol' Joe' is going a bit senile... they will take advantage and they will push where they see weakness (we will see this especially with China in the months ahead).

          Unfortunately, where Pence was a calming and steady presence for Trump's Administration, giving most people the confidence that if the Presidency fell to Pence things would be well managed... few have that belief or perception today about Harris, all we read about today in regards to her is 'White House in Damage Control', in fact, the more speaking she does in public, the more worried people seem to be getting that behind the ailing Biden, sits Harris.

          So, when it comes to foreign relations it is very much a matter of perspective whether or not things have "improved' from Trump.

          However, when it comes to going along with the Paris Accord, Compact on Migration, deferring to the IMF, UN, WTO... you are correct, Biden is very much what was wanted, a polar opposite of Trump.

    18. My Esoteric profile image85
      My Esotericposted 3 years agoin reply to this

      Interesting.  More Americans think America is going in the right direction since 2009 - Keep it up Joe.

      It still isn't above 50%, but when has it ever been? Maybe sometime in the Clinton years.  Looking at the chart, it appears Biden is doing 8 to 9 points better than Trump did.

      The same with Congressional approval.  While still dismal, it has been running higher since shortly after Biden took office and the Democrats took over than it ever has back to 2009.  It actually started improving when the Democrats took over the House.

      https://www.realclearpolitics.com/epoll … y-902.html

      https://www.realclearpolitics.com/epoll … l-903.html

      1. Sharlee01 profile image85
        Sharlee01posted 3 years agoin reply to this

        Myself I have lost faith in the polls --- but the polls today have Biden slipping further...

        https://www.reuters.com/world/us/suppor … 021-06-30/

        https://www.forbes.com/sites/jackbrewst … d9506763d1

        https://www.forbes.com/sites/jackbrewst … 29b30a348f

        https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/news … biden-poll

        AND WHY THE HELL HAS BIDEN NOT RESPONDED TO  CHINA"S THREAT? I realize he said he would be off celebrating the 4th -- but come on.


        The Chinese communist regime is moving aggressively to expand its influence abroad, while issuing unveiled threats to other countries that might think of trying to stop it – as the U.S. is trying to rally allies to push back against the regime's expansionist efforts.

        "The Chinese people will absolutely not allow any foreign force to bully, oppress or enslave us and anyone who attempts to do so will face broken heads and bloodshed in front of the iron Great Wall of the 1.4 billion Chinese people," President Xi Jinping said this week as he marked the 100 year anniversary of the party’s founding.

        https://www.foxnews.com/politics/china- … -heads.amp

        Perhaps he does not want to jeopardize Hunter's case flow from China or maybe Hunter hopes to sell his art in China?

        1. My Esoteric profile image85
          My Esotericposted 3 years agoin reply to this

          "AND WHY THE HELL HAS BIDEN NOT RESPONDED TO  CHINA"S THREAT? " - And what makes you think he hasn't?  I guess bringing our allies around to oppose China after Trump did his damnedest to push Europe and China closer together, doesn't count.

          1. Sharlee01 profile image85
            Sharlee01posted 3 years agoin reply to this

            Oh, and you think anyone at the G7 listened to Biden? I don't think he could be heard through all the loud laughing.  We had a president that knew how to solve problems and did not look to other countries to aid us. IMO  Biden is a weak non-sensical man, he always has been. He is failing so fast. He can hardly read his cheat sheets. Even when he has the name of who to call on, and his reply right in front of him, he flubs it  He is comical to watch.

            1. My Esoteric profile image85
              My Esotericposted 3 years agoin reply to this

              Oh, and you think anyone at the G7 listened to Biden?  - Yet they paid
              very close attention to him.  I suspect they were all still laughing at Trump.

              BTW, your BDS is shining brightly.

              1. Sharlee01 profile image85
                Sharlee01posted 3 years agoin reply to this

                https://hubstatic.com/15631183.jpg

                Not sure why you think anyone paid attention to Biden. He did not accomplish anything... He claimed to have told Putin there would be consequences if the Russians kept hacking for ransom.  Well, I am sure you heard that Russia done did it again--- And we have an ineffective leader that can't figure out which shoe goes on which foot.

                "Biden under pressure to respond to Russian hackers' claims of responsibility for ransomware attack"
                https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/nation … k-n1273123

                Biden has one problem after another piling up... Crime, inflation, Delta virus, and China out and out threatening America, and now Russia kicking dirt in his face with their hacking, and each shaking incident has gotten bigger and more serious. Oh, forgot the mess at the border with record numbers of illegals walking into the country. And then today he comes up with the brilliant idea to combat Delta --- Time to go door to door to get people to take the vaccine. WOW --- Trump jumps on COVID brings America 3 vaccines --- Joe brings us a solution a five-year-old would think of.   It is no wonder he is confused, it would be hard to keep track of all the problems he can't handle. 

                To quote  Kenna McHugh Fellow Hubpage Author

                "Similarly, no one on planet Earth really believes that a guy with no following, no actual accomplishments, no likable characteristics, a history of creepy behavior toward women and children, substantial evidence of selling his influence to foreign interests, who campaigned from his basement and of course, showing strong signs of onset dementia, actually pulled 8o+ million votes in a recent contest, the most in U.S history."

                IMO Kenna summed Joe up to perfection.

                1. My Esoteric profile image85
                  My Esotericposted 3 years agoin reply to this

                  It is clear you have a terminal case of Biden Derangement Syndrome, BDS.

                  Remember, Trump left our relationship with our allies a total shambles.  Biden began the repair process, which will probably take decades to accomplish.  Trump  totally destroyed the TRUST all the presidents before him had created with other nations of the world.  Biden has put us back on the road to recovery.

                  One of Biden's major proposals to the group -- a global infrastructure program meant to compete with China's Belt and Road initiative -- was included in the summit's final statement.

                  Biden put Democracy back in front instead of autocracy that Trump played to.

                  "Trump jumps on COVID brings America 3 vaccines " - LOL - and then he left the stage letting people die by the thousands.  Vaccines don't do anybody any good unless they are used.  Trump totally failed at that.  I guess you are calling Trump less than a 5-year old since he couldn't think of a way to deliver the vaccines to the People.  He wouldn't even he make a constant case to his brainwashed masses to get vaccinated.  I think ONCE he half-heartedly said use the vaccine.  What a terrible person.

                  BTW, why are ALL those RINO governors letting their states become breeding grounds for the Delta variant?  They are clearly failing their citizens and ought to be recalled.

                  1. Sharlee01 profile image85
                    Sharlee01posted 3 years agoin reply to this

                    I note you deflected to Trump. Biden has created all his own problems, and it's clear there is no defending his job performance. He is the very worse president we have ever had.  Each and every problem I offered up --- Biden created. There is no defending him, why bother.

                    In my opinion, Biden did nothing at the G7 and fat chance of global infrastructure" this tool can't even get an infrastructure bill done here in
                    America. He is a politician all hot wind, He has done nothing, and will do nothing, but pile up problems.

            2. peterstreep profile image82
              peterstreepposted 3 years agoin reply to this

              The difference between Biden and Trump is that Biden can recite poems and Trump has difficulty with spelling the word Covfefe.

              1. Sharlee01 profile image85
                Sharlee01posted 3 years agoin reply to this

                I am so glad you brought this subject into the light --- Because the media just does not report on the seriousness of Biden's failing cognitive abilities. or do cover his ineptness and his blatantly confusing statements.   This man can't even read the cheat sheets that are provided him, meant to attempt to make him sound coherent.

                Recite poems...
                Really, here are a few of the sad confused moments Biden has had that media just does not cover. He shows a complete breakdown in being able to make a coherent statement. He just babbles on incoherently. He is a very confused man, and IMO he should not be let out to speak in public at this point.
                https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aA4-Tdvej2c
                https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PpMAd7uXMSY

                1. My Esoteric profile image85
                  My Esotericposted 3 years agoin reply to this

                  "Because the media just does not report on the seriousness of Biden's failing cognitive abilities. " - THEY don't report it because there is nothing to report.  Those are just BDS and right-wing talking points.

                  Why don't you admit your hero has serious mental problems as is evidence by his continuing to believe he won the election and will return to office next month.  The man is simply delusional.

                  I found the way George W. spoke to be funny, but I never held it against him like you do Biden.

                  1. Sharlee01 profile image85
                    Sharlee01posted 3 years agoin reply to this

                    Let me reorient you, my comment has nothing to do with Trump or Bush. It was all about pointing out my opinion that Biden is at times a very confused man.  Making such a serious accusation made me realize I needed sources to back up my opinion. I provided two videos that show Biden clearly in a confused state.  Youtube is a very good source both showed Biden in a live situation that was videoed. Quotes are fine, but videos are just better to prove a point. If you would like to see a few more I can certainly provide more evidence of Biden showing confusion while publicly speaking.

                    Videos are hard to dispute. The two I offered show him very confused.  It's not funny when a president at times can't orient himself to the subject and just goes off saying non-sensical words that make no sense of any kind.

              2. My Esoteric profile image85
                My Esotericposted 3 years agoin reply to this

                lol

                1. Sharlee01 profile image85
                  Sharlee01posted 3 years agoin reply to this

                  Not really funny... I offered two sources that clearly show just how confused Biden can be at times. perhaps this is not a serious problem for you. It is for me. Funny how you can get so concerned over maybe, and if comes, but not over a video that clearly shows the President is not able to make a cohearent sentence.

                  1. My Esoteric profile image85
                    My Esotericposted 3 years agoin reply to this

                    Which I suspect was doctored like many are.  As I said, BDS.

    19. Sharlee01 profile image85
      Sharlee01posted 3 years agoin reply to this

      HERE IS another thing Biden has failed on ... And his party brought about with their flowery demand to defund the police! JUST ANOTHER HISTORIC RECORD UNDER OLD JOE...

      "Bloody July Fourth weekend leaves 150 fatally shot in more than 400 shootings nationwide"

      "A bloody Fourth of July weekend ended with at least 150 people killed in more than 400 shootings that occurred across the country, according to data compiled throughout the weekend.

      In New York City, at least 26 people were shot from Friday through Sunday, with at least two of the incidents resulting in deaths.

      In Chicago, 100 people were struck by gunfire resulting in 18 deaths since Friday night, according to Chicago police. In nearly all of the cases, no suspects were taken into custody as detectives continue to investigate the incidents. 69 of the more than 450 nationwide shootings occurred in Chicago alone."  https://www.foxnews.com/us/july-fourth- … -violence.

      So many problems to ignore, one would think old Joe would at least pick one and try to solve it... But Joe prefers to just say --- There is no problem to see here...  This president and his administration is ruining the country.
      https://hubstatic.com/15630695_f1024.jpg

      1. My Esoteric profile image85
        My Esotericposted 3 years agoin reply to this

        " And his party brought about with their flowery demand to defund the police! " - THAT, of course, is a ridiculously false statement to make..  The only Democrats who believe such a thing are as far Left as the RINOs, like McCarthy who is pushing the Big Lie, which is much worse than the stupid "defund the police" slogan, is far-Right.

        ""Bloody July Fourth weekend leaves 150 fatally shot in more than 400 shootings nationwide"" - IT WAS actually worse than that.  But don't look to Biden or Democrats for that.  Instead, turn your attention to those who don't want background checks when someone acquires a gun.  Or how about those who prevent the CDC from studying gun violence.  Or how about those who prevent the ATF from tracking guns used in crimes.  Why don't you focus on them instead?

        Biden is solving the pandemic. 

        -Biden is repairing the broken relations with our allies to help fight against Trump's friend Putin and China and Iran - you know, unimportant national security things. 

        Biden is very close to securing a bipartisan infrastructure deal.(assuming the far-Left doesn't blow it up.)

        Biden followed most economists advice and provided stimulus to a nation in recession.

        And whole host of other things too numerous to mention.

        BTW, how can Biden ruin a country that Trump has already ruined?

        That is quite a bit in 100 days - a whole lot more than Trump ever did.

        1. Sharlee01 profile image85
          Sharlee01posted 3 years agoin reply to this

          Biden had done nothing but talk, and actually, he reads what he is told to read when he talked. he is a very confused human being.

          Trump was a true problem solver, he faced problems and did his job.

    20. My Esoteric profile image85
      My Esotericposted 3 years agoin reply to this

      Finally, justice by a man with a real heart and empathy for those ripped off   On the other hand, the previous administration sided with the crooks and kept these students in misery and fear..

      https://www.cnn.com/2021/07/09/politics … index.html

      1. Sharlee01 profile image85
        Sharlee01posted 3 years agoin reply to this

        Another case where Biden is borrowing a victory from a previous president. He is not capable of solving problems. But very good at taking credit for what others have done. He is stagnant, and not addressing America's problems... he is one scary guy.

        "Seventy-two thousand student loan borrowers could breathe a sigh of relief Thursday after the Department of Education announced they will have the entirety of their debt forgiven.

        The move only applies to borrowers whose claims have already been approved under something called borrower defense to repayment, a federal law that allows students to have their loans canceled if they attended a school that closed suddenly or was proven to take part in illegal or deceptive practices, such as ITT Technical Institute or Corinthian Colleges. The law was ENACTED by the OBAMA administration in 2016."
        https://fortune.com/2021/03/18/student- … ity-loans/

        SAVE YOUR CREDIT FOR WHERE IT"S DUE.

        1. My Esoteric profile image85
          My Esotericposted 3 years agoin reply to this

          "The law was ENACTED by the OBAMA administration in 2016." - AND TRUMP KILLED IT! as he does everything he touches including our democracy

    21. My Esoteric profile image85
      My Esotericposted 3 years agoin reply to this

      WOW! America thinks Biden is doing an outstanding job with beating the pandemic.

      Given that 40% of Americans Hate Biden, because he is not Trump, it is very good when he can score above 60% on any poll as he does with the one on Coronavirus.  And Biden has consistently averaged above 60% since mid-March.

      Trump, on the other hand, did MUCH worse.  At his best, in March 2020, he barely broke 50%, but it plummeted from there.  He hit a low of 38% in July 2020.  Most of the time was spent between 40 - 42%, [i]even when a vaccine from OWS was announced.  WHY do Americans think he did such a crappy job while Trump supporters keep flouting non-existent accomplishments?

      https://www.realclearpolitics.com/epoll … -7323.html

      https://www.realclearpolitics.com/epoll … -7088.html

      1. Sharlee01 profile image85
        Sharlee01posted 3 years agoin reply to this

        Biden did nothing in regards to COVID. As he did nothing in regard to forgiving student loans  ---  As COVID was Trump's victory --- the student forgiveness of student loans was Obama's victory. Biden continues to do nothing but try to steal other former president's victories.

        The country has real problems, the above two problems were solved by other presidents... Biden won't face problems, he is confused and inept.

        "Seventy-two thousand student loan borrowers could breathe a sigh of relief Thursday after the Department of Education announced they will have the entirety of their debt forgiven.

        The move only applies to borrowers whose claims have already been approved under something called borrower defense to repayment, a federal law that allows students to have their loans canceled if they attended a school that closed suddenly or was proven to take part in illegal or deceptive practices, such as ITT Technical Institute or Corinthian Colleges. The law was ENACTED by the OBAMA administration in 2016."

        https://fortune.com/2021/03/18/student- … ity-loans/

        1. My Esoteric profile image85
          My Esotericposted 3 years agoin reply to this

          "As COVID was Trump's victory " - Trump made it so much worse than it needed to be.  One day you will come to understand that.  Also, given that the poll numbers exceed more than 60%, there are plenty of people on your side who give Biden the credit he deserves.  Your BDS apparently stops you from doing so.

          "the student forgiveness of student loans was Obama's victory." - Of course we are talking about those who were ripped off by for-profit colleges and not student loans in general.  In any case, it WOULD have been Obama's thing IF Trump hadn't killed itIt took Biden to pick up the pieces and put it back together again.

    22. My Esoteric profile image85
      My Esotericposted 3 years agoin reply to this

      I know conservatives just hate to see Americans happy, but it is true, since Biden was elected, more and more Americans report they are happy.

      Gallup's Life Rating poll started in 2008.  After Obama saved America from a  Depression, the index varied between 51.2 and 54.4 in his first 4 years as America was recovering.  After hitting a low of 50.3 because of the Republican gov't shut down, Obama's next four years stayed around 55. 

      This is where Trump started out and briefly hit 57.3 in Sep 2017.  It then fell to around 54 for the next few years before plummeting to the mid-40s beginning in 2020.

      The index jumped to 51.2 when Biden was inaugurated and then skyrocketed to a record high of 59.2!!.  There is a reason for that - people are happy with the job Biden is doing

      73% of people said they experienced enjoyment for a lot of the previous day.

      https://www.cnn.com/2021/07/11/politics … index.html

      https://news.gallup.com/poll/351932/ame … -high.aspx

      1. Sharlee01 profile image85
        Sharlee01posted 3 years agoin reply to this

        LOL CNN once again...

        1. My Esoteric profile image85
          My Esotericposted 3 years agoin reply to this

          Yep, the TRUTH wins out - again.

          I just read that Tucker Carlson, that purveyor of conspiracy theories, is furious with Fox management because they are giving short-shrift to his NSA is spying on my myth.  Even Fox can stomach only so much lying from their people.

      2. My Esoteric profile image85
        My Esotericposted 3 years agoin reply to this

        Speaking of Polls - in a rare instance of truth telling, Trump said this at CPAC - "If it's bad, I say it's fake. If it's good, I say that's the most accurate poll ever."

        1. Sharlee01 profile image85
          Sharlee01posted 3 years agoin reply to this

          If you want to talk about speeches--- Today old Joe compared the Republicans changing their voting laws to be worse than the civil war. This is strictly my opinion --- I find him becoming more and more confused each time he speaks.   At this point, he needs to be removed. from office.  I shutter when I see he is out talking in any capacity.

          1. My Esoteric profile image85
            My Esotericposted 3 years agoin reply to this

            Why didn't you say that about Trump who is much, much, much worse?

            "Today old Joe compared the Republicans changing their voting laws to be worse than the civil war." - I don't think that is your opinion at all.  I think it is from something you saw which had been edited to lie about what Biden actually said. 

            What he said - truthfully - was that We're are facing the most significant test of our democracy since the Civil War. That's not hyperbole. Since the Civil War. The Confederates back then [b]never breached the Capitol as insurrectionists did on January the 6th.[/b]   I hope you now understand how you were fooled into believing something that wasn't real.

            I also don't understand why you would applaud things like:

            We will be asking my Republican friends -- in Congress, in states, in cities, in counties -- to stand up, for God's sake, and help prevent this concerted effort to undermine our elections and the sacred right to vote.

            OR

            Vice President Harris and I will be making it clear that there's real peril in making raw power, rather than the idea of liberty, the centerpiece of the common life.

            The Founders understood this. The women of Seneca Falls understood this. The brave, heroic foot soldiers of the Civil Rights Movement understood this. So must we.


            OR

            This isn't about Democrats and Republicans; it's literally about who we are as Americans. It's that basic. It's about the kind of country we want today, the kind of country we want for our children and grandchildren tomorrow. And quite frankly, the whole world is watching. Folks

            When have you ever heard Trump being so presidential?  I'll tell you - never.

            1. Live to Learn profile image60
              Live to Learnposted 3 years agoin reply to this

              If you define presidential as purposely attempting to tear the country apart with false and inflammatory claims then, sure. Biden’s real presidential.

              1. Sharlee01 profile image85
                Sharlee01posted 3 years agoin reply to this

                And Biden is using race to do it --- despicable.

                1. Live to Learn profile image60
                  Live to Learnposted 3 years agoin reply to this

                  I believe he’s what he calls a lying dog faced pony soldier

                  1. Sharlee01 profile image85
                    Sharlee01posted 3 years agoin reply to this

                    Yes, It would seem Joe just maybe a lying dog-faced pony soldier...

              2. My Esoteric profile image85
                My Esotericposted 3 years agoin reply to this

                I see you are talking about Trump, not Biden.

                1. Live to Learn profile image60
                  Live to Learnposted 3 years agoin reply to this

                  Nope. My jaw constantly drops every time lying Joe opens his mouth. He seems hell bent on demonizing a large percentage of the population. His biggest lie to date? Claiming he is a unifier.  The left has become so unhinged in their refusal to see any side of an issue but their own has caused the entirety of the left to think their lack of reason is some type of a virtue.

                  1. My Esoteric profile image85
                    My Esotericposted 3 years agoin reply to this

                    BDS BS!!  No facts, just false statements.

            2. Sharlee01 profile image85
              Sharlee01posted 3 years agoin reply to this

              "Today old Joe compared the Republicans changing their voting laws to be worse than the civil war." - I don't think that is your opinion at all.  I think it is from something you saw which had been edited to lie about what Biden actually said. "

              This is so ridiculous it is hard to even respond. The fact is Biden has been in Washington for over 55 years. He has not found it necessary to go after voting laws in all those years. The voting laws in Delaware, and New York, and more do not come close to comparing with the voter opportunity of the New laws in Georgia. Delaware has never used dropboxes prior to COVID One must use a valid ID. And they do not mail out mail-in ballots unless one applies for absentee voting. And one must have a valid reason to do so and prove how they are with the appropriate ID.  So, I suggest you take your complaints about these discriminatory laws to the Department Of Justice. Perhaps Garland could bring a whopping lawsuit against most of the Blue states actually for making it hard to vote for all.

              MAIL-IN VOTING OTHER THAN ABSETTE IS NOT ALLOWED. Delaware does send out unsolicited mail-in ballots as the Dems hope to push.   https://www.vote411.org/delaware

              Source for Delawares rules and laws on voting ---   https://elections.delaware.gov/information/law.shtml

              1. Valeant profile image77
                Valeantposted 3 years agoin reply to this

                Why the change in voting laws?  It's not because of fraud.  It's because a pathological liar claimed he could only lose by fraud and his supporters are more than willing to live in whatever reality he describes to them.

                He also made this claim in 2016, saying the only reason he lost the popular vote was because of fraud.  He even formed a commission with Kris Kobach, a notorious voter suppressionist, at the helm.  The result was that they discovered very few instances of fraud at all, proving that Trump had been lying about any fraud having taken place in the 2016 election.  Did any of his supporters learn the lesson that he had lied to them, or that he had lied about fraud?  Of course not.

                The real reason for the changes are that the people who lost couldn't understand that 80 million people had zero faith in their candidate to manage the United States in a crisis.  That some 400,000 American deaths can be linked to his mismanagement, according to studies comparing the US's response to similar 1st world countries.  That people found it unacceptable when it was confirmed that his campaign manager did in fact collude with members of Russian Intelligence in 2016 to swing the election and that Trump had been lying about there not being collusion the entire time.  And that Mueller had laid out 10 instances where Trump Obstructed Justice during that investigation into something he had been lying about.

                It's also about the fact that providing access to people hurts the party with the fewest registered voters of the three major groups (independents-44%, Democrats-30%, Republicans-24%).  And that trying to restrict access in large cities, where democratic strongholds exist, is a necessity for GOP success.

                And states that make laws allowing the vote to be set aside and have their legislatures determine the result instead, as Arizona proposed, is no longer a democracy.

                We've heard the term 'irregularities' bandied about.  Well, yeah, this election was going to be irregular.  It's one of the few to be conducted during a global pandemic when millions were out of work and had more flexibility to exercise their constitutional rights.  Irregular is a given.

                Expanded voting opportunity in order to keep people safe resulted in record turnout of people exercising their rights.  That so many people got involved, and involved with few cases of fraud, is something to celebrate.  Unless you are the minority party and are fielding the candidate who never broke 50% approval during his term - a first among US Presidents. 

                But instead of learning the lesson that governing for all Americans and not just those in your base will be a recipe for disaster, the GOP is changing laws that will affect the ability of some Americans to exercise their constitutional rights - based on the 'big lie' that there was actually fraud in 2020.

                If you think laws should be changed based on lies, then that's a huge issue.

                And let's start the poll.  How many days until my next ban?

                1. Sharlee01 profile image85
                  Sharlee01posted 3 years agoin reply to this

                  yeah ...  So after all that bla bla bla  --- Should Garland bring a lawsuit against Delaware for their very discriminatory voter laws? You know the subject I was discussing.  Yes or no will do --- lol

                  1. Kathryn L Hill profile image80
                    Kathryn L Hillposted 3 years agoin reply to this

                    I know!

                  2. Valeant profile image77
                    Valeantposted 3 years agoin reply to this

                    Why should he, since Delaware's very Democratic legislature is looking to pass laws to make it easier for people to vote without being pressed?

                    Let's simplify all that blah, blah blah.  Do you realize Trump lied to you about fraud back in 2016?

                  3. My Esoteric profile image85
                    My Esotericposted 3 years agoin reply to this

                    Why should he??? Delaware is passing laws to make it easier to vote while Georgia is making it harder, like they have done so many times in the past 150 years.

                2. My Esoteric profile image85
                  My Esotericposted 3 years agoin reply to this

                  Everything you said above is VERY TRUE and UNDENIABLE.

              2. My Esoteric profile image85
                My Esotericposted 3 years agoin reply to this

                ""Today old Joe compared the Republicans changing their voting laws to be worse than the civil war." -" - I Simply cannot understand why a person would continue to repeat lies like that if they are not brainwashed.  It just doesn't make sense.

              3. My Esoteric profile image85
                My Esotericposted 3 years agoin reply to this

                "MAIL-IN VOTING OTHER THAN ABSETTE IS NOT ALLOWED." - Actually, that is a lie as well. Delawarians can vote by mail based on a new law passed in July 1, 2020.  That is why the RINOs in Delaware brought a suit to STOP mail-in balloting?  Very anti-democratic of them don't you think?

              4. My Esoteric profile image85
                My Esotericposted 3 years agoin reply to this

                " Delaware has never used dropboxes prior to COVID" - But yet they did (like GA) for 2020.  But unlike GA, they aren't putting restrictions on their use keeping it easy to vote in 2022.  GA, on the other hand, is restricting the use of drop boxes making it much harder to vote.

                1. Valeant profile image77
                  Valeantposted 3 years agoin reply to this

                  How much drop box fraud was there, by the way?  What statistics necessitate making the changes?  Anyone...Buehler...Buehler.

                  1. My Esoteric profile image85
                    My Esotericposted 3 years agoin reply to this

                    No fraud is needed.  It made it easier for people to vote which RINOs see has a losing proposition.  Consequently, they limit there use.

              5. My Esoteric profile image85
                My Esotericposted 3 years agoin reply to this

                "MAIL-IN VOTING OTHER THAN ABSETTE IS NOT ALLOWED." - WHY AREN"T you talking about all of the laws Delaware is passing to make it easier to vote in that state?  RINOs are trying very hard to stop this from happening, but Democrats don't need their votes to pass these great laws.  Why aren't you taking the RINO's to task for trying to stop making it easier to vote.

                BTW - Unlike Georgia and all of the other southern states, Delaware doesn't have the very long history of deny Blacks the right to vote.

          2. My Esoteric profile image85
            My Esotericposted 3 years agoin reply to this

            I think I will start posting this each time you make fun of Biden's speech issues.

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

            1. Kathryn L Hill profile image80
              Kathryn L Hillposted 3 years agoin reply to this

              Biden is very obedient to what he is supposed to say. This is why he
              forgets and stumbles through the required topics in confusion and forgetfulness.
              In contrast, when ideas / topics come from one's own understanding, the speaking ability is confident and clear.
              Could it be that the Democratic Party valued his willingness to parrot according to their agenda?
              I don't think he started out this way in his early political life ...
              Well, I sure hope not.

              Plus, there's this:
              https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Slrs29r5KW8

              1. My Esoteric profile image85
                My Esotericposted 3 years agoin reply to this

                You need to listen to unedited sound bites by Biden haters.

                I have listened to and watched Biden speak for decades.  None of those remind me of this -

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

                and other similar insults that come out of your hero's mouth.

    23. My Esoteric profile image85
      My Esotericposted 3 years agoin reply to this

      This is how stupid and out of touch with reality that Conservatives are - they actually cheered the fact that Biden didn't reach his 70% vaccination goal.

      Can somebody tell why Trump supporting conservatives are choosing to get very sick and maybe dying rather than get vaccinated?  It makes no sense - of course supporting Trump makes no sense either.

      1. wilderness profile image75
        wildernessposted 3 years agoin reply to this

        Probably for the same reason liberals are making the same choice.  (I'm going out on a limb here and assuming you have not interviewed millions of anti-vaxxers, determining both their political position AND why they don't want the vaccine).

        But my guess is that both the liberals and conservatives making that foolish choice are no longer confident that the government is not lying to them about both the safety and the efficacy of the vaccine.  Couple that with the lies about the death toll from the vaccine (there is a post in these forums that claims 6X as many people die from the vaccine as from COVID) and the inability to understand basic statistics and you could have the answer.

        1. peterstreep profile image82
          peterstreepposted 3 years agoin reply to this

          Yes, apparently the anti-vaccine attitude is not along party lines. (So I heard on a podcast that was about the funding of anti-climate-change conspiracies and pro-smoking lobby).

        2. My Esoteric profile image85
          My Esotericposted 3 years agoin reply to this

          "Probably for the same reason liberals are making the same choice.  " - AND WHY would pro-science, pro-vaccine liberals be making that choice?  Your statement is nonsensical.

          Why would I have to interview millions of anti-vaxxers (I wonder if there are that many).  Seems like those would be conservatives since they both share a distrust for science and intellect.  All I need to do is look at a map that overlays where Trump supporters live and where people aren't getting vaccinated to know that it is primarily Trump supporters who aren't getting vaccinated and endangering the rest of us.

          Your "post" is one of those MISINFORMATION pieces conservatives put out to scare people from getting vaccinated.

          The bottom line is most liberals are vaccinated and most conservatives are not - you can't run from the facts.

          Let's see, right now, on average, 233 people are dying a day and growing in Red States from Covid, maybe one or two them were vaccinated, the rest are not.  Let me be generous and say 70% of those are Trump supporters (it is probably higher).  That means Trump and the RINOs have 162 less people a day to vote for them.  Extend that to the next election, about  485 days from today.  That means the pool of Trump/RINO voters will decrease by roughly 78,000 voters.

          Now, tack on to that the number of Trump voters who got deathly ill because they believed in his lies and are now understanding they were lied to and will not vote for Trump or RINOs.  Today's average of new cases is around 20,000 per day and growing in the red states.  Again, I will be generous and say only 20% of those catching the more deadly Delta-variant end up in the hospital (I suspect it is higher).  And of those, let's say half of those finally had enough of the lies and join the land of the rational.  Doing the math, that comes out to 2,000 people per day who won't vote for Trump or the RINOs.  Taking the same 485 days, that means potentially another 970,000 might not vote for Trump or the RINOs.

    24. Sharlee01 profile image85
      Sharlee01posted 3 years agoin reply to this

      So, I think I understand this correctly ... Biden had a meeting yesterday at the Whitehouse to talk about crime with various representatives from mostly Blue states --- you know the ones that the Dems were just last summer screaming to defund the police. And yes many blue states did just that, Now, they are having historic crimes in their cities due to defunding the police. Well, Biden came up with a solution to their problems. ---=  He suggests they use the funds they receive for COVID relief to hire new police officers. So, what this means --- the Federal funds which came from us, the taxpayers, will now be used to pay for these fools big defund the police fiasco.  Yeah.  It would well appear Biden's main problem-solving tool, toss cash at it, To be more precise, taxpayer's cash. 

      https://nypost.com/2021/06/23/biden-say … ring-cops/

      1. My Esoteric profile image85
        My Esotericposted 3 years agoin reply to this

        "ou know the ones that the Dems were just last summer screaming to defund the police." - How do you say that with a straight face when you know it is not true. Only a handful of stupid Democrats say that

        So, what is your solution that doesn't involve cash?

        1. Sharlee01 profile image85
          Sharlee01posted 3 years agoin reply to this

          My solution would have been to not defund the police, which resulted in police leaving their jobs in droves, and open historic crime. I find that a curious problem Dem's seem to have --- they create problems due to just not thinking about the end game.  Like Biden did when he got rid of Trump's immigration solutions on his first day on the job. he sat at that big desk with his little blue blaze, and shiny shoes, and ultimately set the ball rolling for the historic border problems we are seeing today.

          I just don't care to pay for Biden or the Dem's mistakes or all their investigations that are just stages for political ploys.

    25. My Esoteric profile image85
      My Esotericposted 3 years agoin reply to this

      As part of the Biden - Democratic coronavirus relief package signed in March is a one-year expanded child tax credit designed to reduce child poverty by half., something Republicans strenuously opposed.

      It is in the form of monthly checks through December and the balance can be received when the 2021 taxes are filed, even if no income was earned. It impacts middle to no income adults with children's under the age of 18.  They will receive $300 per child younger than 6 and $250 for those between 6 and 17.

      Those checks started arriving yesterday to the relief, and often surprise, to millions of middle and low income American parents.

      Another great Biden-Democratic win for America!

      1. Valeant profile image77
        Valeantposted 3 years agoin reply to this

        The stock market seems to like Biden as well with the economy able to open up with the delivery of those vaccines, as it is up 14% this year.  It was funny to see the same Trump supporters touting those achievements four years ago, but now bemoaning how Biden is just helping the 'rich get richer.'  Unreal the things they can find for their partisan hate.

        1. My Esoteric profile image85
          My Esotericposted 3 years agoin reply to this

          It is called Biden Derangement Syndrome (BDS).  With Trump, clear-eyed people had every reason to point out his continuous bad behavior (leading to Gen Milley worrying about Trump staging a coup).  With Biden, clear-eyed people know he is doing a great job (on most things - I really disagree with his decision to pull out of Afghanistan.  I don't care if we have been there for 20 years, we need to stay another 20 if it means keeping that country out of the hands of the Taliban and al Queda.)

    26. My Esoteric profile image85
      My Esotericposted 3 years agoin reply to this

      I forget in which forum the subject of Universal Basic Income came up, but I ran across this article where California, in a 100% bipartisan vote, put their toe in the water of this concept.

      Currently, it is limited to pregnant mothers (is that redundant?) and kids coming out of foster care.

      https://www.latimes.com/california/stor … ncome-plan

    27. Sharlee01 profile image85
      Sharlee01posted 3 years agoin reply to this

      What are the Things President Joe Biden Has Done While President ---

      The elite on wall street to include investment banks have smashed earning expectations today.  While American worker struggles with rising consumer good prices due to President Joe Biden’s inflation.

      Current states
      JPMorgan Chase ---   “second-quarter earnings of $11.9 billion, or $3.78 per share, which exceeded the $3.21 estimate of analysts surveyed by Refinitiv,” CNBC reported.

      Goldman Sachs  ---  "reported second-quarter earnings of $15.02 per share, topping analysts’ expectation of $10.24 earnings per share,” CNBC continued, “The bank posted its second-best ever quarterly investment banking revenue as a rush of IPOs hit Wall Street last quarter.”

      The investment banks shattering expectations comes as the American worker is experiencing inflation at a 13 year high.

      The Labor Department on Tuesday released its Consumer Price Index for June, showing that prices rose 0.9 percent in the past month. The price hike in June marked the largest 1-month increase since June 2008.
      Source ---  https://www.bls.gov/news.release/cpi.nr0.htm

      Inflation has outrun expectations for three months in a row. The June monthly figure is the highest since June 2008, when prices increased 1 percent in a single month.

      Inflation pressures remain more acute than appreciated and certainly appear that they are going to be with us for a longer period than has been previously reported.

      Are we returning to the 1970s?   Inflation has reached a three-decade high. The past two years with the need for several emergency’ spending packages, bond buy-backs, and printing lots of money it seems to mirror the same mistakes Government made in the Carter era.

      Since President Joe Biden has taken office, prices for consumer goods and energy have dramatically risen.

      In my view, our history shows when you tax the rich, they just pass these losses on to the consumer.

      Didn't Biden promise to tax the rich, and bring back our economy? It seems we are headed down a path that the rich get rich, and the poor --- "well you know the thing!"

      1. Valeant profile image77
        Valeantposted 3 years agoin reply to this

        Joe Biden's inflation?  When you print 30% of all US currency in existence in one calendar year, and that year would be 2020 when the Fed needed to prop up the economy due to a horrific response to a global pandemic, that will be one cause of inflation. 

        When a pandemic limits the creation of new product, then there is a large demand for existing product, such as used cars since no new cars were being built (where as used cars are about 40% of the current inflation figures), there will be rises in prices.  Was it Biden in control when the country had to shut down and stop making goods and services?

        Here is a very good article from December of 2020 about the topic.
        https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles … ge-of-2021

        And your claim that the rich are only getting richer now that Biden is president is a joke, right?  For the last four years, we've listened to you crow on about how good Trump was for the Stock Market and how you've done so well.  Well, for the first half of 2021, the Stock Market has done better with Biden in charge.  But now that Biden is in charge, suddenly, a strong economy is something to complain about.  And expectations will be crushed when you can build confidence back into the economy by doing your job and getting people vaccinated.

        1. My Esoteric profile image85
          My Esotericposted 3 years agoin reply to this

          Well said!!

      2. My Esoteric profile image85
        My Esotericposted 3 years agoin reply to this

        "The past two years with the need for several emergency’ spending packages, bond buy-backs, and printing lots of money it seems to mirror the same mistakes Government made in the Carter era." - YOU DO realize who was president for the last two years, don't you?  Here is a clue - it wasn't BIden.

        Didn't Republicans promise to stop Biden from doing anything.  Since the minority controls the Senate, who is to blame here?  It certainly isn't Biden.

        We have been going down that path you mention EVER SINCE Trump because president.

        "In my view, our history shows when you tax the rich, they just pass these losses on to the consumer." - FIRST, no, history does not show what you are trying to imply and SECOND, the first phrase has nothing to do with the second phrase of your sentence.

        1. Sharlee01 profile image85
          Sharlee01posted 3 years agoin reply to this

          Another thing Biden can take credit for ...

          https://usercontent1.hubstatic.com/15649230.jpg
          EXCLUSIVE: The number of detainees who tested positive for COVID-19 in the Rio Grande Valley (RGV) Sector alone has increased by 900%, according to information obtained by Fox News.  https://www.foxnews.com/politics/covid- … er-numbers

          There were 135 detainees who tested positive in the first two weeks of July alone, marking a 900% increase in confirmed positive cases compared to the previous 14 months.

          Biden is totally ignoring the border crisis - More than one million illegal immigrants have been apprehended crossing the border since Bidens took office Yet he sees no problem with COVID infections rising 900%  compared to the previous 14 months.

          Why in the hell are we as a people, not demanding answers? We have been fighting this virus for over a year and a half and this dead-headed man is letting infected people pour across our border and flying them all over the US.

          One can also imagine how many more immigrants are pouring in not being detected. Get ready to mask up people... Joe is not in any respect curbing the spread of DELTA. In fact, he is helping to ensure the spread. 

          This president is incapable of doing his job.

          1. My Esoteric profile image85
            My Esotericposted 3 years agoin reply to this

            There you go again misrepresenting numbers to give a very false picture of reality.

            Just using your numbers (as I did where you said I didn't provide a link) we get this picture of reality.  You claimed there were 135 detainees who tested positive in the first two weeks of July.  Then you try to impress us with the fact that represents a 900% increase over the total from the last 14 months.  Working backwards, that means there was a grand total of - wait for it - a whopping 15 detainee covid cases over the last 14 months!! Finally, subtracting, that means there were 120 positive Covid cases in the last two weeks. 

            Now let's take your million apprehension in the last 5 months.  That averages 200,000 a month or 100,000 every 2 weeks.  OK, those are your numbers.

            Let's add a few of mine.  Number of unvaccinated Americans - 77,000,000 (Kaiser Foundation estimate of 37%). Current number of positive cases every two weeks - 504,000 (current 36,000 daily rate from Worldometers times 14 days).

            We now have what we need for a non-hyperbolic comparison.

            Rate of positive cases from your data: 120 per 100,000
            Rate of positive cases currently in America: 654 per 100,000 unvaccinated Americans (every two weeks).

            SO, what is the problem you are trying to create with your hyperbole.  Seems like it is much safer to be among the detainees to me?

            Also, do you REALLY BELIEVE, there have been only 15 positive cases in the last 14 months (remember, these are your numbers).  I suppose those who believe in the Big Lie would believe a Fox News report, but I am surprised you do.  When will you learn Fox News hosts LIE.

            And to deflate your bubble a bit more - Biden has maintained Trump's policy of turning away people testing positive.


            THE REAL CULPRIT in spreading the Delta-variants are unvaccinated Americans, largely you conservatives, and NOT Biden.

            1. Sharlee01 profile image85
              Sharlee01posted 3 years agoin reply to this

              https://www.reuters.com/world/americas/ … 021-06-25/

              "WASHINGTON, June 25 (Reuters) - U.S. authorities have made more than 1 million arrests of migrants at the U.S.-Mexico border so far in fiscal year 2021, according to preliminary figures shared with Reuters, a tally that underscores the immigration challenges facing President
              Joe Biden."

              VERY SAD STATS   Your quopte
              "Let's add a few of mine.  Number of unvaccinated Americans - 77,000,000 (Kaiser Foundation estimate of 37%). Current number of positive cases every two weeks - 504,000 (current 36,000 daily rate from Worldometers times 14 days)."

              I am proud that you posted this sad failure of Biden. he just can't get people to step up and get vaccinated.  Only 49% of American's are vaccinated.  Makes us very distressed to think of how many would have been vaccinated if Trump was still president. Hey, he provided Biden the vaccines, but Joe --- well not many trust him to his administration IMO

              And as I said this old guy instead of thinking about closing the border, more or less puts the virus on busses and airplanes and sends it to a town near you. LOL.

              1. My Esoteric profile image85
                My Esotericposted 3 years agoin reply to this

                "I am proud that you posted this sad failure of Biden. he just can't get people to step up and get vaccinated.  " - YOU ARE RIGHT, then start campaigning for mandating the vaccines to stop mostly conservatives from killing more people.

                BTW, what makes that "sad" is your side, the conservative side, won't listen to him and the doctors about getting vaccinated.

                Virtually EVERY case of Covid, and the resulting deaths, today are at the feet of conservatives who won't get vaccinated.  Why aren't you railing at them????  Why aren't you saying things like [u]"it is sad conservatives]/b] won't get vaccinated". [/u[

                "Makes us very distressed to think of how many would have been vaccinated if Trump was still president. " - GIVEN Trump's record, the answer would be [b]a hell of the lot LESS
                .

                BTW, where did you get your low 47% figure from?  It is actually 56% that are fully vaccinated (mostly Democrats and Independents) with many more that have one shot.  Were you trying to give the reader a false impression of reality?

                As to your discriminatory "old man" snark, all I have to say to that is https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7nfiyLQwXHE

    28. My Esoteric profile image85
      My Esotericposted 3 years agoin reply to this

      "Across forecasts, the US is projected to hit growth rates that haven't been seen in decades"

      And given inflation has been suppressed for so many years by both the Obama and Trump administrations tied with the drying up of than then explosion of demand due to Covid, it is amazing it isn't even higher than it is.  --  Some might claim that Biden did a great job in limiting its growth.  (I am not one of those because I know he has little control over inflation, the FED does.)

    29. Sharlee01 profile image85
      Sharlee01posted 3 years agoin reply to this

      "What are the Great Things President Joe Biden Has Done While President" 

      Well, not great but another thing Biden has done or I should say not done.

      On another subject --- It seems Biden is doomed to fail with his infrastructure bill. He just does not seem to get a win on his own.

      A test vote on Biden's bipartisan infrastructure bill fails Senate amid GOP objections

      Senate Republicans on Wednesday mounted a filibuster against a motion to debate a nearly $1 trillion infrastructure bill that President Biden brokered with a bipartisan group of senators, dealing a big setback for efforts to fund new roads, bridges, and broadband improvements.

      The procedural vote in the Senate needed 60 votes to succeed but fell short at 49, with Republicans complaining Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., rushed to a vote on a bill that wasn't quite ready.

      Sen. Minority Leader Mitch McConnell called the test vote a "stunt" earlier Wednesday and correctly predicted it would "fail."  https://www.foxbusiness.com/politics/bi … objections

      However, the Republicans are open to a more sensible bill and hope to work with the Democrats to get an infrastructure bill that is all about infrastructure and not free stuff...

      So, pleased to see the GOP stand their ground.

    30. Sharlee01 profile image85
      Sharlee01posted 3 years agoin reply to this

      More negative news on the economy ---

      The number of Americans filing for FRIST-time jobless benefits last week unexpectedly rose from pandemic-era lows.

      The Labor Department said Thursday that 419,000 Americans filed for initial jobless benefits in the week ending July 17, above last week’s upwardly revised 368,000 filings. Wall Street analysts surveyed by Refinitiv were expecting 350,000 filings.

      Inflation, unemployment.  Increased wage, cut in employees,  and rise in prices for us all... Wow-what a great plan to pay citizens to stay home, looks like we are losing businesses in many cases due to them not being able to get workers LOL  -- And just think of all the taxes we are losing due to the snowball effect from losing all these businesses.   

      Just another problem that Biden caused with his stay home enjoys the summer $300.00 bucks...  And what does Joe do - toss more cash in a child tax payment.  Someone better tell Joe the piggy bank is empty.  Better stop trying to pay for votes, he is sinking our economy.

      So much trouble coming and coming with the speed of a train.

    31. Kathleen Cochran profile image71
      Kathleen Cochranposted 3 years agoin reply to this

      He,  nor anyone he has appointed, is under indictment.

      He has returned the US to international respect.

      He does nothing to embarass us day in and day out.

      He has let the scientists take charge of fighting the pandemic.

      He is presidential and his staff respects the office.

      He is supporting legislation that the majority of Americans want passed.

      I think today he is being accused of his first lie and I'm sure he will apologize and clarify what he meant.  By now in the Trump administration I believe we'd lost count of his lies.

      1. My Esoteric profile image85
        My Esotericposted 3 years agoin reply to this

        And that's the TRUTH!!!

    32. My Esoteric profile image85
      My Esotericposted 3 years agoin reply to this

      Using Trump's favorite measure of success, the stock market, President Biden is doing an outstanding job.  The markets set records last week and Biden is putting Trump to shame.

      America needs more of Biden.

    33. My Esoteric profile image85
      My Esotericposted 3 years agoin reply to this

      Thanks to President Biden, the economy is now bigger than it was at the beginning of the pandemic.  It grew at a sustained 6.5% annual rate, the highest in decades!  Keep it up Joe!

      https://www.cnn.com/2021/07/29/economy/ … index.html

      1. Valeant profile image77
        Valeantposted 3 years agoin reply to this

        Then when it shrinks again because so many Republicans who are unvaccinated will cause the economy to slow, we will get the same forum posts blaming Joe for the slow down.  Can't wait.

        1. wilderness profile image75
          wildernessposted 3 years agoin reply to this

          You may well be right - the refusal to vaccinate may slow the economy right back down. 

          Or the refusal to knuckle under to requirements to protect idiots that refuse to protect themselves may be ignored.  We'll have to wait and see, but my money (for the moment) is that folks aren't going to take much more, particularly when it is designed to protect those that refuse to participate in the nationwide effort to protect all of us.

          1. Ken Burgess profile image69
            Ken Burgessposted 3 years agoin reply to this

            I think your confidence in a system built on making profit (Big Pharma), and vaccines that are completely experimental (have not gone through years of regimented and carefully observed tests) is an example of how some of us are easily influenced by the MSM narrative.

            1. wilderness profile image75
              wildernessposted 3 years agoin reply to this

              Question - how many years of testing does the yearly flu vaccine go through?  How many people are subjected to those "regimented and carefully observed tests" each year for that new flu vaccine?

              It is my impression that the vaccine is remade every year, based on projections and best guesses as to what the flu bug will look like.  This absolutely precludes those "years" of testing.  What is your impression?  How long and how many years of testing is performed for each year's new flue vaccine?

              1. My Esoteric profile image85
                My Esotericposted 3 years agoin reply to this

                Not to mention that the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines are an entirely and much safer delivery mechanism that has been under development for over 10 years.  I wouldn't be surprised that most vaccines won't be made using this technique.

            2. My Esoteric profile image85
              My Esotericposted 3 years agoin reply to this

              "I think your confidence in a system built on making profit (Big Pharma), and vaccines that are completely experimental " - That, Ken, is right-wing myth. 

              There is very little difference in the data requirements on safety and efficacy between getting an EUA and full authorization.  Yes, they do need a few more months after the issuance of the EUA, but that data is already in.  All the FDA is doing now is looking at manufacturing and distribution before issuing their ruling. 

              These vaccines are no longer experimental let alone your false characterization that it is [i]completely experimental[/i[

              Frankly, it is that kind of rhetoric from the right that is killing thousands of people.

        2. My Esoteric profile image85
          My Esotericposted 3 years agoin reply to this

          Interesting point.  I wonder if economy will shrink that much.  Unlike the original pandemic, the whole country locked down because nobody was safe.  Today, at least half the population, those who are vaccinated, is safe (although they can still spread Delta).  Plus, more and more large employers are mandating vaccination before employees can come back to work.

          The question is - can businesses keep up production with just vaccinated employees (or those who keep testing negative). 

          Another question - as Delta roars through the unvaccinated who chose to make themselves, their kids, their families, and strangers sick or dead will become smart and start getting vaccinated in larger numbers?

          What is interesting and plays a part as well is this - conservative America is not where a large portion of GDP is produced and it is conservative America that make bad choices by not getting vaccinated.  So even if Delta decimates the South, how much impact will it really have on GDP?

      2. wilderness profile image75
        wildernessposted 3 years agoin reply to this

        Sure did - sustained for a whole quarter!  As businesses re-open from being closed, it grew enormously.  For a whole quarter!

        Gotta love the spin that it was somehow sustained for more than the minimum time necessary to see it.

        1. My Esoteric profile image85
          My Esotericposted 3 years agoin reply to this

          "Sure did - sustained for a whole quarter! " - WRONG AGAIN!, LOL.  It is "Sure did - sustained for a whole two quarters! "  Two quarters = half a year.

          1. wilderness profile image75
            wildernessposted 3 years agoin reply to this

            Perhaps you need to read your link, and then think about what it says.  Because the 6.5% you tout as being sustained for two whole quarters (6 months) is the highest since 2020. 

            Think about that - it was higher than the first quarter of 2021.  It was NOT, then, "sustained" for 2 quarters.  Even your sly spin (making it sound like far more than the measly two months you now mention) is false to fact for it was lower in the preceding quarter.

            1. Valeant profile image77
              Valeantposted 3 years agoin reply to this

              Arguing to argue, and not doing it very well.

              Eso's statement:  It grew at a sustained 6.5% annual rate, the highest in decades!

              The article's statement in the opening paragraph:  The US economy in the second quarter expanded at a slower rate than expected but still at its fastest pace since last fall, growing at a seasonally adjusted, annualized rate of 6.5%.

              Those two statements seem pretty similar, unless you're from Idaho, I guess.

              1. wilderness profile image75
                wildernessposted 3 years agoin reply to this

                Didn't read far enough, did you?  From the link: "It was also only little changed from the first quarter when the economy grew at an annual rate of 6.3%."

                Doesn't sound to me like the 6.5% was "sustained" for more than a single quarter, as the first quarter was lower.  Of course, simply reading that it was the highest since last fall (which you quoted) should have clued you and Eso in that it was NOT "sustained" for more than a single quarter.

                Do people from New York equate 3 to 5?  Perhaps their lower grade math courses need to be revamped a little.

                But I guess that pointing out arithmetic fallacies is just "arguing to argue", right?

                1. Valeant profile image77
                  Valeantposted 3 years agoin reply to this

                  Like I said, arguing to argue.  Eso cited 6.5% annual, the article said 6.5% annual.

                  And an increase in a rate certainly sounds like something sustained.  Sustained:  continuing for an extended period or without interruption.  6.0% to 6.3% to 6.5% definitely fits that definition, unless you cannot comprehend what sustained means.

                  And I'm just going to choose to report that pettiness instead of trading barbs with you since all you do is write nonsense until it devolves into insults.

                  1. wilderness profile image75
                    wildernessposted 3 years agoin reply to this

                    Hmm.  You do understand that in your example, the sustained figure is 6.0, not 6.5?  It will always be the lowest of the group, never the highest. 

                    You see, 6.5 is greater than 6.3, so 6.3 is included in the 6.5 figure.  However, the opposite is not true; 6.5 is not included in 6.3.

                    This is elementary arithmetic - perhaps NY needs to improve their schools?

                    (By the way - the article said 6.5% annual, for ONE quarter.  Eso said 6.5% annual for TWO quarters.  There is a difference between one and two, just as there is between three and five).

                2. My Esoteric profile image85
                  My Esotericposted 3 years agoin reply to this

                  "Doesn't sound to me like the 6.5% was "sustained" for more than a single quarter, as the first quarter was lower.  " - That is called "wordsmithing" for sake of being pointlessly contrarian.  Sensible people understand the meaning even if you don't.

                  1. wilderness profile image75
                    wildernessposted 3 years agoin reply to this

                    Is this the definition of "obtuse"?  I do not, for one second, believe that you think the 6.5% rate you claim was sustained was the rate for the first quarter.  The article makes it very clear it was not (did you read the article?), and I assume you understood the simple English it used.

                    6.3 < 6.5; ergo the first quarter was less than the second and therefore the second quarter rate was NOT "sustained" for more than the second quarter.

              2. My Esoteric profile image85
                My Esotericposted 3 years agoin reply to this

                And the caveat about "last fall" refers to the one quarter bounce back from from the pandemic low before falling back to 4.3% in the 4th quarter.  It then rose to 6.4% and 6.5%, back to back numbers not seen in decades.

            2. My Esoteric profile image85
              My Esotericposted 3 years agoin reply to this

              Boy, you can't get anything right, can you.

    34. My Esoteric profile image85
      My Esotericposted 3 years agoin reply to this

      Another great Jobs Report from President Biden.  Almost 1 million people put back to work and unemployment drops to 5.4%,

      https://www.cnn.com/2021/08/06/economy/ … index.html

      Even better, the misinformed unvaccinated are getting a clue and are protecting themselves and others in greater numbers.

    35. My Esoteric profile image85
      My Esotericposted 3 years agoin reply to this

      I do not hold the following as a "great" thing President Biden has done - although Trumpers might.

      I am an admitted hawk when our national security interests are in peril.  I know I am in the minority on this but I supported our involvement in Vietnam and I support our remaining in Afghanistan.  In both cases, I firmly believe our national security interests are threatened.  On the other hand, I opposed our involvement in Iraq because 1) I saw no threat to our security from Iraq and 2) I saw a major threat to it from Afghanistan.

      President George W. Bush blew it, in my opinion, by turning the focus of the fight against terror away from where it originated in Afghanistan to an unnecessary war in Iraq. .President Obama was left the hand he was dealt in Iraq by Bush but rightly refocused on Afghanistan - but he was too timid.

      Trump didn't do any worse in Afghanistan than his predecessors until he announced our withdrawal from Afghanistan.  That was the beginning of the debacle we see there now.  President Biden had a chance to correct course but didn't - he made it much, much worse.

      Both Trump and Biden has proved once again that America cannot be trusted to keep its promises and that they are willing to put our national security interests at risk because Americans got tired of doing the right thing.

      Biden's botching of first, announcing that America is giving up the good fight and second, the cut-and-running will forever put a blot on whatever other great things he has and will accomplish accomplish in the four years he is in office.  SAD.

      1. Sharlee01 profile image85
        Sharlee01posted 3 years agoin reply to this

        "Biden's botching of first, announcing that America is giving up the good fight and second, the cut-and-running will forever put a blot on whatever other great things he has and will accomplish in the four years he is in office.  SAD."

        Agree very sad...   Let me remind you Trump's administration further destroyed al-Quida and destroyed ISIS.  They will once again gather and rule the middle east.

        Biden is hiding, and one thing is a fact --- he will be responsible for any and all that die due to his poor decision-making. Just as Trump would have been if he had won and botched this pull-out. I am tired of hearing non-sensible excuses for Bidems mistakes.  All presidents make mistakes, can calculate wrong. But Americans could have been pulled out long ago before Biden offered a pull-out date. 

        Biden's polls make me realize more are coming to see what a mistake it was to put him in the White House.

        The Rasmussen Reports daily Presidential Tracking Poll, sponsored by The ANTIFA by Jack Posobiec, for Monday shows that 46% of Likely U.S. Voters approve of President Biden’s job performance. Fifty-three percent (53%) disapprove.

        The latest figures include 26% who Strongly Approve of the job Biden is doing and 43% who Strongly Disapprove. This gives him a Presidential Approval Index rating of -17

    36. Sharlee01 profile image85
      Sharlee01posted 3 years agoin reply to this

      A bit of a return to the subject of the thread ---   Are you reconsidering your support for Biden in any respect now that you have witnessed his job performance of six months?

      The pandemic has not been "put behind us" we are dealing with over a hundred thousand DELTA cases a day, and Dr. Fauci claims this winter will be worst than last winter.

      We are still in a recession, that shows no real signs of slowing.

      Overall, the number of unemployed is at 8.7 million.

      Tuesday, August 17, 2021, Again polls are indicating they do not feel confident about Biden's presidency or approve of his job performance.

      The Rasmussen Reports daily Presidential Tracking Poll, sponsored by, for Tuesday shows that 45% of Likely U.S. Voters approve of President Biden’s job performance. Fifty-four percent (54%) disapprove.

      The latest figures include 27% who Strongly Approve of the job Biden is doing and 45% who Strongly Disapprove. This gives him a Presidential Approval Index rating of -18. (see trends)

      1. My Esoteric profile image85
        My Esotericposted 3 years agoin reply to this

        No, beyond this blunder, he has done a great job in pulling America out of the hole Trump put us in.

        His decision to pull out of Afghanistan is supported by the vast majority of Americans (even though I think it was bone-headed and dangerous to national security).  Three presidents before him said they would.  Two of them didn't, and Trump started to without having a fall back plan - he just did it.

        The same can be said of Biden - he made a promise and he kept it regardless of the consequences.  Only time will tell what went wrong in the analysis of how much time he had to withdraw.

        Personally, if I had made that decision, I would have dumped another 30,000 troops in there, then taken the fight to the Taliban, while at the same time pulling all Americans and allies out, as well as any women who wanted to leave.  THEN, and only then, would I have pulled the troops out and let the country fall.  I'll bet you anything that is something like what the military advised him.

        "We are still in a recession" - ACTUALLY, we are not.  The NBER recently announced the recession had ended in April 2020 after reviewing the data.

        "Dr. Fauci claims this winter will be worst than last winter." - 1) I thought you guys didn't listen to Fauci and 2) the only reason it will be is 100% on the shoulders of the unvaccinated, the plurality of whom are white Republicans.

        How come you never mention that Biden is still above water while Trump NEVER was?

    37. My Esoteric profile image85
      My Esotericposted 3 years agoin reply to this

      Here is what started the debacle in Afghanistan that will stain Biden's otherwise great record forever.  It is true, everything Trump touches, dies.

      https://www.cnn.com/2021/08/17/politics … an-cnntv/i

      1. Sharlee01 profile image85
        Sharlee01posted 3 years agoin reply to this

        Let me reorient you to who is president at this time his name is Biden --- all of this mess is on him IMO. He should have used simple common sense to remove civilians before troops. He would not listen to his own military. and though he knew best. Well, it appears he has one of the biggest messes we have needed as American's to witness.

        Common sense is something Biden does not have..

        1. My Esoteric profile image85
          My Esotericposted 3 years agoin reply to this

          And let me reorient you to the fact because of Trump, Biden's withdrawal was going to fail.  IMO, Biden should put more troops in, not take them out just to fill a campaign promise and the will of the people, even though it is clearly against our national interest.

          "He would not listen to his own military. and though he knew best." - SOUNDS like your hero.  Why are you so proud of Trump for doing exactly that??  Isn't that called hypocracy?

          1. Sharlee01 profile image85
            Sharlee01posted 3 years agoin reply to this

            Gen Milley ---   WE DON'T HAVE THE CAPABILITY’: With 6,000 troops committed to defend the Kabul airport and less than two weeks until a self-imposed Aug. 31 deadline, Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin says he doesn’t have enough forces to help Americans or qualified Afghans get to the airport for flights to safety.

            “I don't have the capability to go out and extend operations currently into Kabul,” Austin said in his first public comments since the fall of the capital Sunday. “We don't have the capability to go out and collect up large numbers of people.”

            https://news.yahoo.com/hamstrung-austin … 00385.html

            Last I knew Biden commanded our military...  Can't wait until Gen Milley is heard at a Congressional investigation of Biden's leadership in the pull out.

            1. My Esoteric profile image85
              My Esotericposted 3 years agoin reply to this

              "Gen Milley ---   WE DON'T HAVE THE CAPABILITY’:" - Yes, you are correct, Trump didn't leave enough troops in country to do the job properly.

              The fault of Biden is not inserting more troops before drawing down - but then you would have criticized him for that as well.  It seems you like to put him down whether there is a reason or not?  In any case, he is doing it now.

              1. Sharlee01 profile image85
                Sharlee01posted 3 years agoin reply to this

                Really? Trump had ample troops, the Bagram airport was functional, and he left an agreement.

                He also had Fox News has obtained the June 11 memo sent around the State Department which gave the green light on the "discontinuation of the establishment, and the termination of, the Contingency and Crisis Response Bureau (CCR)."

                The sensitive but unclassified memo was signed by Deputy Secretary of State Brian McKeon, just a couple of months before the Biden administration’s botched troop withdrawal that saw Afghanistan fall under Taliban control.
                source --  https://www.foxnews.com/politics/biden- … -ccr-kabul

                His house of cards has collapsed. He was warned by many that this mess would occur, and now he has our military surrounded in the last airport in Afganistan like defenseless sitting ducks. The troops can't leave the airport.

                Believe what you please.... I would think it's obvious the trouble Biden has created and will need to answer for.

                1. My Esoteric profile image85
                  My Esotericposted 3 years agoin reply to this

                  "Really? Trump had ample troops, the Bagram airport was functional, and he left an agreement." - Bull.  He was supposed to leave 8,500 troops.  He didn't do it!  Instead he left 2,500 troops with a promise to withdraw the rest before he left office.  Why can't you understand that simple fact??

                  So, in reality, Trump FAILED to 1) follow the agreement and 2) to do what he said and withdraw all troops in January.

                  Since Fox is known to lie a lot, anything they say must be verified.  Find me an honest news outlet that corroborates Fox's claim.  All I saw was a bunch of right-wing propaganda outlets.

                  But what is true, Republicans voted AGAINST speeding up the visa process of what you claim was needed.

                  1. Sharlee01 profile image85
                    Sharlee01posted 3 years agoin reply to this

                    The troops Trump left had Bagram up and running when he left office.  That is a  Fact. Trump's agreement had the date of May 1 2021 to be out of Afghanistan. I provide the agreement that shows that very date. That's also a true fact. Do I need to post the entire agreement once again --- read the agreement? I assume you have gotten all this information from the media. READ THE AGREEMENT. The media do have not to portrait the agreement with any actual facts from the agreement.

                    In regard to the Fox report  --- I have verified it with several different sources.

                    I am not interested in defending Trump, he has nothing to do with this evacuation mess, in any respect.  Biden made his own problems, he always does.

              2. Sharlee01 profile image85
                Sharlee01posted 3 years agoin reply to this

                He sent troops into an airport that is surrounded by the Taliban... These troops are sitting ducks. He should have pulled the people that needed to be evacuated before drawing down troops. He should have listened to the General's, and the CIA

                https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/nation … s-n1277026
                .

                1. Valeant profile image77
                  Valeantposted 3 years agoin reply to this

                  Or maybe perhaps Pompeo and Trump should not have assisted in the release of 5,000 Taliban prisoners until AFTER we had withdrawn our people.  They said they never trusted them, but assisted in providing them the forces to overwhelm the Afghan government.

                  Take a look in the mirror for once.

                  1. Sharlee01 profile image85
                    Sharlee01posted 3 years agoin reply to this

                    This comment in my view is unrelated to the fact that Biden has made decisions that put our troops in harm's way, as well as thousands of American's and allies. He has botched this pullout. He did not listen to his own intelligence. In my opinion, he is not and never was suited to serve as president. This has nothing to do with how trump letting people out of our military prison. Afghanistan was under control while Trump was president, not a death of a soldier in 18 months. The Taliban was for all purposes contained. He left an agreement that Biden choose not to follow, he dismantled a committee on June 11, 2021, that was planning for a safe evacuation of Americans/others from Afganastan.

                    Biden as I have said from day one has no problem-solving skills, he is mentally compromised IMO.

                    He needs to resign or be impeached. He is not equipped to be president.

                    These 5,000 had nothing to do with this poorly planned evacuation.

                    I find it odd you tell anyone to look into a mirror. can't imagine anyone at this point defending the actions of this man.

                    Just this morning it was reported Biden's own state department on July 13, 2021, warned the rapid collapse of Afganastan, and a suggested plan to help get people evacuated. 

                    The investigation of this mess will out that Biden took it upon himself to make all decisions without considering his the State Department, and the CIA, and his Military... The chips are falling, and no one is willing to take the blame for this fool's decisions. He is toast, and the day they impeach him can't come too soon.

                  2. Sharlee01 profile image85
                    Sharlee01posted 3 years agoin reply to this

                    Maybe you should consider what Biden has done... What he has done to make this historic dangerous mess. 

                    It would seem you are dwelling on Trump once again, he is not the president. He had a plan to remove all that needed removing before the troops... So easy, so common sence. He also would not have left weapons, aircraft, and intact airstrips... That would be Biden's dession.
                    That would be our current president.

                2. My Esoteric profile image85
                  My Esotericposted 3 years agoin reply to this

                  "He should have pulled the people that needed to be evacuated before drawing down troops." - That is what I have been saying, isn't it.

                  1. Sharlee01 profile image85
                    Sharlee01posted 3 years agoin reply to this

                    That was Trump's plan... Too bad Biden did not use that very common-sense solution --- he can't solve problems only make them. Maybe it's time to realize that... Think border mess, think our soldier trapped on an airport in Afghanistan. He is not suitable to be president.  IMO we would not be looking at this situation if Trump were in charge -- he is a problem solver.

                    I am encouraged and find hope due to the polls that indicate more American's are realizing their mistake in voting for Biden. Better late than never. .    https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions … e-nervous/

      2. Sharlee01 profile image85
        Sharlee01posted 3 years agoin reply to this

        This mess is on you guy... Trump had the situation under control. all came down on Joe's time. And CNN well just a very poor source at best. The link seems to have been taken down. This happens frequently at CNN. Perhaps a retraction?

        1. Ken Burgess profile image69
          Ken Burgessposted 3 years agoin reply to this

          CNN... where we fabricate news 100% of the time, if it isn't fake or opinion, it isn't CNN!!!  big_smile

          And if we get caught... well, we just delete the evidence!  yikes

        2. My Esoteric profile image85
          My Esotericposted 3 years agoin reply to this

          "Trump had the situation under control. " - LOL.  As The Hill article makes perfectly clear, Trump is the one that destabilized everything by

          1.  Not following his own plan.
          2.  Drawing down way to fast in the end
          3.  Not getting ANY concessions from the Taliban
          4.  Not including the Afghan gov't in the plan
          5.  Not forcing the Taliban to the negotiating table which the "plan" called for.

          Face it - Trump totally blew it.

    38. My Esoteric profile image85
      My Esotericposted 3 years agoin reply to this

      I will admit that Biden's mishandling of the Afghan withdrawal has set our relations with our allies back to the bad old days of the Trump administration.  At least he isn't insulting them like Trump did, but not consulting with them is plenty bad.

      https://www.cnn.com/2021/08/18/politics … index.html

      1. Ken Burgess profile image69
        Ken Burgessposted 3 years agoin reply to this

        World leaders laugh at Biden, they found him to be a joke, incompetent at the G7... where he was exposed to the world to be a buffoon.

        They may have not liked Trump, but they feared what he might do, or respected that he might do something. 

        I'd rather be disliked but considered capable of action, then laughed at and considered incompetent.

        1. Sharlee01 profile image85
          Sharlee01posted 3 years agoin reply to this

          Biden's words ring in my ears ----  "America is back on the world stage."

          Teah he sure kept that promise in spades. Can't wait to read the reviews of the poorly directed play...  Buffon is too kind.

          1. My Esoteric profile image85
            My Esotericposted 3 years agoin reply to this

            "World leaders laugh at Biden, they found him to be a joke, incompetent at the G7... where he was exposed to the world to be a buffoon." - Actually, that is not even close to being true.  You are describing how they felt about Trump.

            Yes, they also feared him as they would fear any mad man with power.

            1. Ken Burgess profile image69
              Ken Burgessposted 3 years agoin reply to this
            2. Sharlee01 profile image85
              Sharlee01posted 3 years agoin reply to this

              Feared? Did you see the news out of the UK today? Do a bit of research on that if you are interested. World leaders are starting to chime in...

              https://www.nytimes.com/2021/08/18/worl … n-too.html
              https://www.theguardian.com/politics/20 … an-pullout

              1. My Esoteric profile image85
                My Esotericposted 3 years agoin reply to this

                I couldn't read the NYT link - firewall

                But the Guardian doesn't address European leaders fearing mad man Trump.  Instead, it talks about Biden fumbling on Afghanistan.

                I find it ironic that Trump dodged the same bullet by once again not doing what he promised the Taliban to withdraw entirely by January leaving the field to them.  Since Trump failed to do what he said he would, that left Biden to finish the job for him.

                1. Sharlee01 profile image85
                  Sharlee01posted 3 years agoin reply to this

                  Perhaps it's time to stop blaming Trump for Biden's mistakes?

                  1. Ken Burgess profile image69
                    Ken Burgessposted 3 years agoin reply to this

                    Exactly.

                    Can we not evaluate Joe Biden... on what Joe Biden says and does?

                    Day 1 in office, he essentially shuts down drilling for oil and gas in America.

                    A few months later he is literally at a podium begging foreigners to produce more oil.

                    Nov 04, 2020 · The national average price for gasoline was $2.11 gallon.

                    Aug 11, 2021 · The national average price for gasoline was $3.15 gallon.

                    ----

                    Biden immediately ended the national emergency that Trump declared on the border in February 2018.  He issued new "standing orders" to BP Agencies that they were to catch and release, into America, illegal immigrants crossing the border.

                    Biden’s DHS terminated enrollment in the Migrant Protection Protocols. Otherwise known as “Remain in Mexico,” this program provided that migrants who “illegally or without proper documentation” entered the United States from Mexico would be returned there while their claims for asylum were processed.

                    Biden's words as he ran to become President were loud and clear, here is one example: President Biden urged them to “come” to the country if they were being “oppressed.”

                    “They deserve to be heard. That’s who we are,” Biden said at the time. “We’re a nation that says, ‘You want to flee, and you’re fleeing oppression, you should come.'”

                    They are currently coming to the tune of almost a million a month.

                    ----

                    Afghanistan ... could have been handled in many different ways.

                    How Biden addressed the matter could have been handled differently this past week.

                    This is Biden's mess, same with the border, same with energy prices, etc. etc. not Trump, not Obama, not Bush... Biden.

    39. My Esoteric profile image85
      My Esotericposted 3 years agoin reply to this

      More news that Biden's recovery plan is working, much to the consternation of Conservatives.

      - Retail sales are significantly above pre-pandemic levels
      - FRED Atlanta is predicting a nice 6.1% GDP 3rd Q growth, which continues the sustained growth numbers of 6.2% and 6.5% the previous quarters
      - 943,000 jobs were added in July.
      - Unemployment is 5.4% in July, down from 10.2% a year ago and 6.3% when he took over, It is below the historic average.

      1. Valeant profile image77
        Valeantposted 3 years agoin reply to this

        In terms of the rising gun violence that one of our far-right whiners will undoubtedly bring up to try and turn the narrative to a negative:

        Chicago, which had seen homicides fall below 500 in the early 2010s, saw them jump to 770 in 2020, though not to its historic 1974 high of 970 homicides.

        New York City saw more than 2,200 killings in a single year in 1990, compared with 468 last year, according to city data. In the bigger picture, that’s a nearly 80% decrease.

        Los Angeles saw more than 1,000 homicides a year in the early 1990s, compared with fewer than 350 last year.

        But what’s happening with homicides is not part of some broader “crime wave.” In fact, many crimes, from larcenies to robberies to rape, dropped during the pandemic, and continued to fall during the first few months of 2021. “Crime” is not surging. Even the broader category of “violent crime” only increased about 3% last year, according to the preliminary FBI data from a large subset of cities. It’s homicide in particular that has increased, even as other crimes fell.

        Homicide rates were higher during every month of 2020 – even before pandemic-related shutdowns started in March, the analysis found. But there was also a “structural break” in the data in June, indicating “a large, statistically significant increase” in the homicide rate, around the same time as the mass protests that followed the murder of George Floyd.

        A study from UC Davis will look to link the spike in gun purchases during the early months of the pandemic with a nearly 8% increase in gun violence from March through May, or 776 additional fatal and nonfatal shooting injuries nationwide.  The researchers found that states that had lower levels of violent crime pre-Covid saw a stronger connection between additional gun purchases and more gun violence.

        Community groups say that the pandemic forced them to shutter prevention programs, and created huge challenges for the work of violence interrupters, who rely on close relationships and in-person interventions with people at risk of shooting or being shot.

        So it appears there are many factors that have led to the rise in homicides, starting back in 2020.  But when the right claims it's historic, they seem to be oblivious to the 1990's and 1970's.

        And here's a stat from this year:  In the first quarter of 2021, homicides rose by 23% compared to last year. In the second quarter, they rose by just 10%.  The rates for other major criminal offenses—includes robberies, residential burglaries, larceny, non-residential burglaries and drug offenses—have also declined compared to 2020.

        1. wilderness profile image75
          wildernessposted 3 years agoin reply to this

          "Chicago, which had seen homicides fall below 500 in the early 2010s, saw them jump to 770 in 2020, though not to its historic 1974 high of 970 homicides."

          I don't think it's reasonable to compare figures from 1974 to those in 2020 and declare that 2020 was better so all is not bad.  After 44 years of working on the problem we certainly should see a decrease - the comparison to 2010 is a much more realistic one.

          I ran into this when researching for the article on gun violence: Australia confiscated all semi-automatic guns and look!  Homicides went down!  Unsaid is that it took over 10 years of falling at the same slow rate it already was before the gun buyback to see any real change in that rate.  10 years of effort, 10 years of additional programs, 10 years of a changing population demographics, but all of that is set aside in favor of "It worked!".

          So it's not realistic, IMO, to compare something from the far past to today and ignore all the changes in decades of effort to correct a problem.

          1. My Esoteric profile image85
            My Esotericposted 3 years agoin reply to this

            "I don't think it's reasonable to compare figures from 1974 to those in 2020 and declare that 2020 was better so all is not bad. " - WHY? Your side has successfully fought off most of the safety measures that were implemented back then.  For example, the assault weapons ban Biden brought about saw a major decrease in mass killings only to increase again when your side allowed people to start buying them again.

            "Homicides went down!  Unsaid is that it took over 10 years of falling at the same slow rate it already was before the gun buyback to see any real change in that rate." - YOU will have to provide the link that backs that claim up for it to be believed.

            "So it's not realistic, IMO, to compare something from the far past to today and ignore all the changes in decades of effort to correct a problem." - AND I repeat, your side made sure access to guns by almost anybody has not changed very much over the intervening years.

            1. wilderness profile image75
              wildernessposted 3 years agoin reply to this

              "WHY?"

              If you didn't understand the explanation, or don't think that changes were made over that 45 year span, I don't what else to say.

              Yes, access to guns has not changed radically over the years.  Except that it is much harder to buy a gun, much more expensive, and the efforts continue to ban common hunting rifles.  But whatever; the efforts to disarm the public does not, and will not, do anything to curb the violence inherent in our country.  Until we actually address that we will not significantly reduce the death toll.  As Australia found out; taking away all those "assault rifles" and murderers simply turned to other methods (the common match became popular).  Same as they will here, regardless of how many times "your side" claims that without their preferred tool killers will no longer kill.

          2. Valeant profile image77
            Valeantposted 3 years agoin reply to this

            You don't think it reasonable, then tell your friends on the right to stop using the term historically bad when talking about the homicide rates.  That was my argument, which, as usual, you fail to understand.

            In Australia, the guns were taken to prevent mass shootings - which ceased immediately.

            1. My Esoteric profile image85
              My Esotericposted 3 years agoin reply to this

              As they did, for the most part, in America after the assault weapons ban.  An no, Wilderness, people didn't find new ways to commit mass killings after their favorite took was taken away.  Also, you can't get away from the fact that states with loose gun safety laws have higher death by gun rates.  It is simply a fact.

              1. wilderness profile image75
                wildernessposted 3 years agoin reply to this

                Sorry, Eso, but you have again glossed over a really major point; that areas with the strongest gun laws (such as Chicago, NYC, etc.) have the highest homicide rate of all.  Even the highest homicide by gun rate.

                But shouldn't mention, that right?

                1. My Esoteric profile image85
                  My Esotericposted 3 years agoin reply to this

                  By city is too granular a level and the population base is too small.  That is why you have to use state level data.

                  Besides, lets see where your example cites fall on the most deadly:

                  1, St, Louis, MO (easy gun laws)
                  2. Baltimore , MD (tough gun laws)
                  3. Birmingham, AL (easy gun laws)
                  4. Detroit, MI (easy gun laws)
                  5. Dayton, OH (easy gun laws)
                  6. Baton Rouge, LA (easy gun laws)
                  7. New Orleans, LA (easy gun laws)
                  8. Kansas City, MO (easy gun laws)
                  9. Memphis, TN (easy gun laws)
                  10. Cleveland, OH (easy gun laws)

                  Damn, your examples didn't even make the top ten deadliest cities.  I wonder why.  So where do they fall? 

                  13. Washington D.C.(lots of straw sales from Virginia with easy gun laws)

                  That's it.  NYC and Chicago, your favorite go-tos, don't even rank in the top 64!!

                  As you peruse this list you will see that virtually all of the most deadliest cities are in states with Easy Gun Laws - which shoots your theory all to hell.

                  So NO, " that areas with the strongest gun laws (such as Chicago, NYC, etc.) have the highest homicide rate of all.  " is not even close to being true.

                  https://www.cbsnews.com/pictures/murder … -cities/3/

            2. wilderness profile image75
              wildernessposted 3 years agoin reply to this

              "In Australia, the guns were taken to prevent mass shootings - which ceased immediately."

              I doubt that the dead, whether burned to death, poisoned or bludgeoned to death, care whether they were shot.  Neither do the surviving families.  Still, it IS a major talking point of the left; far better to die of arson than a bullet, so we have to disarm everyone.

              1. My Esoteric profile image85
                My Esotericposted 3 years agoin reply to this

                "I doubt that the dead, whether burned to death, poisoned or bludgeoned to death, care whether they were shot." - Of course that is a red herring since it has nothing to do with whether the assault weapon by-back program reduced mass killings - which it did.

                I guess it is possible that you are claiming that all of the people that didn't die by mass shootings all died by other means, lol.

                1. wilderness profile image75
                  wildernessposted 3 years agoin reply to this

                  I researched the people dying from "massacres" (Aussie term for mass murder), comparing the 20 years prior to the gun buyback to the 20 years after.  Did you?

                  (As I recall there were perhaps 2 more people dying AFTER the buyback than before.  I think you can find figures in Wiki, but might have to go to the Aussie govt. sites.)

                  1. My Esoteric profile image85
                    My Esotericposted 3 years agoin reply to this

                    You made me look - and this is what I found.

                    "In the two decades following the reforms, the annual rate of gun deaths fell from 2.9 per 100,000 in 1996 to 0.9 per 100,000 in 2016."

                    That is from https://theconversation.com/factcheck-q … alia-85836

                    That said, as it relates to statistical analysis done on the by-back program  (as a stand-in for general gun reform during that period) is muddled.  I would have to look at the analyses themselves to measure them against what I see in the first of the charts.

                    What I see here is a major fall off in gun related suicides and homicides in the two years following the beginning of the gun buy-back.  After that, the declines appear to match the rate that was established prior to the buy-back.  The article does not explain that initial drop.  But, I can see from the charts why the subsequent analyses could be muddled.

                    I also notice within a couple of years after the program ended, the rate of death by gun decreased substantially.  That was not addressed as well.

                    The article also mentions the Victoria case where that state implemented very strong gun-safety laws in 1988.  The conclusion was "A 2004 study found “a significant downward trend” in firearm related deaths between 1988 and 1995 in Victoria compared with the rest of Australia. Following the National Firearms Agreement in 1996, “similar strong declines occurred in the rest of Australia”.

                    Of great interest to me is a 2010 study that was done across states, similar to the one published here.  Like mine, it showed that -
                    The study found a “statistically significant decline in firearm deaths in states with higher firearm buyback rates”. There was a similar effect for firearm homicide rates, though this was less robust due to the small number of firearm homicide deaths to begin with. 

                    That was the same result I got using the strength of U.S. state gun-safety laws rather than buy-backs.

                    And then there is the point Valeant made - not one mass shooting since the buyback program.  Compared that to the USA where assault weapons are ubiquitous -

                    [i[But that record will probably fall in 2021. To date, the number of mass shootings in the country is 20 percent higher than where we were in 2020, which itself was 30 percent higher than the previous high.[/i]

                    This year’s incidents have also been deadlier than in 2020. Nearly 370 people have died in mass shootings in 2021, nearly 50 percent more than at the same point a year ago.

                    The country is averaging 109 deaths for every 100 incidents. At this point last year, every 100 mass shootings had yielded 85 deaths.

                    In the 7 months since the beginning of the year, there have 411 mass shootings.  That is an average of 58.7 per month - compared to zero in Australia.

        2. My Esoteric profile image85
          My Esotericposted 3 years agoin reply to this

          "A study from UC Davis will look to link the spike in gun purchases during the early months of the pandemic with a nearly 8% increase in gun violence from March through May, or 776 additional fatal and nonfatal shooting injuries nationwide." - MY RESEARCH, which I published here, shows a definite correlation between loose gun safety laws and the number of people killed by guns.

          I don't know if the data is available yet (the gun lobby tries to suppress it) by I would be interested to know the distribution of recent gun sales by state as comparted to 1) the laxness of the gun safety laws and 2) the change in death rate by gun.

      2. wilderness profile image75
        wildernessposted 3 years agoin reply to this

        "Unemployment is 5.4% in July, down from 10.2% a year ago and 6.3% when he took over, It is below the historic average."

        You forgot to mention that it is still well above what Trump produced.

        1. My Esoteric profile image85
          My Esotericposted 3 years agoin reply to this

          And I didn't mention that it was above Obama's final numbers either.
          And everybody forgets that Trump's final numbers were just a continuation of what Obama started.  He didn't increase the rate of decline established by Obama.  At the end, btw, the decreases stopped..  And then came Covid,

          The point was that even in the midst of a pandemic, Biden has brought unemployment to below the historic average.

          BTW, studies now show that all the Red states did by cutting of unemployment early was hurt their citizens.  There was no statistical difference in unemployment between states the cut the funding and those that didn't.

          1. wilderness profile image75
            wildernessposted 3 years agoin reply to this

            "And everybody forgets that Trump's final numbers were just a continuation of what Obama started."

            And Biden's are just a continuation of what Trump had, too! lol

            1. My Esoteric profile image85
              My Esotericposted 3 years agoin reply to this

              Actually that is not true since Trump handed Biden a pandemic much worse than it should have been.

              Obama handed Trump a strong, stable economy.

              Now that I mention it:

              Eisenhower handed Kennedy a poor economy
              Johnson handed Nixon a war and an OK economy
              Nixon-Ford handed Carter a poor economy
              Carter handed Reagan an unstable economy
              Bush handed Clinton a recession
              Clinton handed Bush decreasing debt and a strong, but no longer growing economy
              Bush handed Obama the Great 2008 Recession
              Obama hand Trump a strong stable economy
              Trump handed Biden a pandemic much worse than it ought to have been.

              Can you see a pattern there??

        2. Ken Burgess profile image69
          Ken Burgessposted 3 years agoin reply to this

          I think we should look at the big picture of the moment.

          Joe Biden... obvious cognitive decline has set in, he was clearly under duress and unable to handle the crisis (media, decision making) in Afghanistan.

          Kamala Harris... incompetent and incapable of handling as simple a task as traveling to Guatemala and Mexico without turning it into a fiasco.

          And sitting behind the two of them, in the number three spot, is Nancy Pelosi.

          Never in the history of America, has the country had such inept, incogitative leadership. 

          https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D4LiLjHawUs

          1. wilderness profile image75
            wildernessposted 3 years agoin reply to this

            If those three are "leadership" I'm Santa Claus!

            1. My Esoteric profile image85
              My Esotericposted 3 years agoin reply to this

              While the characterization of Biden is obviously false, you did fail to mention the King of the inept - Donald Trump and his very corrupt administration.  His makes Grant's administration look absolutely law-abiding.  At least he got to be King of Inept since he failed to become America's first king.

              1. Credence2 profile image81
                Credence2posted 3 years agoin reply to this

                Esoteric, you should not be so hard on US Grant , a military genius, a man of great character who simply was not as effective as a President or administrator.

                Grant did not recognize the unscrupulous in his midst during his administration while Trump was part and parcel of the very thing that Grant merely could not recognize.

                Grant was a man of honor and character, that is not Trump.

                There is no comparable precedent for a Donald Trump at any time during the history of the presidency.

                He was the worst of the worst, adding malevolence to his ineffectiveness. He is the only former president that has absolutely nothing to redeem him in the eyes of history.

                So, go easy on President Grant, he deserves better than to be compared with a man like Donald Trump.....

                I would consider Andrew Johnson as a "distant" second, though.

                1. My Esoteric profile image85
                  My Esotericposted 3 years agoin reply to this

                  Actually, I was talking about his administration, not Grant personally.  What I have read about him in history shows him to be an honorable and capable man.  But, he was a terrible at hiring honest men to work for him.

                  If I were to rank presidents, I would put Trump next to last and Johnson dead last, at least in terms of doing harm to the country.  Johnson undid virtually everything Lincoln achieved in trying to bring America together. 

                  It took 100 years to undo the damage Johnson did to racial equality.  And ever since 1964, conservatives have been trying to get back to 1884.

            2. gmwilliams profile image86
              gmwilliamsposted 3 years agoin reply to this

              Exactly,  I second that, saying if this is "leadership", I am a trillionaire.

          2. My Esoteric profile image85
            My Esotericposted 3 years agoin reply to this

            AND With "Joe Biden... obvious cognitive decline has set in," - any sensible person stops reading because what is to follow will be equally non-sensical.

            1. Ken Burgess profile image69
              Ken Burgessposted 3 years agoin reply to this

              Yes truth and reality are something many in America hide from.

              It has become an art form for many older Americans.

              1. My Esoteric profile image85
                My Esotericposted 3 years agoin reply to this

                "Yes truth and reality are something many in America hide from." - You are definitely right - they are called Trumpers.

                1. Ken Burgess profile image69
                  Ken Burgessposted 3 years agoin reply to this

                  If that is what you are calling yourself these days, so be it.

                  1. My Esoteric profile image85
                    My Esotericposted 3 years agoin reply to this

                    That is you, not me - I deal in reality and truth - something Trumpers disdain.

              2. Credence2 profile image81
                Credence2posted 3 years agoin reply to this

                Why pick on older people, Ken?

                The overwhelming support against Biden come from old white men.

                Why is the bias that said that older people are being duped while the "uneducated", Trump's clearly self confessed preferred source of support, are so much smarter?

                1. My Esoteric profile image85
                  My Esotericposted 3 years agoin reply to this

                  Discriminate, that is an overriding characteristic of conservatives Credence.  It makes them feel better.

    40. My Esoteric profile image85
      My Esotericposted 3 years agoin reply to this

      Well, after making the wrong choice in leaving Afghanistan and then falling flat on his face in the initial execution, Biden finally got it together and is doing an outstanding job in evacuating people out of there.

      That said, I wish he would have pushed back his time line a week or two.

    41. My Esoteric profile image85
      My Esotericposted 3 years agoin reply to this

      PARSING WHAT SEN ROMNEY RECENTLY SAID:

      GOP Senator Mitt Romney said the possibility of Americans and Afghan allies being left behind in Afghanistan would be a “moral stain,” and blamed both the Trump and Biden administrations for the chaotic exit from Afghanistan. - No Question

      “This is the result of very ineffective decisions, terrible decisions made by the prior administration and by the current administration,” Romney told CNN on Sunday.  - Again, without question

      “This did not have to happen. It was preventable,” Romney continued. - Yes, it was

      Romney warned the American withdrawal from Afghanistan increases the likelihood of a Taliban-sponsored attack on Americans, and claimed the likelihood is higher today than when the US first entered Afghanistan 20 years ago - Here, I have to disagree.  The danger from the Taliban in 2001 was their letting those who would do us harm use their country.  The Taliban itself, was not a threat to America.

      “We went to Afghanistan because we got attacked on 9/11 and lost thousands of American lives. Now, America is in more danger. The decision to pull our military of Afghanistan puts us in greater danger,” Romney said. If the Taliban once again let Afghanistan become a safe haven for terrorists who want to attack America, then, and only then, do I agree.

      Romney said he welcomed the Afghan evacuees arriving in the US, and distanced himself from Republicans who have criticized the relocation of Afghan allies to the US on the basis of restricting immigration. - As well he should

    42. My Esoteric profile image85
      My Esotericposted 3 years agoin reply to this

      Well, for better or worse, America has left Afghanistan.  Only time will tell if President Biden made the right decision to end our involvement there.  If, as promised, the Taliban is successful in keeping the terrorist who would and can do us harm out of Afghanistan (which I don't think they will), then Biden's decision will look like a master stroke.  If they don't, then America is right back to where it started, in danger from terrorists getting sanctuary in Afghanistan.

      Which ever way you cut it, Biden screwed up the execution of his withdrawal.  Whether it was from very bad advice, or the suppression of views and data that showed the imminent collapse of the government, or Biden being naïve in his resolution to get the hell out, the debacle that ensued rest squarely on his shoulders.

      Trump, of course, is responsible for the collapse of the Afghan gov't and military (along with the Afghans themselves, of course).  His agreement with the Taliban totally undercut the government's legitimacy and the military's ability to defend itself.  There was no question the Afghans were going to collapse  like a wet-paper bag - Trump made certain of that.

      What was not certain was whether we could have managed that collapse and not ended up in the position we did.  I think we could have.  Obviously, Biden and his civilian advisors thought otherwise.  I think the military knew exactly what was going to happen and they kept prodding the State Dept to speed up the evacuation - that fell on deaf ears.

      There will be heads to roll and I think Sec State Blinken ought to be one of them.  But we will see what the investigation tells us.

      1. Sharlee01 profile image85
        Sharlee01posted 3 years agoin reply to this

        I agree Blinken must be fired, after listening to his speech tonight it is very clear he is not suited to represent America.

        "The secretary of state said the State Department believes there is "still a small number of Americans -- under 200, and likely closer to 100 -- who remain in Afghanistan and want to leave."

        We were told no one would be left behind --- unforgivable

        My America does not believe in leaving any American behind. This president is not fit to lead.

        1. My Esoteric profile image85
          My Esotericposted 3 years agoin reply to this

          "We were told no one would be left behind --- unforgivable

          My America does not believe in leaving any American behind. This president is not fit to lead."

          I agree, except the last part.  If you fire Biden, then you have to fire all of the generals who agreed with him that they couldn't stay any longer.

          1. Sharlee01 profile image85
            Sharlee01posted 3 years agoin reply to this

            You are once again predicting what the Generals have said. I will wait to see what an investigation provides in the way of did Biden listen to the advice of his advisers.

            Read my statement -   My America does not believe in leaving any American behind. This president is not fit to lead."

            It makes no mention of staying or staying any longer.  My opinion is clear  --- My America does not believe in leaving any American behind. This president is not fit to lead."

            He left Americans behind... He made that decision. If the Generals should testify that they suggested he leave Americans behind they should be fired, and Biden removed for agreeing to such a plan. My God American does not leave Americans behind.

            1. My Esoteric profile image85
              My Esotericposted 3 years agoin reply to this

              "You are once again predicting what the Generals have said. " - There is no "predicting" about it.  That is what was reported.

          2. My Esoteric profile image85
            My Esotericposted 3 years agoin reply to this

            Trump told his army he would march to the Capitol with them, he didn't.  And then he left those that followed his words to rot in jail. -- unforgivable.

    43. My Esoteric profile image85
      My Esotericposted 3 years agoin reply to this

      Mainly due to the right-wing resistance to getting vaccinated which is responsible for the huge rise in Delta case and deaths, only 235,000 jobs were added in August.  Ironically, that is a great number in normal times, but these aren't normal times.

      On the bright side, the unemployment rate continued to fall to 5.2%.

      1. Sharlee01 profile image85
        Sharlee01posted 3 years agoin reply to this

        Really, have you any proof of this opinion?  And unemployment will go down due to many's unemployed returning to work --- just running out of benefits.
        Next month will see wonderful unemployment numbers due to so many coming to the realization the cash cow has died.

    44. My Esoteric profile image85
      My Esotericposted 3 years agoin reply to this

      Biden got four more Americans out of Afghanistan via an overland route.

      1. Sharlee01 profile image85
        Sharlee01posted 3 years agoin reply to this

        - Got America well on its way to putting the pandemic behind us --- laughable have you seen the current numbers of infections as well as deaths...

        One word --- Inflation 

        unemployment --   Historic highs are due to a country returning to previous jobs.  By Jan 2022 we will see all stats disastrous.  Unemployment vacations are over...

        1. My Esoteric profile image85
          My Esotericposted 3 years agoin reply to this

          Have you seen the resistance your side is putting up against getting vaccinated.  The only way Biden can get those who are being stupid and dangerous is to Mandate vaccination (which you would then howl about as well) - he has done everything short of that.

          It is the Republicans (and a few distrustful blacks and Latinos) who driving the pandemic now.  Please blame those who deserve the blame and not Biden.

          I haven't seen inflation in the news much lately.  I suspect that is because what we are seeing right now was predictable.

          "Unemployment vacations are over..." - Not a surprising sentiment coming from a conservative  Vacations my ass.

          1. Sharlee01 profile image85
            Sharlee01posted 3 years agoin reply to this

            My side? I don't know anyone in my family or friends that has not been vaccinated. Your compartmentalizing again. Are many migrants choose not to take the vaccine or be tested? It was not until Aug 4th that they were offered the vaccine. By that date we had over 1.3 million enter the US. It is very possible that the migrants are adding to the very high infection rate we are currently experiencing. 

            Biden is the president, he is failing at bringing up the vaccination percents, and in my view due to poor problem solving he let many infected migrants in to make it a more prevalent problem. He has been in office for 8 months, the US has plenty of vaccines, he should have had shots in the arms of any migrant that wanted to enter and wait for their court date. AS I pointed out he had the right to.

            "The Biden administration will keep in place a Trump-era policy of turning migrants away at the southern border without allowing them to claim asylum due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

            The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention announced an extension of the policy in a statement on Monday, determining that "introduction of such noncitizens, regardless of their country of origin, migrating through Canada and Mexico into the United States creates a serious danger of the introduction of COVID-19 into the United States."

            The U.S. is currently experiencing a surge in new COVID-19 cases due to the more infectious delta variant, causing many state and local governments as well as businesses to reimpose pandemic mitigation measures.

            A group of GOP lawmakers last month had urged President Biden to keep the Trump-era policy, called Title 42, in place. Despite overturning many of former President Trump's immigration policies, the Biden administration has defended the continued use of Title 42, which it has used to expel roughly 100,000 migrants every month." 
            Aug 2, 2021, https://thehill.com/homenews/administra … y-migrants

            IMO once again Biden dropped the ball. He certainly could have been putting shots in arms at the border. he certainly has proven he is not following the science. he asks all Americans to take the vaccine but does not make it an order under Trump's law that migrants during the pandemic" create a serious danger of the introduction of COVID-19 into the United States."

            1. Valeant profile image77
              Valeantposted 3 years agoin reply to this

              1.3 million entered?  But most are turned away because Title 42.  Your math does not add up.

              And your xenophobia does not explain how Florida, which does not border Mexico, is seeing a similar delta surge.  Once you can explain that conundrum, then your theory about migrants being the cause may have some validity.  Until then, it's just you showing your fear of immigrants.

              1. Sharlee01 profile image85
                Sharlee01posted 3 years agoin reply to this

                Nothing to do with xenophobia, I have a home in Mexico and live happily side by side with the people of Mexico. Has to do with hoping all will be vaccinated. Due to it is the best route to stopping the spread of COVID and the new strains from forming, and perhaps a new strain traveling in at our border.

                1. Valeant profile image77
                  Valeantposted 3 years agoin reply to this

                  Quite literally doubling down on the xenophobia by then claiming that 'a new strain could be traveling in at our border.'  I see you cannot explain the same Delta surge in Florida that Texas is seeing.

                  1. Sharlee01 profile image85
                    Sharlee01posted 3 years agoin reply to this

                    No just staying a very real possibility. I have no idea why Florida is having a surge in COVID. here in Michigan, we have over 70% of our population vaccinated and we are in the middle of a surge, as well as a surge in deaths. Many states are surging at this time. This past week Flordia is on the downturn in regards to infections.  https://www.worldometers.info/coronavirus/usa/florida/

                    https://graphics.reuters.com/HEALTH-COR … kvlgkrkpb/

                  2. My Esoteric profile image85
                    My Esotericposted 3 years agoin reply to this

                    In fact, it is worse in Florida because of DeSantis.

                2. My Esoteric profile image85
                  My Esotericposted 3 years agoin reply to this

                  Then start being as adamant on these forums for Republicans to get vaccinated as you are at Biden-bashing.

                  1. Sharlee01 profile image85
                    Sharlee01posted 3 years agoin reply to this

                    I have done nothing but support vaccination on this forum. Perhaps you need to add a comment where I have not supported all getting vaccinated before accusing me. This kind of unwanted accusation is unwarranted.

              2. My Esoteric profile image85
                My Esotericposted 3 years agoin reply to this

                Valeant, she will never be right because migrants being the cause is simply non-factual.

                Also, she didn't pass on the piece of information I gave her that ALL migrants in Border Control custody ARE tested.  If positive, they are quarantined.  Therefore it is impossible for those people to be the source of the latest outbreak, no matter how often her propaganda sources tell her it is true.

                Instead, as I posted to her comment, the REAL culprits are Republicans, the Uneducated, Latinos, and the Uninsured.  The percent of Republicans who currently won't get vaccinated is an astounding 40%!!

            2. My Esoteric profile image85
              My Esotericposted 3 years agoin reply to this

              YES, you side. Consider:

              The bottom line is this for who are not vaccinated -

              "Compared To Those Who Have Received A COVID-19 Vaccine, Unvaccinated Adults Are Younger, Less Educated, More Likely To Be Republicans, Latino, and Uninsured"

              Who are either Waiting and Seeing, Only if Forced, Definitely Won't (Kaiser):

              Republicans: 40%
              Independents: 29%
              Democrats: 17%

              White: 25%
              Black: 29%
              Latino: 33%

              White Evangelicals: 32%

              Rural: 32% (generally conservative)
              Urban: 23% (generally liberal)

              "Biden is the president, he is failing at bringing up the vaccination" - Do you really want to go there and let me talk about parents failing because there grown sons get in trouble or the Church failing because so many of its leaders commit sex crimes (let alone its parishioners?  Are you going to insist on being that ridiculous?

              Back to projecting: for example "he certainly has proven he is not following the science" is projecting Trump's issue on to Biden.

        2. My Esoteric profile image85
          My Esotericposted 3 years agoin reply to this

          "Unemployment vacations are over..." - HERE ARE SOME OF THOSE VACATIONS you speak of

          "April Stokes wants to go back to work. An optician by trade, Stokes was employed at Henry Ford OptimEyes until the coronavirus struck and school closed for her two young children. The family has been able to ride out the pandemic thanks to expanded federal unemployment benefits, which provided them with $1,152 every two weeks -- much less than Stokes was making before, but enough to survive. Now, however, that vital lifeline has ended. Stokes isn't worried about her ability to find a new job, but finding one that can accommodate her children's schedules will be "next to impossible," she says. Child care in the Detroit suburb where she lives is severely limited, she said, and the nanny she trusted to pick up the kids in the afternoon prior to the pandemic is no longer available.  YEP, the conservative solution is to forget your kids and take any job that comes along. There are millions like her

          "More than 8 million people are now left with no unemployment compensation at all, while another 2.7 million lost the $300 federal weekly boost but will continue receiving state payments, according to estimates by The Century Foundation. They join the roughly 2.7 million Americans who were cut off from some or all of their benefits in June or July after two dozen states opted to terminate at least one of the programs early. The governors -- all but one of them Republicans -- wanted to push their residents to look for jobs." - The problem is, it didn't work! Millions of people suffered needlessly because conservatives thought they were taking a vacation

          "Though there are a record 10 million job openings in the US, employment is not expected to soar, at least not right away, experts said. The labor markets did not greatly improve in the states that ceased benefits over the summer.

          The generous benefits are not the only reason for the relatively slow pace of hiring. Child care and health concerns are also major factors."

          WHY?  Because -

          "More than 5.5 million people said they are not working because they are caring for children who are not in school or day care, " - [i]Again, the solution is leave  your kids at home so you can end your vacation and go to work


          "More than 5.5 million people said they are not working because they are caring for children who are not in school or day care," - [i]I guess the conservatives choice is to go to work and get sick and maybe die.  Better that than stay at home on vacation.

          1. wilderness profile image75
            wildernessposted 3 years agoin reply to this

            Well, it's an excuse anyway.  Not a very good one as most schools have re-opened, but an excuse nonetheless.

            So we should just keep those extra 5.5 million on the welfare rolls because they don't want to change jobs as necessary to support themselves?  Liberals will give a resounding "YES"; fiscal conservatives, whether Democrat or Republican understand that we cannot continue to support those people indefinitely as they enjoy their vacations at taxpayer expense.

            1. My Esoteric profile image85
              My Esotericposted 3 years agoin reply to this

              I didn't know you believed 1 year olds went to school.  It must be true in that alternate reality you live in.

              You didn't respond to my conservative solutions to enable people to go back to work leave your kids at home, unsupervised or how about force employers to hire unqualified people or maybe force employers to hire where there are lots of unemployed.

              All good conservative solutions.

              Let's take a look at where all of those easy to find jobs that ANYBODY should be able to get into if all they did was apply for them:

              Total Private (Jun 2021 in millions) - 8.6
              - Retail - 1.0
              - Professional and Business Services - 1.8
              - Education and Health Services - 1.6
              - Leisure - 1.7
              - Manufacturing - .9
              - Construction - .3

              Now, there are currently 8.6 million unemployed.  By conservative math that means there is a job opening for every unemployed American and there should be - how did you put it - no excuse for anyone not to have a job.  At least by the way you look at the world.

              But how does the real world look at it?

              (At this point we are ignoring where the unemployed are and where the job opening are)

              By my count, there are only 2.7 million job openings in fields that require little or no training (Leisure and Retail).  Yet there are almost 8.6 million, mostly unskilled, people wanting those jobs.  Remember, it was Retail and Leisure that lost most of the jobs - many which are not coming back anytime soon.

              That said, by conservative logic, that is no excuse for not getting a job that doesn't exist or you are not qualified for (that was why I stuck in the "force the employer" option, because that is the only way these people will get employed)

              Do you now understand how absurd and unfair your position is in the real world?

              1. wilderness profile image75
                wildernessposted 3 years agoin reply to this

                That may be your solution; to leave small children at home.  Conservatives, understanding the value of love and family, know better.

                1. Valeant profile image77
                  Valeantposted 3 years agoin reply to this

                  If conservatives understood the value of love and family, they would not have supported a policy to separate families at the border that most of the rest of the world labelled a human rights violation.

                  1. Sharlee01 profile image85
                    Sharlee01posted 3 years agoin reply to this

                    Are you aware of all the problems the Biden administration is having at the border, at all? Feds reportedly lose track of thousands of migrant kids after release.  Are you aware of the growing number of unaccompanied children?   Axios reported that HHS had discharged 32,000 minors between President Biden’s inauguration on Jan. 20 and May 31... And I hate to think how many more children came in from May to Sept.

                    https://nypost.com/2021/09/01/feds-lose … se-report/

                  2. My Esoteric profile image85
                    My Esotericposted 3 years agoin reply to this

                    That was a better reply than mine.  Thank you.

                2. My Esoteric profile image85
                  My Esotericposted 3 years agoin reply to this

                  Nice try at deflection.  Don't skim what I wrote next time.  I clearly pointed out that this is the conservative solution.  That was derived from your comment.

                  Studies show that Conservatives have an understanding of the value of love and family, but ONLY for their own - not others.

              2. Sharlee01 profile image85
                Sharlee01posted 3 years agoin reply to this

                State Department takes a bow and actually did little to nothing to get a family of four out of Afghanistan.

                "State Dept trying to steal credit for the rescue of 4 Americans from Afghanistan, organizer says: 'Total lie'

                "Cory Mills and a PRIVATE TEAM of military veterans led the effort to rescue Mariam and her three children from Afghanistan".

                Senior State Department officials on Monday announced that the "U.S. has facilitated the safe departure of four US citizens by overland route from Afghanistan. Embassy staff was present upon their arrival."

                "But those actually involved in the dangerous rescue operation say the State Department deserves little to no credit for Mariam's escape from Afghanistan"

                "Cory Mills and a private team of military veterans, drawing on funding by private donors including the Sentinel Foundation, led the effort to rescue Mariam and her three children from Afghanistan, where they had been left behind by the Biden administration, multiple sources with knowledge of Mariam's evacuation confirmed to Fox News.

                Mills and his team worked for weeks to get Mariam's family out of Afghanistan after Republican Texas Rep. Ronny Jackson alerted him to the family's plight."

                "Mills' team first sought to get the family aboard one of the last government flights out of Kabul, but she was unable to gain admission into the airport. The State Department repeatedly urged the four Americans to go to the airport gate, braving Taliban checkpoints along the way, only for them to be refused admission each time, Mills said.

                The final time Mariam tried to enter the airport, a Taliban fighter pointed a pistol at her head and warned her not to come back. Shortly after that, Taliban fighters asked Kabul locals who knew Miriam how they could find her. Mills' team rushed to get her and the children out of the city and into a safe house. 

                Plan B was to get Miriam and her family aboard a private charter flight from Mazar-i-Sharif airport, but the planes were never cleared to take off. Some private evacuation organizers have blamed the State Department for failing to gain clearance for private charter flights to land in third countries, while Republican Texas Rep. Michael McCaul has blamed the Taliban for the planes remaining grounded.

                Mills' final card to play was to travel overland to a neighboring country – the exact country is being withheld to avoid jeopardizing future rescue missions – and attempt to get the family across the border. "

                It took multiple attempts and sleight-of-hand tactics that Mills compared to a shell game, but Mariam's family finally crossed the border on Monday – just before the Taliban closed the checkpoint to prevent Americans from escaping, Mills said.

                "The State Department's public posture about Mariam's rescue is "absolute nonsense," Mills told Fox News in an exclusive interview Monday. "The fact that they're spinning this, trying to take 100% credit when they didn't track this family, when they placated this family, when the mother, who was under extreme stress and extreme pressure, reached out to the State Department multiple times and got no help."

                "A State Department spokesperson, when asked whether the agency is overselling its role in Mariam's rescue, told Fox News in an email:  "The Department assisted four Americans depart Afghanistan via an overland route on Monday. We provided guidance to them, worked to facilitate their safe passage, and Embassy officials greeted the Americans once they had crossed the border."

                But Mills and others with knowledge of the operation say the State Department is exaggerating its role and had little to do with the rescue mission until the most dangerous part – getting Mariam and her children across the border – was completed.

                "This is an attempt to save face by the administration for the Americans they left behind. This is a woman with three children from age 15 all the way down to two years old. And they did nothing to try to expedite this… But at the very last minute you have these ‘senior officials’ at the State Department trying to claim credit for this like ‘oh yeah look what we've done,'" Mills said.   "It's like we carried the ball to the 99-and-a-half yard line and them taking it that last half yard and being like ‘look what we did.’"    source ---   https://www.foxnews.com/politics/state- … -organizer

                Many Dems distancing themselves from Joe...

                Dem Sen. Blumenthal 'furious' over Biden admin delaying Americans trying to leave Afghanistan

                Democratic senator tears into Biden administration for stranding American
                citizens  --    https://www.foxnews.com/politics/blumen … fghanistan

                1. My Esoteric profile image85
                  My Esotericposted 3 years agoin reply to this

                  That is a Fox FakeNews post.  In it, it claims that the State Dept is taking 100% credit for the operation.  That is, of course, a lie.  They came nowhere close to saying that.

                  When I read the headline I thought about what happened.  And that is the story Mills gave.  Mills and his group did the hard work, but it seems the State Dept had a supporting role, otherwise they would not have been there to meet them.  I will wait until the real news reports on the story.

                  1. Sharlee01 profile image85
                    Sharlee01posted 3 years agoin reply to this

                    AS the Mother of four claimed she got no help from the Government. Anf Mills said the government did nothing but meet her when she crossed into the other country.

                  2. Sharlee01 profile image85
                    Sharlee01posted 3 years agoin reply to this

                    Can't wait to hear the mother's account of her dealings with the Biden Stae department. I don't believe anything from the Biden White House at this point.  In my view, It's hard to keep up with all the mistruths and blunders.

                    And don't hold your breath the if the mom gives an interview it will be on Fox. They had her on last week after her horrific experience at the airport when a gun was held to her head by the Taliban. I am sure she will tell her story. How she was left behind, the Taliban looking for her and her children... I think she will have plenty to say. Makes one wonder if Americans have already been killed as they are found by the Taliban.

      2. Sharlee01 profile image85
        Sharlee01posted 3 years agoin reply to this

        Not exactly ... Seems Cory Mills and a private team of military veterans were mainly responsible for the heroic redcue.

        State Department takes a bow and actually did little to nothing to get a family of four out of Afghanistan.

        "State Dept trying to steal credit for the rescue of 4 Americans from Afghanistan, organizer says: 'Total lie'

        "Cory Mills and a PRIVATE TEAM of military veterans led the effort to rescue Mariam and her three children from Afghanistan".

        Senior State Department officials on Monday announced that the "U.S. has facilitated the safe departure of four US citizens by overland route from Afghanistan. Embassy staff was present upon their arrival."

        "But those actually involved in the dangerous rescue operation say the State Department deserves little to no credit for Mariam's escape from Afghanistan"

        "Cory Mills and a private team of military veterans, drawing on funding by private donors including the Sentinel Foundation, led the effort to rescue Mariam and her three children from Afghanistan, where they had been left behind by the Biden administration, multiple sources with knowledge of Mariam's evacuation confirmed to Fox News.

        Mills and his team worked for weeks to get Mariam's family out of Afghanistan after Republican Texas Rep. Ronny Jackson alerted him to the family's plight."

        "Mills' team first sought to get the family aboard one of the last government flights out of Kabul, but she was unable to gain admission into the airport. The State Department repeatedly urged the four Americans to go to the airport gate, braving Taliban checkpoints along the way, only for them to be refused admission each time, Mills said.

        The final time Mariam tried to enter the airport, a Taliban fighter pointed a pistol at her head and warned her not to come back. Shortly after that, Taliban fighters asked Kabul locals who knew Miriam how they could find her. Mills' team rushed to get her and the children out of the city and into a safe house. 

        Plan B was to get Miriam and her family aboard a private charter flight from Mazar-i-Sharif airport, but the planes were never cleared to take off. Some private evacuation organizers have blamed the State Department for failing to gain clearance for private charter flights to land in third countries, while Republican Texas Rep. Michael McCaul has blamed the Taliban for the planes remaining grounded.

        Mills' final card to play was to travel overland to a neighboring country – the exact country is being withheld to avoid jeopardizing future rescue missions – and attempt to get the family across the border. "

        It took multiple attempts and sleight-of-hand tactics that Mills compared to a shell game, but Mariam's family finally crossed the border on Monday – just before the Taliban closed the checkpoint to prevent Americans from escaping, Mills said.

        "The State Department's public posture about Mariam's rescue is "absolute nonsense," Mills told Fox News in an exclusive interview Monday. "The fact that they're spinning this, trying to take 100% credit when they didn't track this family, when they placated this family, when the mother, who was under extreme stress and extreme pressure, reached out to the State Department multiple times and got no help."

        "A State Department spokesperson, when asked whether the agency is overselling its role in Mariam's rescue, told Fox News in an email:  "The Department assisted four Americans depart Afghanistan via an overland route on Monday. We provided guidance to them, worked to facilitate their safe passage, and Embassy officials greeted the Americans once they had crossed the border."

        But Mills and others with knowledge of the operation say the State Department is exaggerating its role and had little to do with the rescue mission until the most dangerous part – getting Mariam and her children across the border – was completed.

        "This is an attempt to save face by the administration for the Americans they left behind. This is a woman with three children from age 15 all the way down to two years old. And they did nothing to try to expedite this… But at the very last minute you have these ‘senior officials’ at the State Department trying to claim credit for this like ‘oh yeah look what we've done,'" Mills said.   "It's like we carried the ball to the 99-and-a-half yard line and them taking it that last half yard and being like ‘look what we did.’"    source ---   https://www.foxnews.com/politics/state- … -organizer

        Many Dems distancing themselves from Joe...

        Dem Sen. Blumenthal 'furious' over Biden admin delaying Americans trying to leave Afghanistan

        Democratic senator tears into Biden administration for stranding American
        citizens  --    https://www.foxnews.com/politics/blumen … fghanistan

    45. Sharlee01 profile image85
      Sharlee01posted 3 years agoin reply to this

      2022 is approaching and Biden is losing ground pretty quickly
      Biden approval ratings drop in seven key congressional districts: GOP-aligned poll.

      "President Biden’s approval rating is under water in seven key congressional districts Democrats are defending in 2022, according to a GOP-aligned polling group, a sign of possible trouble for the party as it looks to protect its narrow House majority next year.".

      https://thehill.com/homenews/campaign/5 … tricts-gop

      Fewer Americans Than Ever Think Biden Has A Clear Plan To Fight Covid, Poll Finds

      https://www.forbes.com/sites/roberthart … 4472d9b02d

    46. My Esoteric profile image85
      My Esotericposted 3 years agoin reply to this

      As you would expect from the Right-Wing propaganda outlets they:

      "Fox News and right-wing media frame Biden as evil 'tyrant' after vaccination speech"

      When Biden finally get tired of the unvaccinated killing so many more Americans and does something about it - this is how they respond (helping even MORE Republican and people of color Americans would get sick or die)

      https://www.cnn.com/2021/09/09/media/fo … index.html

      In it are more examples of the Right projecting Trump onto Biden.

      They project there Trump characteristics falsely on to Biden is "An Authoritarian." or a "Rotting bag of oatmeal ... tyrant."  followed with "Very frail and very weak." - [i]which is rather funny since Biden can probably outrun and out exercise any of the idiots who wrote those lies.  Further, it was he who made the decision (albeit a bad decision) to finish Trump's withdrawal from Afghanistan{/i]

      Also - First time unemployment claims just his a new record low.

    47. My Esoteric profile image85
      My Esotericposted 3 years agoin reply to this

      Since this is the 9/11 anniversary I am going to provide a link to an article I wrote about my experience 20 years ago that makes this date very personal to me.

      In dedication to Brian Jack, a friend who was on the plane that struck the Pentagon.

      http://hub.me/a7NXM

    48. My Esoteric profile image85
      My Esotericposted 3 years agoin reply to this

      Yet another Myth busted about Biden (one that even I bought into): "Biden did not consult with European allies on Afghanistan withdrawal".  It turns out he did.

      https://www.politico.eu/article/afghani … consulted/

    49. My Esoteric profile image85
      My Esotericposted 3 years agoin reply to this

      Boy, what a sick and disrespectful this disgraced, one-term, twice impeached, former (ugh) president is.

      https://www.cnn.com/2021/09/13/politics … index.html

    50. My Esoteric profile image85
      My Esotericposted 3 years agoin reply to this

      Blinkin's testimony reinforces the two things I have maintained: 1) that Biden's hands were very tied if he hoped to keep the Taliban from attacking allied forces and what happened was going to happen regardless of what Biden did - EXCEPT 2) beef up American forces to AT LEAST the level Trump was SUPPOSED to have left them at in order to safely evacuate those who needed evacuating.

      Blinken said ""Had he not followed through on his predecessor’s commitment, attacks on our forces and those of our allies would have resumed and the Taliban’s nationwide assault on Afghanistan’s major cities would have commenced," Blinken said."

      One thing is for very certain, had Trump been in charge, the humanitarian disaster that would have resulted from his pull out would have been orders of magnitude worse than what Biden experienced.

    51. My Esoteric profile image85
      My Esotericposted 3 years agoin reply to this

      Woodward and Costa's new book Peril seems to indicate Bush and Biden had the same type of blinders on regarding Iraq, in Bush's case, and Afghanistan, in Biden's.

      In the first case, Bush was going to attack Iraq come hell or high water regardless of what common sense dictated.

      In the second case, Biden was going leave Afghanistan as soon as possible regardless of whether it made sense or not.

      Both decisions had horrible consequences.

      At least in Biden's case, his Sec State and Sec Def both advised not pulling out so hastily (I don't know what Harris' opinion was).

      With Bush, his desire to invade Iraq was supported by his VP and Sec Def.

      https://www.cnn.com/2021/09/14/politics … index.html

      I disagree with the rational both Blinken and Austin gave.  Both proposed withdrawal plans that left time for negotiations using our presence as leverage.  Biden was afraid that that reasoning would leave to the US never leaving and shut them down.

      Again, I think Biden should have understood that:

      1. Our presence in Afghanistan is simply a national security necessity to protect America in the long-term.  Clearly, Biden doesn't buy that reasoning.

      2. If he was going to withdraw, he should have done it from a very strong position and not the very weak one Trump left him in.  Unlike Sec Austin who wanted to withdraw (presumably after beefing up) in "stages" so as to use our presence to negotiate a better peace, I would have suggested beefing way up in order to effect a safe withdrawal. forgetting any futile diplomacy.  Carefully plan the evacuation of our citizens and green card holders.  Give plenty of time to process our allies who wanted to leave since Trump put a stop to that effort. In other words, leave on our terms, not the Taliban's.

      I think if option #2, which would guarantee our departure, had been presented to Biden, he might have bought off on it.

    52. My Esoteric profile image85
      My Esotericposted 3 years agoin reply to this

      I have to say, Republicans appear to be one brainwashed group of people.  It is a shame, they used to be so intelligent.

      https://www.cnn.com/2021/09/15/politics … index.html

      1. Sharlee01 profile image85
        Sharlee01posted 3 years agoin reply to this

        Total nonfarm payroll employment rose by 235,000 in August,  "Jobs report disappoints — only 235,000 positions added vs. expectations of 720,000"
        https://www.cnbc.com/2021/09/03/jobs-re … -2021.html

        I wish I could say Biden is doing a good job getting people to get vaccinated ---  bottom line he is not.

        In inflation has is worse monthly...

        1. My Esoteric profile image85
          My Esotericposted 3 years agoin reply to this

          "I wish I could say Biden is doing a good job getting people to get vaccinated ---  bottom line he is not." -  Yep, here are Biden's Vaccination "Failures"{/i]

          91% of Biden voters
          88% of Democrats
          87% of Democratic Biden voters
          86% of people 65+
          80% of White college grads
          79% of Urban voters
          76% of Blacks (in spite of what you read)
          71% of all women
          71% of Latinos
          71% of those between 50 and 64

          [i]Yep, a lot of failures there - NOT


          Now here are his real "failures":

          46% of Republicans who support Trump more than Party
          50% of Trump 2020 voters
          52% of Rural voters
          55% of Republicans
          58% of those between 35 - 49
          59% of White Evangelicals

          You have heard the phrase that "you can lead a horse to water but you can't make them drink it"? 

          Well, what your criticism requires is that you believe Biden must FORCE Republicans to take the vaccine.  Is that what you want for Biden NOT to be a "failure"??

          1. Sharlee01 profile image85
            Sharlee01posted 3 years agoin reply to this

            How many Americans are fully vaccinated for Covid?
            Tracking COVID-19 vaccine distribution: How many people have been vaccinated in the US? So far, 169,592,873 Americans — or 51.1% of the total population — have received the full course of vaccinations necessary to protect against COVID-19, according to the CDC. Aug 21, 2021

            This is Biden's failure... I do know he always blames others for his shortcomings. But "Blaming Biden " is the current president.

            I am not sure where you got these stats, but I would surmise they are not in any respect stats you can prove.

            1. Valeant profile image77
              Valeantposted 3 years agoin reply to this

              That's some serious BDS to say the failure of the GOP to try and help end the pandemic by getting vaccinated is on Biden.  Tell us again when Trump announced he had taken the vaccine.  Oh, yeah, he didn't.  The media found out months after.  Tell us which left-wing media source is taking an anti-vax stance.  Tell us which Democratic governor is banning mask mandates and promoting horse medicine after the fact to their constituents.

              Your arguments are comical.

              1. Sharlee01 profile image85
                Sharlee01posted 3 years agoin reply to this

                Trump supported the vaccine from before it was even in the final stages... He promoted it just about every time he took to a podium. Some just chose not to hear.  Not even sure how the hell anyone would think he would not promote a vaccine that he constantly took credit for. Some can believe anything they are dished up. 

                https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Uu8JgYdhXcY
                https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UM9JvYjPW6o&t=2s
                https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dk6HNicFnOQ

                1. Valeant profile image77
                  Valeantposted 3 years agoin reply to this

                  I made a very simple statement - tell us again when Trump announced he had taken the vaccine.  Please give me one reason why he would not inform his base that he had taken it if he wanted to help stop this virus.

                2. My Esoteric profile image85
                  My Esotericposted 3 years agoin reply to this

                  Then why did he hide the fact that he had gotten vaccinated until he was forced to admit it?

                  I don't say that Trump doesn't occasionally suggest to his supporters to get vaccinated, he does.  But when he does, it is generally tepid and not full of vim and vigor.  And when he gets booed by his crowd, he caves.

                  1. Sharlee01 profile image85
                    Sharlee01posted 3 years agoin reply to this

                    I disagree--- Trump from day one was overly bragging about the vaccines --- how he would; get them in record time, how they would be the best ever, how they would save million... Not sure why anyone would think he was against taking the vaccines he went so overboard (AS we know he does with everything) to talk the vaccines up. I personally don't think he ever thought he would lose.

                    Do you think he would not have worked his butt off to get everyone to take the vaccine? Hopefully, you remember he wanted all back to work, the economy opened. I think he would have pushed to get everyone vaccinated.

                  2. Sharlee01 profile image85
                    Sharlee01posted 3 years agoin reply to this

                    Hide the fact he was vaccinated?   He had COVID, so did his wife. Why do you feel it is so important that make a political photoshoot?

                    Trump is in no respect a politician...  Perhaps you should consider the daily task force reports, and the OWS summit that was a full day of information on "everything about the Vaccine was presented"...  The public had the opportunity to be educated by those that had the expertise to educate.  I prefer to hear from the experts. The Summit was in Dec 2020,  Trump spoke several times and certainly went overboard to encourage taking the vaccine. The full summit can be found on Cspan.

                    From the very start when  Trump negotiated the research of the vaccines, he has not only hyped them but also was taking credit for them before they were even developed...  at every public setting he made from Dec 2020 on, he claims the vaccine would "get rid of COVID...  Maybe you just did not listen?

                    I will drop the subject at this point. it is obvious we won't agree.

                    I was very pleased after watching much of the OWS full-day Summit. It's how I became knowledgeable on what was being done in regards to the vaccine, and what would be done in regard to it being dispensed when it became available. I became aware it would be a lifeline to ridding the country of the virus.

                    I could have cared less about watching Trump being vaccinated. In fact, in my eyes, it would have looked very phony.  I don't like or never have appreciated photo ops.   In my book that is an old politicking maneuver, I can do without. Trump was not and is not a politician, and this is one of the reasons I respected him. He offers up his view, he is not scripted. I so respect a man that can stand up and speak his thoughts. Even if I don't agree, I feel it shows strength. A strength I appreciate.

                    His words from Dec on meant so much more than a photo-op could have. His task force, his OWS gave me an education on everything COVID and the vaccines that he promised... 

                    It meant so much more than watching a man that as a rule hides from public view, and the media, be dragged out to take a shot in the arm.

                    Just saying... Like I say time to drop the subject. You have shared your view, and I have more than shared mine. You appear to appreciate a visual, I prefer being well educated over a visual.  You frequently compartmentalize Republicans, their characteristics, and so on. This very discussion has pointed out something very interesting. In my view, Republicans delve deeper and look past the emotional hype liberals dessire overall. You needed that photo op, I need information. Very curious.

            2. My Esoteric profile image85
              My Esotericposted 3 years agoin reply to this

              "This is Biden's failure." - SORRY, you can't measure Biden's vaccination failure when your side is mainly responsible for it.   But since you keep bringing it up, I can only surmise that your solution is for Biden to FORCE Republicans to get vaccinated?

              Wilderness - Do you agree with Sharlee that Biden needs to FORCE Republicans to get vaccinated?

              "I am not sure where you got these stats, but I would surmise they are not in any respect stats you can prove." - Why would you think that?  I have never lied to your before, have I?

              https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/meet-t … s-n1277514

              1. Sharlee01 profile image85
                Sharlee01posted 3 years agoin reply to this

                NBC News poll says it all...  I have never claimed I support "forcing anyone to be vaccinated. I have talked about further educating the public on viruses --- what they commonly do, and the fact this virus could be dangerous due to we know little about it.  I support respecting individual's rights.

                If more were educated in the virus's true nature,  more might certainly step up and be vaccinated. Biden has done nothing but more or less lower his head, and in a creepy whispery tone admonish, placate America's. This kind of attitude does nothing but anger people. IMO, his very demeanor evokes mistrust.

                At this point, lawsuits are pouring in against Biden's mandates...
                States begin filing lawsuits against vaccine mandate
                https://www.businessreport.com/business … ne-mandate

                Biden is a divider, not sure how this ploy will work in the end... He ran on division and is still pushing that form of politicking.

                1. My Esoteric profile image85
                  My Esotericposted 3 years agoin reply to this

                  "I have never claimed I support "forcing anyone to be vaccinated." - But you imply it.  By calling Biden a failure for not getting Republicans to get the vaccine, you only leave one option for him to succeed.  Mandating the everyone get vaccinated.  So you don't have to say it directly when you leave no other choice.

                  "If more were educated in the virus's true nature," - How much more can you "educate" people.  They have been bombarded with that information since March 2020.  Now, I will admit that if all these people listen to are the Right-wing propaganda outlets then I suppose it may be possible they haven't been educated about the virus since so many on the far-right think it is fake anyway.[/i]

                  "At this point, lawsuits are pouring in against Biden's mandates...
                  States begin filing lawsuits against vaccine mandate" - That is no surprise.  Many Republican governors like Abbott and DeSantis are driven to do things to make there citizens catch Covid.  Since a mandate will help prevent people getting sick and dying, it is understandable these idiots would file suit.

                  Biden is a Uniter.  Unlike Trump, Biden ran on and still promotes in every speech he makes about uniting the country.  It is just that your side doesn't believe in it.

                  1. Sharlee01 profile image85
                    Sharlee01posted 3 years agoin reply to this

                    "I have never claimed I support "forcing anyone to be vaccinated." - But you imply it.  By calling Biden a failure for not getting Republicans to get the vaccine, you only leave one option for him to succeed.  Mandating the everyone get vaccinated.  So you don't have to say it directly when you leave no other choice.

                    I feel mandates do impinge on an individual's rights. As I have stated, I feel if better education in regard to viruses, and the new vaccines could work to get more people to take the vaccines. Talking down to people, as a rule, will only work to provoke anger.

                    I am afraid I will disagree about Biden being an uniter. I have followed (as I have all president) speeches, and or public statements. I find he divides with a not-so-subtle blaming techneque.  He pits one against the other and his demeanor borders on smug. Now, keep in mind this is my view. As a rule, I come away from his speeches feeling angry...  I don't care for the creepy whispering or his at times, red-faced indignation.

              2. wilderness profile image75
                wildernessposted 3 years agoin reply to this

                As Biden is apparently unable to bring the country together with his vast statesman abilities it would appear that the only other choice, if vaccination is desired, is to force people to do it.

                Personally I would be very much against such force, but then I'm against most of Biden's idiotic policies.

                1. My Esoteric profile image85
                  My Esotericposted 3 years agoin reply to this

                  But forcing Republicans to take the vaccine is Sharlee's solution, not Biden's.

                2. My Esoteric profile image85
                  My Esotericposted 3 years agoin reply to this

                  Well, as I said, you can lead a horse to water, but you can't make them drink it.  Biden has led Republicans to the water, but many of them have chosen to die of thirst.

                  1. wilderness profile image75
                    wildernessposted 3 years agoin reply to this

                    Stripped of the gross exaggerations, and the false insinuation that it is only Republicans refusing the vaccine, you are right.

                    But your question was whether Biden needs to FORCE republicans to be vaccinated, and I answered it as best as I could.  Your post here ignores that entirely in favor of insulting Republicans while ignoring any (valid or invalid) thoughts they might have.

        2. My Esoteric profile image85
          My Esotericposted 3 years agoin reply to this

          Hmmm, again you are short on facts.  The important number is that under Biden's watch, he has filled 3.79 million jobs in 7 months and dropped UE rate to 5.2%!!  AMAZING!

    53. My Esoteric profile image85
      My Esotericposted 3 years agoin reply to this

      WOW!  When Biden took office, the Dow was around 30,000.  Today, it is almost 35,000 - 16% growth in just 7 months.  Compare that to Trump and Obama

      Obama: 8,001 - 10,608 - 33%
      Trump: 19,827 - 21,798 - 10%
      Biden: 29,983 - 34,751 - 16%
        Trump sort of sucks, doesn't he?


      https://www.forbes.com/sites/chuckjones … c98a811cd8

      Biden's 1st and 2nd Qtr growth far outstrips those of of Trump and Obama. (Now, other commenters would leave it that just that in order to mislead the reader, but I will not there are major caveats such as Biden is bouncing back from the great Trump recession and Obama was still in the midst of the great Bush recession)

      https://www.businessinsider.com/biden-e … wer-2021-8

      Biden's economy is pushing through the Republican amplified effects of the Delta variant.

      - Retail Sales are still expanding (although inflation muddies the picture, a fact that other commenters would have left out in order to mislead the reader)
      - Initial jobless claims are still at a pandemic low

      https://www.cnn.com/2021/09/17/investin … index.html
      -

    54. Ken Burgess profile image69
      Ken Burgessposted 3 years agoin reply to this

      - Got America well on its way to putting the pandemic behind us

      Well, that was a bit premature.

      - Started the economy growing again.

      And this was going to happen no matter who the President was, once the lock downs were eased and people were allowed back to work.

      So this in effect is "nothing burger".

      So lets get to it then.... not what has he tried to do... not what did he want to do... not what has he said he will do... WHAT HAS HE DONE?

      1. My Esoteric profile image85
        My Esotericposted 3 years agoin reply to this

        I do agree that that was a bit premature.  Who knew so many Republicans (and a few others) had a death wish (almost 2,000 a day right now) and refused to protect themselves, their families, and those around them.

        "once the lock downs were eased and people were allowed back to work." - Didn't that start to happen in June 2020 under Trump's watch?  No, we are talking about real economic growth, not the bounce back Trump experienced.

        What has he done?  I recently listed a small sampling in response to a Sharlee comment.

      2. Sharlee01 profile image85
        Sharlee01posted 3 years agoin reply to this

        He had done nothing but talk., and hide from the media...  and create more problems, almost daily. 

        Here is ECO list of accomplishments
        So, in seven months:

        Then there is getting out of Afghanistan, which most Americans wanted.  Even though its implementation sucked, he still did it (unfortunately)

        Getting a bi-partisan infrastructure bill almost across the finish line, which most Americans wanted

        He rolled out vaccinations far beyond anybody's expectations or what was planned by the Trump administration.   He made huge gains until Republicans ground it to a mere trickle.  And don't go blaming Biden for that UNLESS you agree he should have forced it down every American's throat.   ( actually, he just can't accomplish getting many to get vaccinated. Possibly due to all the confusion and mixed messages from His own administration.)

        He rejoined the WHO ( we are once again footing the bill for a do-nothing organization)

        He rejoined the Paris Climate Agreement and took charge of saving the world from a climate disaster where Trump gave up our authority and actually tried to make things worse.
        ( yes Dito we are once again paying for a due nothing organization)

        He sped up getting the J & J vaccine on-line.        MARCH 2 2021 ---"Biden Administration Announces Historic Manufacturing Collaboration Between Merck and Johnson & Johnson to Expand Production of COVID-19 Vaccines" https://www.hhs.gov/about/news/2021/03/ … cines.html      Really,  By   April   2021 - " White House writes off Johnson & Johnson vaccine after a string of production failures)  https://www.politico.com/news/2021/04/2 … ine-484356

        Got the Covid-19 Hate Crimes Act passed  --- (Horono's bill) Last I knew Presidents did not write bills...)

        he passed the $1.9 trillion Covid relief bill, ---  (A Gimmie)

        Now it would take hours to list all the problems Biden has caused due to his incompetence.

        I think we all pretty much know about each and everyone due to most media outlets are no longer hiding them.

        1. Ken Burgess profile image69
          Ken Burgessposted 3 years agoin reply to this

          Now this is the point I was making with that question (last post).

          I am not interested in what he has almost done.

          Trump ALMOST got them to rescind/invalidate/overturn the ACA, but he didn't.  And this was a primary reason why people voted for him and many other Republicans.

          When RINO sellouts like McCain went against what they had promised their constituents they would do, and upheld the ACA despite running against it... one can understand why there was such backlash against Republicans in 2018.

          Yes Trump pushed the Republicans in Congress into making some amends, but they are only temporary. Without killing the ACA completely, eventually it will be restored to its original form.

          Individual mandates will be restored, "work requirements" to Medicaid will be removed and costs for those forced to use the ACA will go back to being unchecked.

          Trump didn't get the Border completed, again, this was a situation he improved, but it was temporary, as soon as he was out of office any gains and improvements made were undone on day 1 of Biden's Administration.

          Trump DID accomplish some things:

          The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act – the largest tax reform package in history.
          Doubled the standard deduction – making the first $24,000 earned by a married couple completely tax-free.
          Doubled the child tax credit.
          Virtually eliminated the unfair Estate Tax, or Death Tax.

          He improved some Trade Agreements that helped the economy then and now, making American made products more competitive both here and abroad.

          So again I ask what has Biden done so far?

          Not almost done.  Not that negatively impacted the country.

          So far you can give him credit for getting us out of Afghanistan.

          Whether you feel that is a positive or not, is another matter.

          The Infrastructure Plan, the Green New Deal???
          = == == ====== == == ==== == == == == == ==

          Biden's major economic agenda items hang in the balance this week as Democrats continue "intense discussions" on their $3.5 trillion spending plan and some Republicans are warning that their support for the $1 trillion bipartisan infrastructure bill could evaporate if Democrats ‘linked’ it with reconciliation.

          It took a long time for moderate Republicans and Democrats to come together and agree to a bipartisan infrastructure bill. They got the President to commit to it. The Senate passed it, and then the House said if they can't jam through a three-and-a-half trillion dollars of other stuff they're not going to do it.

          Right now, Biden is residing over a completely failed effort to get anything at all done by Congress.  The country is weeks away from an economic meltdown if things don't get done very soon.  When things get done, and they legitimately help and move things forward, then you can start praising Biden.

          1. My Esoteric profile image85
            My Esotericposted 3 years agoin reply to this

            "When RINO sellouts like McCain " - [i]Sorry, as I have proved before, the only RINOs are Trump and those that support him.  There are very few true Republicans left who actually believe in what Republicans stood for from 1950 to 1994.  That is why the death knell for the Republican Party is being sounded.

            As to what Biden has done in a short 7 months, I guess you didn't go back and look at the list I provided Sharlee.

            The "The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act – the largest tax reform package in history." was not passed by September 2017 and why do you perpetuate the LIE that it was the largest?  I don't believe it ranked in the top five? 

            What it did rank #1 in is being the largest give-away to the wealthy and rich corporations.  As to helping the Middle Class, it probably ranked near the bottom of all of the tax cuts.  That certainly is a bad choice to use as an example.  In fact, you have ZERO examples for Trump because he didn't do a damn thing in his first seven months accept piss of our allies and embarrass himself and America in front of the world.

            1. Valeant profile image77
              Valeantposted 3 years agoin reply to this

              +1

          2. Sharlee01 profile image85
            Sharlee01posted 3 years agoin reply to this

            Biden in my view has done nothing as you more or less pointed out. He will be lucky to get the infrastructure bill. Pelosi may hold out for many months, but we both know the 2022 elections are looming large. And I don't think she will have a win with her Build Back Better leach. Many Democrats want to keep their own jobs. They need a win and have to step very carefully not to run the very rich from their home states.

            Biden has a new crisis weekly... I don't see any light at the end of his tunnel.   I see lots of investigations coming his way in 2022.

            1. Ken Burgess profile image69
              Ken Burgessposted 3 years agoin reply to this

              The Democrats get an even bigger margin of control if they can get the Infrastructure and Green New Deal/Build Back Better 3.5 trillion dollar spending spree (of which a trillion or so will go back into election coffers).

              If they fail to raise the Debt ceiling, if they fail to pass the Infrastructure bill... if these do fail, the economy will begin to fail as well... the wave of Independents & Republicans come 2022 will be larger than in 2010.

              If I am reading things right, there will be a major sell off in the stock market starting sometime next week.  The Big Boys are getting antsy seeing the looming fiasco the House is causing with its failure to pass anything.  They are going to start pulling profits, that will cause the stock market to dip, possibly crash like it did in March 2020.

              And with the failure to raise the Debt ceiling, I don't see Janet Tellin' Yellin or Jerome Pow Pow Powell coming to the Market's rescue this time.

              1. Sharlee01 profile image85
                Sharlee01posted 3 years agoin reply to this

                I agree the stock market will start to pull back, it would seem many would think the luck is getting shakey, and take the safe route of pulling cash out.

                At this point, Pelosi seems hell-bent on getting her way. I would think if the market turns she may be willing to wheel and deal on
                her reconciliation bill.

                Raising the debt limit would just let us keep paying back our creditors. However, if we don't raise the debt limit could it cause the US to default on some of our current obligations, and trigger a huge crisis in the financial system? Seems we are in a pretty good trick bag.

                1. Ken Burgess profile image69
                  Ken Burgessposted 3 years agoin reply to this

                  That's the interesting thing, the market broke down out of its wedge on Friday.

                  That gives a roughly 70% chance of what will initially be called a correction, but will more likely turn in to all the heavy weights grabbing their profits helping to facilitate the crash.

                  There are more smalltime investors in the market right now than at any time in history, millions of them are Robinhood types that are leveraged up to their eyeballs... they will be fleeced to the tune of billions of dollars if the market goes south next week.

                  With the Democrats playing politics with both the Debt ceiling and the Infrastructure bill, they have tied the hands of the dynamic duo (Tellin Yellin and Pow Pow Powell) to be able to jump in there and counter the fleecing of retail investors like they have been doing since March 2020.

                  I expect a massacre on Wall St. next week.  I think every fool who put his life's savings the past couple of years having never traded stocks before and all the young people who think trading stocks is easier than working for a living are about to learn a life lesson... for many... it will be their ruination.

                  But I could be wrong, the next couple of weeks will tell.

                  1. Valeant profile image77
                    Valeantposted 3 years agoin reply to this

                    Those that are leveraged will.  Those who can afford to stay in the market will just wait for it to bounce back like it always does.

                  2. My Esoteric profile image85
                    My Esotericposted 3 years agoin reply to this

                    "With the Democrats playing politics with both the Debt ceiling " - Democrats Really?  Who is it that is telling anybody who will listen that they will not lift the debt ceiling?  Can you spell Republicans?  When Republicans needed the debt ceiling raised, Democrats went along.  But when the Democrats need it ...

                  3. My Esoteric profile image85
                    My Esotericposted 3 years agoin reply to this

                    {b]Dow down 500 points on fears of Biden getting tough with China.[/b]

                    500 points, while a lot, isn't what it used to be.  So let's see if the rest of your prediction pans out.

                    I will note that historically for the Biden 8 months, the market declined 1,194 points just prior to the inauguration
                    1,038 points the last week of Feb
                    1,190 points the week after May 7
                    1,146 points between June 7 - Jun 18
                    1,025 points the week of Jul 15
                    All the while growing 5,642 points between Jan 29 and Aug 16
                    Since that high, the market (not counting today) has fallen 1,040 points in the last 24 days.

              2. My Esoteric profile image85
                My Esotericposted 3 years agoin reply to this

                I don't understand why you keep bringing up the dead-in-the-water Green New Deal?  Is that simply to mislead the reader?

                We will see about the stock market.

              3. Sharlee01 profile image85
                Sharlee01posted 3 years agoin reply to this

                Like I said he has a crisis almost daily... Today as you predicted the stock market. Looks to me like China’s property bubble roiled global markets big time.  And the rich are pushing back and pulling cash out.  This may turn out to be one more variable that could affect  Joe's Build Back Better BS bill.  Pelosi digging in, and now a decline in the market. This should work to trash the reconciliation bill.

                One thing I have learned when you push big business with threat of higher taxes---
                they push back.  The rich don't get rich being stupid.  I think the timing was just right with this market to pull back  The rich at this point are playing their "Trump card" so to say.

                Biden is totally ruining the country --- and the joke is on us... A majority gave this man the keys to the White house.  2022 can't come soon enough.

                1. My Esoteric profile image85
                  My Esotericposted 3 years agoin reply to this

                  "Biden is totally ruining the country -" - Another example of projecting Trump on to Biden

                  1. Sharlee01 profile image85
                    Sharlee01posted 3 years agoin reply to this

                    It is you that is projecting, in my view. Take a look around at all the headlines... Nothing to do with Trump.

            2. My Esoteric profile image85
              My Esotericposted 3 years agoin reply to this

              You do know, don't you, that many of the Democratic or Democratic-leaning billionaires support higher taxes on them.

              I will have to agree that Biden has faced many crises in his seven month, and handled most of them well.  But, unlike Trump, he didn't manufacture them himself.  Instead, they were thrust upon him by outside forces (such as so many dangerous Republicans refusing to protect themselves, their spouses, their children, their friends by getting vaccinated.  (You notice I didn't bother including strangers in that list since they don't come on to Republican radar scopes.)

          3. My Esoteric profile image85
            My Esotericposted 3 years agoin reply to this

            Personally, I don't think the progressives have enough guts to actually tank the bi-partisan infrastructure deal.  That said, Democrats have been known to do some self-destructive things in the past.  I am not sure they have doing anything so stupid as the Republicans' fealty to Trump and their support of the insurrectionists

            "Biden is residing over a completely failed effort to get anything at all done by Congress.  " - Yet another sad false statement. Why do you keep making them when you know they are not true?

        2. My Esoteric profile image85
          My Esotericposted 3 years agoin reply to this

          " are no longer hiding them." - You mean the Right-Wing propaganda outlets are actually talking about Bidens great accomplishments?  I find that surprising

          "Now it would take hours " - Why would it take hours since his "incompetence" (sounds like you are projecting Trump again) hasn't led to any problems..  Now, if you want to talk about bad decisions, I will agree he has a few:
          1. Pulling out of Afghanistan in the first place
          2. Given the pull out, not surging back to the levels Trump was supposed to have left them at in order to effect a more orderly withdrawal.
          3. Sticking with some of Trump's border policies.
          4. Although the whole story isn't out yet, but it seems he could have handled the Australian nuclear sub deal better.  I have had to wonder why wasn't France part of the deal in the first place?  But then I am not privy to all of the machinations.

          That is all I can think of and none of them rise to the level of Trump-type incompetence.

          I did leave out another accomplishment.  Actually getting a bi-partisan infrastructure deal put together.

          1. Sharlee01 profile image85
            Sharlee01posted 3 years agoin reply to this

            " are no longer hiding them." - You mean the Right-Wing propaganda outlets are actually talking about Biden's great accomplishments?  I find that surprising" Please read my statement once again -I was pointing out most media outlets are covering all of Biden's blunders, and problems, most of which he created all by himself.

            my comment--   Now it would take hours to list all the problems Biden has caused due to his incompetence.  I think we all pretty much know about each and everyone due to most media outlets are no longer hiding
            them.

            The infrastructure bill has not pasted. I certainly agree we need an infrastructure bill and hope he gets a win. Now, the reconciliation bill, I feel needs to be shaved, we are accumulating too much debt for my confront, and yes much was added by Trump. Just ready to say cool the spending for now. We have just come out of an expensive pandemic, and need to get people back to work, not dependent on Government. Both presidents did a good job providing stimulus and helping people make it through this hard period. I feel it's time we, American's buck up pull together and get back to work.

            1. My Esoteric profile image85
              My Esotericposted 3 years agoin reply to this

              By bad, I related your comment to the list of things Biden has done and not the preceding sentence where you bring up his problems.

              I agree with what you say about both the bi-partisan and the reconciliation bills.

    55. My Esoteric profile image85
      My Esotericposted 3 years agoin reply to this

      Biden Poll numbers ticked up again over the weekend in the RealClearPolicitics averages.  He is only 3.9 points upside down.  His low point was 4.6.

      Other interesting data regarding Favorability:

      1. BIDEN: 45.6 - 49.6 - 4.8
      2. Harris: 41.4 - 49.8 - 8.8
      3. Trump: 40.7 - 53.0 - 6.3
      4. Pelosi: 33.8 - 55.4 - 10.8
      5. Schumer: 31.5 - 44.0 -  24.5
      6. McConnell: 21.0 - 60.5 - 18.5
      7. McCarthy: 20.7 - 36.7 - 42.6

      The third figure is undecided.

    56. My Esoteric profile image85
      My Esotericposted 3 years agoin reply to this

      Y'all might be interested in what I just tweeted out

      Whoever reads @joebiden's twitter should let him know that long time supporters and donators like me are becoming disillusioned with him.  IMO, the #AfghanistanDisaster and #Haitian disasters were unforced errors.  These are black stains that may dominate an otherwise great start

      That is the kind of fair analysis that you will never see from a Trump supporter because they think he is like the Pope - infallible.

      1. wilderness profile image75
        wildernessposted 3 years agoin reply to this

        How is the Haitian disaster unforced?  When Joe announced he would work towards citizenship for all illegal aliens in the country, when Joe allowed 12,000 illegal aliens to enter the country and camp on American soil, when Joe allowed them to disperse through the country, When Joe exhibits (hopefully fake) dismay at Border Patrol doing it's job...how is it "unforced"? Joe has encouraged exactly this kind of disastor from people wanting in since his campaign!  His entire concept is centered around a basically open border, with anyone wanting in being welcome to come!

    57. My Esoteric profile image85
      My Esotericposted 3 years agoin reply to this

      Homicides rose 30% in Trump's last year and 24% for his term.  Hopefully President Biden can bring that back down a lot.

      1. Sharlee01 profile image85
        Sharlee01posted 3 years agoin reply to this

        Chicago --  As summer winds down, Chicago is on pace to have its highest annual murder tally in a quarter century.  https://www.wbez.org/stories/at-summers … 85daa98fa0

        Through Tuesday night, according to CPD figures, the year had 524 murders — 3% more to date than 2020, a year when gun violence swept through cities across the country after the pandemic’s arrival and George Floyd’s killing by Minneapolis police. Chicago appears headed toward its highest annual homicide count since 1996, when murders totaled 796 at the tail end of a crime wave fueled by crack cocaine.

        LA --- The city of Los Angeles in July recorded 48 homicides, by far the highest monthly count in at least a decade.

        Baltimore City Council, Residents Outraged About Crime As City On Track To Hit 300 Homicides For 7th Consecutive Year
        https://baltimore.cbslocal.com/2021/07/ … cide-rate/

        After decades of declining violent crime, Minneapolis recorded 84 murders last year, up from about 48 in 2019, and a toll not seen since a dark chapter known as the “Murderapolis” years. The 67 murders so far in 2021 are on pace to surpass that.Sep 11, 2021  https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/frontline/arti … eneration/

        Seattle -  With a crime rate of 52 per one thousand residents, Seattle has one of the highest crime rates in America compared to all communities of all sizes - from the smallest towns to the very largest cities. One's chance of becoming a victim of either violent or property crime
        here is one in 19.    https://www.neighborhoodscout.com/wa/seattle/crime

        July in Portland set new record for shootings as intervention efforts crawl forward  https://www.opb.org/article/2021/08/09/ … l-forward/

        Philly surpasses 300 homicides in 2021 amid record pace and search for solutions   https://www.phillyvoice.com/philly-homi … -violence/

        Atlanta passes 100 reported homicides in 2021   https://www.fox5atlanta.com/news/atlant … cides-2021

        Detroit remains among nation's most violent big cities, FBI statistics show
        https://www.detroitnews.com/story/news/ … 883984001/

        Please note that all of these cities are Democratic-leaning cities...

        So the shell game of Crime is down under Biden is just that a shell game... Look here, not there...    I don't think those that live in the cities I mentioned could be convinced the crime rate is down.

        Stats can be fine on paper, but not so much when you live in a crime-ridden Democratic city.  Makes one wonder how these cities remain Democratic.

        Denver -- DENVER (KDVR) — After a record year for Denver crime in 2020 and national violent crime wave, the numbers keep getting worse post-pandemic.  https://kdvr.com/news/local/denver-crim … last-year/

        1. Sharlee01 profile image85
          Sharlee01posted 3 years agoin reply to this

          https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions … ey-appear/
          The polls are further tanking... No air at this point.
          President Joe Biden receives a negative 38 - 53 percent job approval rating,
          the response to the coronavirus: 48 percent approve, while 50 percent disapprove;
          the economy: 39 percent approve, while 55 percent disapprove;
          his job as Commander in Chief of the U.S. military: 37 percent approve, while 58 percent disapprove;
          taxes: 37 percent approve, while 54 percent disapprove;
          foreign policy: 34 percent approve, while 58 percent disapprove;
          immigration issues: 25 percent approve, while 67 percent disapprove;
          the situation at the Mexican border: 23 percent approve, while 67 percent disapprove.

          When it comes to Biden's personal traits, Americans were asked whether or not Biden ...

          cares about average Americans: 49 percent say yes, while 48 percent say no, compared to 58 - 37 percent yes in April;
          is honest: 44 percent say yes, while 50 percent say no, compared to 51 - 42 percent yes in April;
          has good leadership skills: 41 percent say yes, while 56 percent say no, compared to 52 - 44 percent yes in April.
          More than half of Americans say 55 - 42 percent that the Biden administration is not competent in running the government.

          Roughly one-quarter of Americans (29 percent) describe the economy as excellent (2 percent) or good (27 percent), while 69 percent describe it as not so good (35 percent) or poor (34 percent).

          https://poll.qu.edu/poll-release?releaseid=3824
          https://projects.fivethirtyeight.com/bi … al-rating/

          I am grateful to see so many American's are realizing Biden is not suited to be president.

          1. peoplepower73 profile image86
            peoplepower73posted 3 years agoin reply to this

            Sharlee: So you would rather have the country fail under Biden than succeed with him?  Yes that makes real sense, since we have three more years to go with him and when he fails, the country fails.

            Welcome to the upside down world we live in.  Mitch McConnel is the minority leader of the senate, but yet he has the power to stop us from paying our bills that were accrued last fiscal year. Further, he has the power to lower our credit  rating on the world market. It all makes about as much sense as cheerleading Biden to failure.

            1. Sharlee01 profile image85
              Sharlee01posted 3 years agoin reply to this

              I certainly have no power to change the fact Biden is the president. I have no control over how he governs. I am certainly very pleased to see many American's are judging him for his poor job performance. He certainly could have made more sound decisions, he makes his own problems, then ignore the problems he creates. He has done that his entire career in Washington. We went back and forth before he was elected on why I felt he would make a poor president. I also said I hoped he would do well.

              There is no if he fails, he has failed... In record time.

              The Democrats have the House, Senate, and the White House. Maybe they need to offer an amount of how much the bottom line is on the Debt ceiling, why would the Republicans give the Democrats a checkbook with no limits?  I truly hope the Republicans sink his agenda. I do not agree with Biden's Build Back Better Bill in any respect. I do support his infrastructure bill, as do the majority of American's. I don't want the US to become a big old welfare country.  And the polls are showing again the majority of the country does not support BBB...  Guess many like democracy, and are not willing to give it up, as easily as the Democrats felt they would.

              I pray the Republicans to stay very strong...

              Never wanted him to fail, but sure the hell won't support a man that is clearly not presidential material.

              As I said when he was campaigning, he just does not have what it takes to be president.  I wished more would have done their homework, and not let emotions overtake good sense.

              1. My Esoteric profile image85
                My Esotericposted 3 years agoin reply to this

                But the Republicans only believe in lies.  How can they be strong?

                1. Sharlee01 profile image85
                  Sharlee01posted 3 years agoin reply to this

                  That seems ridiculous --- whatever

                  1. peoplepower73 profile image86
                    peoplepower73posted 3 years agoin reply to this

                    Sharlee:  You are right.  It is where you look.

                    https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/politics … li=BBnb7Kz

                  2. My Esoteric profile image85
                    My Esotericposted 3 years agoin reply to this

                    It certainly is ridiculous that Republicans have stooped so low.  But, the evidence bears this out.

                    Hell, they called Graham a liar because he said something like 95% of the people in South Carolina hospitals are because they are unvaccinated.  That certain seems ridiculous to me that Republicans could be such lies.

          2. My Esoteric profile image85
            My Esotericposted 3 years agoin reply to this

            If you are grateful now, why weren't you grateful with "so many American's were realizing Trump is not suited to be president" then?  Seems pretty inconsistent to me.

            1. Sharlee01 profile image85
              Sharlee01posted 3 years agoin reply to this

              I was always very pleased with trump's governing. I actually felt very secure with him in the White House.  I guess it may be because he was very much a man that was about American's and making things better here in the US.

              I found him not to be afraid to face challenges, and avoid problems, as well as solve the problems. he was transparent and could care less if someone did not care for his decisions or his opinion. he did not have a phony bone in his body.

              So, I guess if I could have viewed him as I do Biden I would have been with you... But Trump was not a walking disaster like Biden. I was more than pleased with Trump's job performance and was getting very accustomed to his bellicose personality.

              I must say I feel much better week after week,  as polls come in. It may be Joe will be out in one term or before if the Republicans take Congress back in 2024. It can't come soon enough for me.

              1. My Esoteric profile image85
                My Esotericposted 3 years agoin reply to this

                Actually, the statement was "If you are grateful now, why weren't you grateful with "so many American's were realizing Trump is not suited to be president" then?  Seems pretty inconsistent to me.

                It was not if you liked Trump's policies.

                "I was always very pleased with trump's governing. " - Yes, we know, even though facts to do not support that opinion

                "I actually felt very secure with him in the White House. " - Maybe you did, but I sure didn't and neither did most of the world.  He was a loose cannon that was one insult away from starting a war

                "I found him not to be afraid to face challenges, and avoid problems, as well as solve the problems." - [i[I do agree with the first phrase.  As to the second, he certainly didn't avoid the problems he caused, he doubled down on them.  I am sure he solved a problem or two, but by and large, he made them worse, like the pandemic.[/i]

                "But Trump was not a walking disaster like Biden. " - Yep, you are correct, Trump was much worse of a disaster

                "he did not have a phony bone in his body." - I do not disagree with that, but he also has no honest bone in his body, no moral bone in his body, no ethical bone in his body, no empathetic bone in his body, he just has bone spurs to get out of serving in the military.

                You do know don't your that there are hundreds of thousands of people around the world who feel about Hitler today as you do about Trump.  And if you don't like the Hitler comparison, substitute millions for hundreds of thousands AND Putin, Assad, Xi, Maduros, pick your dictator for Hitler.

                1. Sharlee01 profile image85
                  Sharlee01posted 3 years agoin reply to this

                  I offered my honest opinion. Not much more I can say. I need not defend my true opinion.

                  It is obvious we don't agree. However,  I must say I feel a much better week after week,  as polls come in. it shows many are of my mindset in regards to Biden's job performance.

                  1. My Esoteric profile image85
                    My Esotericposted 3 years agoin reply to this

                    It would certain add to your credibility if your opinion was grounded Fact rather than a fantastical view of reality.

          3. My Esoteric profile image85
            My Esotericposted 3 years agoin reply to this

            Overall Approval - Biden still better than Trump in spite of all of the volatility.

            Foreign Policy Approval - Even after Afghanistan Biden is no worse that Trump.

            1. Sharlee01 profile image85
              Sharlee01posted 3 years agoin reply to this

              Trump is not the president.

              1. My Esoteric profile image85
                My Esotericposted 3 years agoin reply to this

                I forget.  I makes no difference to you how bad people thought Trump was doing, so long as you didn't.

              2. gmwilliams profile image86
                gmwilliamsposted 3 years agoin reply to this

                THANK YOU.  Biden is $%$# America big time.

                1. My Esoteric profile image85
                  My Esotericposted 3 years agoin reply to this

                  He can't be, Trump already did - and is still doing it.

                  1. Sharlee01 profile image85
                    Sharlee01posted 3 years agoin reply to this

                    Trump had the country doing wonderful up until COVID hit. He then saved our asses with working to get vaccines, and then --- Joe. And he quickly sprinted to trash all the good Trump did.

            2. gmwilliams profile image86
              gmwilliamsposted 3 years agoin reply to this

              Eso, stop living in Ozland and LIVE IN REALITY.  Biden SUCKS.

              1. My Esoteric profile image85
                My Esotericposted 3 years agoin reply to this

                Isn't that what I have been saying to you, except the one that SUCKS is Trump.  In fact, he is SUCKING the life out of our democracy, but you know that already and support him doing it.

                1. Sharlee01 profile image85
                  Sharlee01posted 3 years agoin reply to this

                  Well, let's have a look at all Biden has provided America.
                  A failing economy Disatreous Jobs report just today
                  rising gas prices up 40% highest in 7 years

                  COVID is running out of control
                  A disastrous withdrawal from Afghanistan

                  Leaving American's behind in Afghanistan

                  Wide-open southern borders with hundreds of thousands just walking across monthly. Many with COVID!
                  (The 208,887 migrant encounters mark a 317% increase over last August)

                  American citizens are being threatened by Biden for being cautious and involved over what goes on in their children's schools.
                  Biden demanding the DOJ and FBI become involved. This is pure federal Government overreach and tactics that resemble a communist regime.

                  Phony green deal while we stop gas companies from pumping In the US Biden pressures OPIC to pump more...  Last I looked the Middle east was part of the planet. So, is it not ridiculous, and hypocritical in regards to our big effort to save the earth, that we ignore the fact it does not lessen our earth's polution by pumping in a different part of the world...
                  I call this half-ass-backward...  or as I say to my grandson --- That's silly - silly.  LOL

                  And then there is China, and North Korea, and Russia, and France ------ All very  (to be polite) much aware of the fact Biden is just not up to the job.

                  I could go on... The country is a mess.

                  1. Valeant profile image77
                    Valeantposted 3 years agoin reply to this

                    Cautious and involved?  Since when is threatening another American called cautious and involved?  Excusing the violent tendencies of the right is getting to be a habit, and not a good one.

                  2. My Esoteric profile image85
                    My Esotericposted 3 years agoin reply to this

                    "Well, let's have a look at all Biden has provided America.
                    A failing economy Disatreous Jobs report just today
                    rising gas prices up 40% highest in 7 years" - And that is a great example of why your "opinions" are only based on your BDS and extreme bias against Democrats or anything democratic.  In those few words you made one lie, a complete misreading of the report, and reference to something Biden as little do with and only mention because it sounds bad.

                    1.  The economy is demonstrably not failing and you know it so that makes it a lie.
                    2. The jobs report was nowhere close to being disastrous, that is simply your extreme BDS showing itself.  A "disastrous" report would be one where jobs were lost.  A believable opinion would be that the report was "disappointing" regarding the new jobs and GREAT regarding the UE rate falling to 4.8%,
                    3. As you well, Biden as little control of the price of oil or gas so your biased complaint is simply a red herring.  As everybody who has a minimal understanding of economics knows, oil prices, and therefore gas prices, are primarily driven by demand and/or speculation.  Since speculation is not a factor right now, you seem to be complaining that demand for oil is WAY UP.  Why do you find that upsetting?


                    "COVID is running out of control" - YES, thanks to stupid, unvaccinated Republicans. Even Biden can't cure stupid.

                    Afghanistan? Agreed

                    Leaving Americans behind?  Agreed

                    "Wide-open southern borders with hundreds of thousands just walking across monthly. " - This is a Right-Wing lie which you propagate.  The borders are, in fact, closed and "hundreds of thousands are NOT JUST walking across the border - that is simply a lie  To quote DHS "U.S. land borders with Mexico and Canada will remain closed to nonessential travel through Oct. 21, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security confirmed Tuesday. "

                    "American citizens are being threatened by Biden for being cautious and involved over what goes on in their children's schools." - This claim is a lie as well

                    "Biden demanding the DOJ and FBI become involved. " - Biden, thank God, is not Trump.  He isn't demanding ANYTHING of DOJ or FBI.  That CLAIM is a lie as well.

                    I have no idea what you are talking about regarding "green deal".  Biden opposes the Green New Deal.

                    And finally we get to an opinion, not based on fact, but an opinion nevertheless about what Chine, et all think.

                    By my count, you had one unsupported opinion and two reasonable claims about Afghanistan.  The rest was just Right-wing propaganda based on Right-wing lies.

        2. My Esoteric profile image85
          My Esotericposted 3 years agoin reply to this

          I say again "Homicides rose 30% in Trump's last year and 24% for his term.  Hopefully President Biden can bring that back down a lot."

          1. Sharlee01 profile image85
            Sharlee01posted 3 years agoin reply to this

            All I can do is offer the fats I offered. it's your prerogative to deny them.
            Not sure how you can dispute the information I provided on the Democratic states showing numbers that are in some cases historic.

            1. My Esoteric profile image85
              My Esotericposted 3 years agoin reply to this

              I am not sure what facts you offered.  All I read were opinions not based on facts.

              1. Sharlee01 profile image85
                Sharlee01posted 3 years agoin reply to this

                All have stated, stats - all are from local news from the cities that crimes stats were committed.  Point well proved. I realize it's hard to defend these Democratic cities. So, why even try?.

                Chicago --  As summer winds down, Chicago is on pace to have its highest annual murder tally in a quarter-century.  https://www.wbez.org/stories/at-summers … 85daa98fa0

                Through Tuesday night, according to CPD figures, the year had 524 murders — 3% more to date than 2020, a year when gun violence swept through cities across the country after the pandemic’s arrival and George Floyd’s killing by Minneapolis police. Chicago appears headed toward its highest annual homicide count since 1996, when murders totaled 796 at the tail end of a crime wave fueled by crack cocaine.

                LA --- The city of Los Angeles in July recorded 48 homicides, by far the highest monthly count in at least a decade.

                Baltimore City Council, Residents Outraged About Crime As City On Track To Hit 300 Homicides For 7th Consecutive Year
                https://baltimore.cbslocal.com/2021/07/ … cide-rate/

                After decades of declining violent crime, Minneapolis recorded 84 murders last year, up from about 48 in 2019, and a toll not seen since a dark chapter known as the “Murderapolis” years. The 67 murders so far in 2021 are on pace to surpass that.Sep 11, 2021  https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/frontline/arti … eneration/

                Seattle -  With a crime rate of 52 per one thousand residents, Seattle has one of the highest crime rates in America compared to all communities of all sizes - from the smallest towns to the very largest cities. One's chance of becoming a victim of either violent or property crime
                here is one in 19.    https://www.neighborhoodscout.com/wa/seattle/crime

                July in Portland set new record for shootings as intervention efforts crawl forward  https://www.opb.org/article/2021/08/09/ … l-forward/

                Philly surpasses 300 homicides in 2021 amid record pace and search for solutions   https://www.phillyvoice.com/philly-homi … -violence/

                Atlanta passes 100 reported homicides in 2021   https://www.fox5atlanta.com/news/atlant … cides-2021

                Detroit remains among nation's most violent big cities, FBI statistics show
                https://www.detroitnews.com/story/news/ … 883984001/

                Please note that all of these cities are Democratic-leaning cities...

                So the shell game of Crime is down under Biden is just that a shell game... Look here, not there...    I don't think those that live in the cities I mentioned could be convinced the crime rate is down.

                Stats can be fine on paper, but not so much when you live in a crime-ridden Democratic city.  Makes one wonder how these cities remain Democratic.

                Denver -- DENVER (KDVR) — After a record year for Denver crime in 2020 and national violent crime wave, the numbers keep getting worse post-pandemic.  https://kdvr.com/news/local/denver-crim … last-year/

                1. My Esoteric profile image85
                  My Esotericposted 3 years agoin reply to this

                  Yes, and all of that happened under Trump's leadership.

                  1. Sharlee01 profile image85
                    Sharlee01posted 3 years agoin reply to this

                    Each of my resources is current and reporting on 2021. Actually, many using 2020 as a comparison to how much crime has risen.  So, perhaps you might want to read my stats instead of just ignoring them.

    58. My Esoteric profile image85
      My Esotericposted 3 years agoin reply to this

      The Sept jobs report in.  The good news is the economy kept adding jobs, 194,000 and the unemployment rate dropped to a great 4.8%. 

      The bad news is experts the jobs gains would be much higher, but thanks to the unvaccinated, the numbers remain low.  Also, we have more proof that Republicans taking away people's unemployment benefits early only served to make life more painful for millions of Americans, something they are expert at - it did nothing regarding forcing them back to work.

      1. Sharlee01 profile image85
        Sharlee01posted 3 years agoin reply to this

        It would seem we look at this half full half empty. The street (economist feel a bit different than you)    U.S. employers added 194,000 jobs last month, way below the 500,000 economists predicted. Gas up 40% highest in over 7 years.

        The Federal Reserve’s preferred gauge of inflation climbed in August at the quickest pace in 30 years, data released on Friday

        Not sure how you find this a positive in any respect. Biden needs to move away from only addressing COVID --- And blaming all our problems on COVID.  In my view, he is the problem. Yesterday he visited Illinois, and he clearly did not even know what state he was in.  He was visibly confused and just floundered through the entire speech.

        It should be evident that those that wanted the vaccine have gotten it. I had hoped more would take it. At this point, I feel the time has come to move on as best we can. Dwelling on vaccines numbers, and pointing a finger does little to get the country moving in the right direction.

        They need to keep Biden in the White House and realize when he comes out the world is watching.

    59. Sharlee01 profile image85
      Sharlee01posted 3 years agoin reply to this

      "- Got America well on its way to putting the pandemic behind us"

      Must return to the original subject for a quick second. I wanted to point out this statement is somewhat untrue.  I found the stats very interesting, and they clearly show that even with several vaccines, Biden had done a poor job getting COVID under control.

      Infection rate under Trump almost 12 months 45,323,236
      Biden in 9 months --- 25,357,562
      A diffrence of 19,965,674

      Death rate  under Trump ---  in 12 months  434,309
      Death rate under Biden  for 9 months -- 300,638
      A difference of  133,671

      So, it appears Biden is responsible for the deaths of 300,638 American's.

      Bided has not in any respect done a good job with COVID. It is evident he has had substantial infections, and many deaths occur, at least 300,638, even though he had multiple vaccines.

      So I don't think your claim -- " Got America well on its way to putting the pandemic behind us" Is truthful.  He made claimed he was going to follow the science, and that he would get everyone vaccinated. He has fallen far short of his promise up to this point.

      What are his plans to put this pandemic behind us, does he have a plan?

    60. Sharlee01 profile image85
      Sharlee01posted 3 years agoin reply to this

      Please add this to your list of great things Biden has done while president ---
      Oct 27, 2021
      Biden releases 'gender equity plan that calls for eliminating cash bail
      Calls to end cash bail come at a time when FBI data show an unprecedented rise in violent crime.

      "President Biden's plan to promote gender equity includes a proposal to eliminate cash bail for suspects, despite a rise in violent crime across the country.

      "We are also committed to increasing federal oversight and accountability for police departments and prosecutors’ offices to address systemic misconduct, including gender bias and sexual misconduct," reads part of a 42-page White House report entitled the National Strategy on Gender Equity and Equality. "And we will work to end cash bail and reform our pretrial system, recognizing the harm these processes cause, particularly for Black women and families.

      The report calls for a "whole of government" approach to ending gender inequalities, with the elimination of cash bail being one of the steps governments can take to combat gender and race disparities.

      But the calls to end cash bail comes at a time when FBI data show an unprecedented rise in violent crime, with the numbers of murders in the U.S. rising by nearly 30% in 2020. That number represents the largest single-year increase recorded since the FBI began tracking the statistic.

      The overall violent crime rate, which also includes assault, robbery, and rape, rose 5% in 2020 compared to 2019.

      Advocates for keeping the cash bail system argue that ending the practice would put the public at risk, pointing to statistics in cities that have eliminated cash bail that show the likelihood of rearrest before trial rose 37% in those locations. Suspects were also more likely to miss their court date in cities that had eliminated cash bail."

      As I have shared before, Biden creates his own problems, and it is Ameican's that end up being hurt by his poor problem-solving. He makes mistake after mistake, now he is once again usurping himself using Federal government overreach into individual State legislation.
      https://www.foxnews.com/politics/biden- … -cash-bail

    61. My Esoteric profile image85
      My Esotericposted 3 years agoin reply to this

      How  interesting: Stock market at another all time high and the Democrats finally "got woke" after their humiliating defeats and passed 1/2 of Biden's Infrastructure agenda - something Trump failed to do.

      1. Sharlee01 profile image85
        Sharlee01posted 3 years agoin reply to this

        Always Trump Trump Trump... 

        How interesting---
        Wholesale prices rise 8.6% year over year in October, tied for the highest ever...

        Inflation at the wholesale level rose 8.6% last month from a year earlier, matching September's record annual gain and offering more evidence that inflationary pressures are not at all easing.

        The Labor Department reported Tuesday that its producer price index — which measures inflation before it hits consumers — rose 0.6% last month from September. Excluding volatile food and energy prices, wholesale inflation was up 0.4% in October from September and 6.8% from a year ago.

        More than 60% of the September-October increase in overall producer prices was caused by a 1.2% increase in the price of wholesale goods as opposed to services.

    62. My Esoteric profile image85
      My Esotericposted 3 years agoin reply to this

      Don't blame Biden for high gas/oil prices, blame Wall Street instead.  That is the logical conclusion of this analysis.

      https://us.cnn.com/2021/11/12/business/ … index.html

    63. My Esoteric profile image85
      My Esotericposted 3 years agoin reply to this

      Biden has made some news today.

      1.  He directed FTC to investigate why, with costs declining, oil and gas company's role in rising gas prices.

      2. "The two pieces of legislation "should not have any real material impact on inflation", William Foster, vice president and senior credit officer (Sovereign Risk) at Moody's Investors Service, told Reuters."

      "The bills do not add to inflation pressures, as the policies help to lift long-term economic growth via stronger productivity and labor force growth, and thus take the edge off of inflation," said Mark Zandi, chief economist at Moody's Analytics

    64. My Esoteric profile image85
      My Esotericposted 3 years agoin reply to this

      Biden (and China) may be responsible for the recent decline in oil prices by releasing millions of barrels of oil out of our respective reserves. (Full disclosure, I have never believed doing such a thing would impact prices that much, but I could be proved wrong.)

      https://www.cnn.com/2021/11/18/investin … index.html

    65. My Esoteric profile image85
      My Esotericposted 3 years agoin reply to this

      Biden signs bill into law supporting police and first responders.

      https://www.cnn.com/2021/11/18/politics … index.html

    66. Sharlee01 profile image85
      Sharlee01posted 3 years agoin reply to this

      ESO just out today --- https://thehill.com/homenews/campaign/5 … ipiac-poll
      The Infrastructure bill should have given him a bump up, not down.

      President Biden’s job approval rating is down to just 36 percent in a new Quinnipiac University poll, signaling trouble for Democrats as they head into 2022.

      The president’s current approval rating is down a point from 37 percent last month, according to the poll. Disapproval with his job performance also ticked up slightly to 53 percent from 52 percent in October.

      Biden gets his worst reviews on his handling of the economy and foreign policy, with 34 percent and 33 percent approving, respectively. Fifty-nine percent of respondents say they disapprove of his handling of the economy, while 55 percent disapprove of his performance on foreign policy.

      Just 37 percent of respondents say the president has good leadership skills, compared to 57 percent who believe he does not. And a slight majority — 51 percent — say they do not believe the president is honest, while 42 percent say he is.

      Respondents are divided, 47 percent to 47 percent, on whether they believe Biden cares about average Americans.

      When it comes to Biden’s response to the coronavirus pandemic, 45 percent of Americans say they approve of his performance, while 50 percent disapprove. Likewise, 41 percent give him positive marks on climate change compared to 48 percent who disapprove.

      The latest numbers from Quinnipiac’s national poll offer a gloomy outlook for Democrats, who are preparing to defend their slim House and Senate majorities in 2022.

      The party was already expected to face historical headwinds heading into the midterm elections. Biden’s sliding approval rating, however, adds to mounting evidence that Americans may be poised to deliver an electoral blow to Democratic control in Washington next year.

      1. tsmog profile image83
        tsmogposted 3 years agoin reply to this

        Dismal! Time to move to Sweden!

        1. Sharlee01 profile image85
          Sharlee01posted 3 years agoin reply to this

          Oh yeah... I live the winter months in Puerto Vallarta, and we always have always felt eventually we just make the move more permanent.  However, Mexico does not have such lenient immigration laws. At this point, we own our residence there and still are obliged to return back to the US every 180 days. 

          But Sweden, that sounds pretty nice too. LOL

          1. tsmog profile image83
            tsmogposted 3 years agoin reply to this

            You're fortunate to be able to spend winter months there. Nice!

    67. My Esoteric profile image85
      My Esotericposted 3 years agoin reply to this

      Shortly, Biden will almost be across the finish line with his historic and much needed social infrastructure bill.  After an 8.5 hour stall by the minority leader the House is set to pass the near deficit neutral package of help America desperately needs. 

      After Joe Manchin takes out what he doesn't like (apparently, Sinema is on-board now), it will pass the Senate, go back to the House to be voted on again and become law - they hope before Christmas.

      https://www.cnn.com/politics/live-news/ … index.html

      1. Sharlee01 profile image85
        Sharlee01posted 3 years agoin reply to this

        Are you at all aware of what's in the bill?  Did you watch any of the 8 hours Kevin McCarthy spoke to Congress last night?  Joe Manchin or Sinema will vote for the bill.  So I will give you the advice I have often offered you in regards to the claims you offer about Trump, and your prediction he will end up in prison. It would seem you are existing about a bill you know little about. You know about all the decorations on a cake that was made with poison flour. It has been scored poorly, and the only way it would be paid for is a gamble. They are gambling on the hope many American's have cheated or will cheat on their taxes. The overreach in this bill is outrageous.

        Don't hold your breath. Hopefully, more Democrats will see this bill as a poison to our democracy.

    68. My Esoteric profile image85
      My Esotericposted 3 years agoin reply to this

      US economy is roaring back (according to the Fed) in spite of inflation! https://www.cnn.com/videos/business/202 … nd-vpx.cnn

      https://www.sharecast.com/news/market-r … 25882.html

      She discusses how the unprecedented federal financial support provided to many households could mean that we are less likely to see some of the lingering negative effects that have persisted after previous downturns.
      https://econofact.org/podcast/a-u-s-eco … -recession

      https://www.cnbc.com/2021/11/05/jobs-re … -2021.html

      https://www.npr.org/2021/04/02/98349815 … nter-slump

      1. Sharlee01 profile image85
        Sharlee01posted 3 years agoin reply to this
        1. My Esoteric profile image85
          My Esotericposted 3 years agoin reply to this

          Sorry, they were all very current or relatively so - go back an look at the dates.  Also read the articles.  The fact that inflation is at a 30-year high just shows you are prone to histrionics.  It says absolutely nothing about how strong the economy is and will be.  All it means is we have inflation a few points above the Fed target.  When it gets to 10%, I'll start to worry.

          1. Sharlee01 profile image85
            Sharlee01posted 3 years agoin reply to this

            You won't have long to wait.

            1. My Esoteric profile image85
              My Esotericposted 3 years agoin reply to this

              If it was going to reach 10% or higher, it already would have.  Biden is implementing many deflationary programs, e.g. the physical infrastructure bill, and if they can pass it in the Senate, the social infrastructure bill is one of them.

              1. wilderness profile image75
                wildernessposted 3 years agoin reply to this

                How is borrowing well over a trillion dollars "deflationary"?  It would seem to me that giving money you don't have (whether for a return or not) causes inflation rather than lessens it.  At least that's been historically true; you cannot simply pump money into the economy without causing inflation.

                1. My Esoteric profile image85
                  My Esotericposted 3 years agoin reply to this

                  Because 1) they are not pumping new money into the economy, 2) it is paid for, so again no new money floating around in the economy and 3) all of the new jobs that will be created leading to new demand

                  1. wilderness profile image75
                    wildernessposted 3 years agoin reply to this

                    The only way it can be "paid for" is by taking from one to give to another.  A net zero game, then, with no new money and no new demand. 

                    But even if you are correct, it still leaves demand increasing wildly, but without increased production there will be no new supply.  Once more, that is NOT deflationary.

              2. Sharlee01 profile image85
                Sharlee01posted 3 years agoin reply to this

                We will see... I am putting my money on seeing at least 8% by early spring maybe sooner.

          2. Sharlee01 profile image85
            Sharlee01posted 3 years agoin reply to this

            You won't have long to wait on the 10%. Maybe not 10% but 8%. Biden has the perfect storm brewing --- His work-related mandates will go into effect on I think Jan 4th.2022... This will most likely cause more worker shortages. We already can't fill jobs, and demand for produces is increasing.

            Plus it's the Holiday season, the demand is even greater...For workers, and products. = perfect storm = inflation.

            Biden makes mistake after mistake, it makes one wonder what next?

            And just think of what we will be paying to heat our homes this winter

            Current  cost  Natural Gas (Henry Hub)    5.08

            2020 November 3.09
            Please look at the charts comparing 2020 to 2021. It is remarkable more don't note what a mess this president created in our energy sector.
            https://www.demac.com/reference-materia … ub-series/
            It would seem this winter Biden will break a record or I should say we will pay record heating bills.

            1. My Esoteric profile image85
              My Esotericposted 3 years agoin reply to this

              And we have already discussed what is driving higher energy prices - the oil and gas companies - which Biden is having investigated as we write (Trump, on the other hand, would be encouraging the oil and gas companies illegal behavior.)

              1. Sharlee01 profile image85
                Sharlee01posted 3 years agoin reply to this

                Another investigation. LOL is it his usual 90-day deal. LOL, I liked it when we had a guy that could chew gum, and walk.  he is a weak unintelligent man in my view. The Sooner he is out of office the better. And I guess you could care very little about the very unfortunate that won't be able to pay their heating bills while Biden waits for his investigation. Thought he was the guy that was going to look out for the poor? He now has them not affording food, gas, and soon HEAT! How in the heck can you defend this mand decision?

                1. peoplepower73 profile image86
                  peoplepower73posted 3 years agoin reply to this

                  Sharlee:

                  Here is what is in the signed version of the infrastructure bill.  In my naïve view, it seems to me that it will create a lot of new jobs which help keep the inflation level in check. More money will be chasing more goods and services. Therefore, supply and demand will become more in balance and  possibly lower the  inflation rate

                  .https://www.vox.com/22770447/infrastructure-bill-democrats-biden-water-broadband-roads-buses

                  1. Sharlee01 profile image85
                    Sharlee01posted 3 years agoin reply to this

                    Thank you for the link. That is one of the scenarios that some economists are predicting.

                    The problem I think we might see,  that a surge in spending this year and next, temporarily fueled by debt while the tax revenue was collected, could combine with the $1.9 trillion spending in the American Rescue Plan will fuel serious inflation.

                    One must ask themself, can the economy handle a temporary deficit boost this year and next?  That will depend on whether the $1.9 trillion stimulus law Biden just signed pushes the economy too hard, leading to consumer price inflation, higher interest rates, and financial instability. I am worried that it will.

                    It seems the majority grab onto the thought that infrastructure money will fuel employment.  Please take a moment to consider something we are seeing presently --- we can't fill jobs as is. The infrastructure jobs will bring many skilled jobs, but we already have a great shortage of skilled workers. Even though the U.S. economy has begun to spring back, with the unemployment rate falling sharply as of late from alarming highs early in the pandemic, there are STILL  9.5 million fewer jobs in the country than there were when employment peaked near the beginning of the pandemic.

                    Please consider, that’s about the number of job losses the U.S. suffered during the Great Recession.


                    I don't think believing we can possibly come up with a huge workforce quickly enough to bring a benefit from what this bill costs.

                    And we are far from solving the problems we are having at the ports...  It seems odd to me that many can be optimistic about anything at this point.  And it seems like a country we are pretty much paying little attention to anything until it bits us.

                    I do support the need to improve our infrastructure. However, could it have hurt to just wait a bit, to let things settle, and work from there?

                    I certainly hope my concerns are off base.  I just think we are in for two or three years of steep inflation, and very hard times for the less fortunate.

                    Biden’s intention to pay for his infrastructure proposals with tax increases on the wealthy and on businesses should, by itself scare one. It's an" If Come", a true gamble.  This is a very simplistic shakey idea Biden is pushing. I think we are in for many problems due to some very bad Governing.

                  2. Fayetteville Faye profile image61
                    Fayetteville Fayeposted 3 years agoin reply to this

                    Deleted

                  3. My Esoteric profile image85
                    My Esotericposted 3 years agoin reply to this

                    Millions of New jobs, btw.

                  4. Sharlee01 profile image85
                    Sharlee01posted 3 years agoin reply to this

                    To further my point and just a few sources that helped me come to my opinion that we have over 9 million jobs to fill, and the difficulty we would have filling infrastructure jobs. Not trying to be Debbie Downer, but my concerns are there, and valid.
                    https://www.route-fifty.com/infrastruct … ds/185514/
                    https://www.nytimes.com/2021/09/09/us/p … -plan.html
                    https://hechingerreport.org/bidens-infr … l-do-them/
                    https://www.npr.org/2021/09/12/10363873 … inder-them

                    You do realize Biden is depending somewhat on all the jobs and the spending from the results of many getting these infrastructure jobs. Simply if these jobs are not filled, and the money he feels will be spent and added to the economy the bill will not be paid for. That's why it is paid for is an "if Come". Biden, and his administration as well as the Democrats in Congress, have taken a huge chance that this bill does not further inflation or worse.

                    And to turn around and hope to pass an even bigger bill on an if come makes no sense.

                    I for one wish Biden would have cooled his jets for a year or two. None of his policies make any common sense.

                    An added thought --- Biden's polls took a further dive this morning which tells me I am not alone in my assessment of his job performance. Disapproval rate 52.3 approval rate 42.7

                    His presently passed infrastructure bill appears to have not sat well with many American's.

                  5. wilderness profile image75
                    wildernessposted 3 years agoin reply to this

                    I'm not an economist, but I don't see any "goods and services" in that bill.  No new refrigerators, no new cars, no new steaks or restaurants.  I DID note that a small number of people will be able to buy broadband (as well as many that will be given it for free), but that small number is nothing beside the total money to be inserted into the economy.

                    That means there will be more money chasing the same supply, and that means more inflation.  Supply (remaining static) and demand (growing considerably) will be further out of balance, and that will NOT lower the inflation rate.

                2. My Esoteric profile image85
                  My Esotericposted 3 years agoin reply to this

                  Trump already is out of office unless you are one of those millions upon millions of Republicans who think he is still president.

                3. My Esoteric profile image85
                  My Esotericposted 3 years agoin reply to this

                  "Another investigation" - I forgot, you don't like to investigate wrong doing.

                  1. Sharlee01 profile image85
                    Sharlee01posted 3 years agoin reply to this

                    ESO --- "MY ESOTERIC WROTE:
                    And we have already discussed what is driving higher energy prices - the oil and gas companies - which Biden is having investigated as we write (Trump, on the other hand, would be encouraging the oil and gas companies illegal behavior.)"

                    Biden's incompetence is what has caused higher energy prices.
                    Now he tries to put a bandaid on a gaping wound.  Again we will see another fiasco. When Joe announced his plan to hit our reserves cost per barrel went down a bit --- within hours it went back up and ended up   1.6% higher than it was before Joe's announcement. 

                    "U.S. oil dipped 1.9% to a session low of $75.30 per barrel following the announcement, before recovering those losses and moving into positive territory. The contract last traded 1.6% higher at $77.99 per barrel. International benchmark Brent crude stood at $81.44 per barrel, for a gain of 2.2%." 
                    https://www.cnbc.com/2021/11/23/biden-s … -high.html

                    He makes poor decisions continuously.

    69. My Esoteric profile image85
      My Esotericposted 3 years agoin reply to this

      Sorry to disappoint those of you who is saying the sky-is-falling.  Inflation is down for the third quarter.

      https://www.cnn.com/2021/11/24/economy/ … index.html

      1. Sharlee01 profile image85
        Sharlee01posted 3 years agoin reply to this

        I will keep this reply short --
        But it’s still 4.9% higher than a year ago — outside of the previous quarter, the highest annual growth rate in 20 years....

    70. My Esoteric profile image85
      My Esotericposted 3 years agoin reply to this

      Investors Panic over news of new Covid variant from South Africa - the DOW is tumbling at the moment.  Two comments: 1) they are jumping the gun because not enough is known about the variant and 2) if Republicans would stop being so stupid or scared about against getting vaccinated, investors wouldn't have to worry.

      https://www.cnn.com/2021/11/26/investin … index.html

      Also, this is another way to lower oil prices -

      https://www.cnn.com/2021/11/26/investin … index.html

      This is how stupid they can get.  The girlfriend of my step-son is unvaccinated and gave me Covid recently.  Had I not been vaccinated myself, given the way I reacted I have no doubt in my mind I would be dead today.  Is she going to get vaccinated now?  Apparently not.

      1. Sharlee01 profile image85
        Sharlee01posted 3 years agoin reply to this

        It's already being reported the Vaccine may not be in any respect effective on this severely mutated strain. Joe has his own brand new Virus to handle. Seems he may want to come home from his vacation, and maybe close travel from certain parts of the world, as the UK and many other countries have. And in regards to the Market, no one has any confidence in Biden to handle such a huge problem as a new more horrific strain of the virus.

        And that fool is out there yesterday claiming all is well,
        "America is back".  My God, this country is in real trouble.

        And one can well bet Biden has known about this new strain and ignored it. WHO will start a timeline, and I will bet Biden was told days ago about this mutation, and how dangerous it is and will be. And he went on vacation. He needs to step down.

        https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles … rus-update

        1. My Esoteric profile image85
          My Esotericposted 3 years agoin reply to this

          Your complaint about Biden's well-earned vacation is quite disingenuous (and funny) since you had no problem with Trump golfing or otherwise ignoring over a third of his presidency.  It seems to me that you would gain a lot of credibility if you could be consistent in your criticism.

          1. Sharlee01 profile image85
            Sharlee01posted 3 years agoin reply to this

            Well earned?  You are kidding...

            1. Credence2 profile image81
              Credence2posted 3 years agoin reply to this

              I don't get it, why are Trump's recreational periods, known to go far beyond those of Obama, is OK and yet Biden's isn't?

              1. My Esoteric profile image85
                My Esotericposted 3 years agoin reply to this

                Because in the minds of the Trumpers, Trump can do no wrong and Biden can do no right.  I have already pointed out the hypocrisy and disingenuousness of such a remark, lol.

            2. My Esoteric profile image85
              My Esotericposted 3 years agoin reply to this

              Of course "well earned", he hasn't been screwing the country or off at the golf course like his predecessor did.  Virtually all of the things you find problematic with Biden are essentially figments of your or your right-wing propaganda outlets' imagination.

              1. Sharlee01 profile image85
                Sharlee01posted 3 years agoin reply to this

                So, pleased to see the left-wing media is starting to report more of the news. Perhaps you'll become much better informed about all the problems that Biden is ignoring.

                1. My Esoteric profile image85
                  My Esotericposted 3 years agoin reply to this

                  The main stream media has always reported all of the news.  It is your right-wing propaganda outlets that 1) tell only things that support Trump, 2) distort, mislead, misinterpret news that is favorable to Biden, 3) outright lie about it, and 4) focus 90% of their propaganda on "Opinion" pieces based on a report from somebody else rather than actual news.

                  BTW. there are only a few news outlets that can be considered "left-wing" and NONE of those is as biased and untruthful as the best of the right-wing propaganda organizations - Fake Fox News.

                  1. Sharlee01 profile image85
                    Sharlee01posted 3 years agoin reply to this

                    I don't ascribe any longer to CNN or MSNBC, I found them unreliable, not willing to be dumbed down with an agenda I feel lacks common sense. Better be careful you may be marching in step to propaganda.

                    As I have shared with you before, the ratings on your favs have plummeted severely, and get worse by the month. Gives me hope many American's are turning away from the left crazy rhetoric. Hate bait is not what I am into.

                    I try to stay away from talk jocks, I like to check out trusted outlets that simply stick to the news.

                    I don't find many outlets hiding Biden's blunders any longer. He is open game, as it should be.

                    https://www.mediaite.com/daily-ratings/ … snbc-dips/

                    https://www.adweek.com/tvnewser/week-of … mo/494486/

        2. My Esoteric profile image85
          My Esotericposted 3 years agoin reply to this

          Even if Biden is a fool, which isn't, he beats the hell out of the travesty that was and is Donald Trump.

          BTW, apparently you don't know what "America is Back" actually means, do you?  It has nothing to do with "all being well" as you incorrectly claim. 
          Just to keep you up-to-date and on track, it has everything to do with bring America back from the rock that Trump put us under.  It means America is back to working with the world rather than Trump's method of alienating all of our friends (like he does with most of his personal friends) while drawing drawing dictators like his friends Putin, Un, Xi, Assad, and the like closer to us and inviting them to attack our elections..

        3. My Esoteric profile image85
          My Esotericposted 3 years agoin reply to this

          You do know that it is now proven that all restricting flights do is only slowing down the spread of the new variant and devastating the businesses in all countries involved.

          To stop the variant from reaching our shored we need to totally isolate us, close down all forms of travel and seal our borders. You know that is not going to happen.

          Chances are, the variant is already here and spreading like the Delta did.  A more successful approach (which probably won't happen either) is for Biden to mandate vaccines and hope they protect against this new one.  But Republicans will have a tizzy-fit over that because many of them feel it is better to let 1,000+ people die a day than get themselves vaccinated.  (I wonder when so many so-called conservatives stopped caring much about the sanctity of life (with the hypocritical exception on an unborn fetus).

          Nope, if this variant is as bad as they (just read where the US just joined the UK in banning flights) say it could be, then the Republicans will fight Biden at every turn to do the right thing and we may be seeing daily death number (or mainly Trump voters) heading back up to 2000 or 3000 a day,

          Rather than ban the flights, I would think testing everybody on board each flight and quarantining any that come up positive. It doesn't make any difference on where the flights originated.

    71. My Esoteric profile image85
      My Esotericposted 3 years agoin reply to this

      After nine months, here is where Biden's economy stands:

      Good Indicators:
      - US Payroll: Up 14% from low, up 3.4% in the last nine months.
      - Unemployment Rate: Down to 4.6% from a high of 14.8%.  Down from 6.2% on Feb 1.
      - GDP: Currently at record high at $19.5 T. 
      - Debt-GDP Ratio: Dropped to 98.3% down from a high of 105.5% at the end of Q2, 2020.
      - Consumer Spending:  Currently at record high at $13.9 T.
      - 10-year Treasury Bond: Has risen to 1.58%, up from 0.59%, the sign of improving investor confidence in the economy.
      - 30-year Home Mortgage: Up to 3.1% from 2.65%. This is a sign of a strengthening economy.
      - Housing Starts: Currently at 1.5 million, much higher than most of Trump's term.
      - S&P/Case-Shiller US national home price index: Currently at a record high of 268.6. This is an indicator of American wealth.
      - S&P 500: At a record high at 4,594.

      Negative Indicator:

      - Consumer Price Index:  5.6%, up from an average of around 2%


      Now tell me again how bad the Biden economy is.

      1. Sharlee01 profile image85
        Sharlee01posted 3 years agoin reply to this

        Many of your stats are off. Do you have sources for any of these stats?

        For instance, wages are not up 14%...

        Real average weekly earnings decreased 1.6 percent over the 12 months ending October 2021
        NOVEMBER 23, 2021

        Real average weekly earnings of employees on private nonfarm payrolls decreased 1.6 percent from October 2020 to October 2021. In every month from April 2021 to October 2021, the 12-month changes in real average weekly earnings have been decreased, ranging from −0.8 percent to −2.6 percent.

        https://www.bls.gov/opub/ted/2021/real- … r-2021.htm

        Not sure why you feel anyone would be pleased to pay a higher rate when buying a home?

        CONSUMER PRICE INDEX – OCTOBER 2021

        The Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U) increased 0.9 percent
        in October on a seasonally adjusted basis after rising 0.4 percent in September,
        the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. Over the last 12 months,
        the all items index increased 6.2 percent before seasonal adjustment.

        The monthly all items seasonally adjusted increase was broad-based, with
        increases in the indexes for energy, shelter, food, used cars and trucks, and
        new vehicles among the larger contributors. The energy index rose 4.8 percent
        over the month, as the gasoline index increased 6.1 percent and the other major
        energy component indexes also rose. The food index increased 0.9 percent as the
        index for food at home rose 1.0 percent.

        https://www.bls.gov/news.release/cpi.nr0.htm

        None of this looks promising
        Consumer spending increases 0.6% in September
        Personal income drops 1.0%; wages jump 0.8%
        https://www.reuters.com/world/us/us-con … 021-10-29/

        You are trying to put perfume on a pig...
        Core PCE price index gains 0.2%; up 3.6% year-on-year

        1. Fayetteville Faye profile image61
          Fayetteville Fayeposted 3 years agoin reply to this

          Deleted

          1. wilderness profile image75
            wildernessposted 3 years agoin reply to this

            You're absolutely right that a president does not cause all the boom/bust cycles of our economy.  Not even Congress can be held accountable for ALL of them.

            But some things do stand out.  Congress, for example, is solely responsible for the housing bust with their insistence that everyone can buy a house whether they can afford it or not.  Trump's rapid recovery came about primarily because he concentrated on improving the job market, while Obama threw up obstacles to business at every opportunity.  Biden is doing the same; hamstringing business while providing freebies to everyone, whereupon we have the biggest inflation in decades instead of a robust recovery.

            So presidents can affect the economy if they try hard enough, and certainly Congress can.  But you are also correct that it can often take years or decades to actually know where to lay blame or congrats.

            1. peoplepower73 profile image86
              peoplepower73posted 3 years agoin reply to this

              Here is one example of what presidents can do to negatively affect the economy.  This is what deregulation of the savings and loans caused in the 80's.

              https://www.thebalance.com/savings-and- … st-3306035

              1. My Esoteric profile image85
                My Esotericposted 3 years agoin reply to this

                This is similar to what Congress did in the 2000s.  The details were different but the outcome was the same, just much worse than the S&L disaster.

            2. My Esoteric profile image85
              My Esotericposted 3 years agoin reply to this

              "is solely responsible for the housing bust with their insistence that everyone can buy a house whether they can afford it or not. " - False on several levels.  You are right, however, about the Republican Congress being responsible.  In this case, it was a combination of the repeal of the Glass-Stengel Act followed by a significant loosening of financial regulations making it much, much easier for financial abuse and outright fraud (one of the factors that inevitably leads to a major recession).  THAT is what was behind the housing boom bust.

              "Trump's rapid recovery came about primarily because he concentrated on improving the job market, " - I see you haven't left your world of make-believe yet.  Trump had absolutely NO recovery - he just continued Obama's at almost the same rate.  Further, Obama did better at creating jobs than Trump did.  Truth matters

          2. Sharlee01 profile image85
            Sharlee01posted 3 years agoin reply to this

            In my opinion, presidents, as well as congress, have a lot of control over the economy.  In the case of a crisis, presidential action can have an immediate and measurable effect on the economy, due to measures or policies that may need to be made quickly, without time to hesitation.

            For instance, Obama believed the stimulus package he signed early in his administration helped weaken the effects of the recession he was facing soon after coming into office.  Economists had mixed feelings on Obama auto company bailouts and mortgage-assistance programs.  And many experts believe that the broader set of government actions — by Obama and as well as the Federal Reserve — helped avert a full-blown depression.

            Outside of crises, presidents can have a harder time doing much to boost the economy in the short term. But in my view, they can hurt it.   For instance, Nixon’s decision to impose price controls in response to inflation is an example of a policy that had a clear, and immediate negative effect on the economy, one that took many years to fully reverse.  at this point defaulting on the national debt or sharply limiting trade, for example, could have a similar effect today.

            However, a president's effect on the economy can be subtle, in long run. That can make their impact hard to measure. The decades-long process of opening up global trade has had a clear, positive impact on the U.S. economy, but the impact of any single trade agreement is generally modest.

            Presidents probably can’t do much, for example, to bring back lost manufacturing jobs, but they can set policies to help the workers who lost those jobs. This kind of action by a president can boost the economy.

            Democrats promised to raise the minimum wage, guarantee paid leave to new parents, and hike taxes on the rich; those policies "might" have long-term effects on the economy. It's an unknown.

            Trump laid out different policies — lower taxes, reduced regulation — that would affect distribution in different ways. he had some success bringing back manufacturing jobs,  and reducing immigration which did appear to bring about a good economy up until the pandemic. This is a classic example of how a president can affect the economy, as Obama did with his stimulus that most certainly in my view overt a recession.

            1. My Esoteric profile image85
              My Esotericposted 3 years agoin reply to this

              "Economists had mixed feelings on Obama auto company bailouts and mortgage-assistance programs." - Yes, a "handful" of conservative economists do think Obama's stimulus was useless or even harmful, but only a small number

              "Trump laid out different policies" - Yes, mostly bad policies.  Once again I need to remind - 1) the rate of growth in manufacturing jobs did not change when Trump took over and 2) by definition, when a nations population growth slows, stops, or reverses GDP suffers.  And what Trump's immigration policy did was significantly slowed American population growth.  The fact is, Trump's immigration policy was very bad for the American economy, not good.

              1. wilderness profile image75
                wildernessposted 3 years agoin reply to this

                You make a good case for non-citizens to be allowed to indiscriminately enter the country so Americans can support them.

                Good, that is, unless you are conservative and believe that Americans should keep what they have without trying to support the world.  Problem is that you fail to distinguish between the numbers (such as GDP) and the per capita (meaning American citizens) income.

                We could double GDP if we just gave out 20T to everyone in the country...and watch as the average American loses everything they've built.

                1. My Esoteric profile image85
                  My Esotericposted 3 years agoin reply to this

                  "You make a good case for non-citizens to be allowed to indiscriminately enter the country so Americans can support them." - [i]Once again you are WAY off the mark.  I repeat, multiple studies clearly show immigrants add more value to America than they use and that is true for undocumented immigrants.  I understand you can never accept that is true, it seems like it is in your DNA to believe Right-Wing propaganda, but that doesn't change the fact that you are wrong.

                  I do know the difference between raw GDP and per capita GDP.  What you don't understand that so long as you are looking at only one nation and for a relatively short timespan, say a less than 40 years, those two metrics are equivalent.

                  Of course you know your "doubling" example is nonsensical and doesn't reflect any sort of reality.  The reality is population growth plus productivity growth approximates, over the medium to long-term, GDP growth.  Conversely, if population shrinks (like it is in Russia right now) without an equal offsetting growth in productivity, GDP stagnates or declines (that is what Trump was doing).  It is axiomatic.[.i]

                  1. wilderness profile image75
                    wildernessposted 3 years agoin reply to this

                    "I repeat, multiple studies clearly show immigrants add more value to America than they use and that is true for undocumented immigrants."

                    If true, then your "studies" are not counting much of the cost of maintaining illegal aliens.  Few illegal alien families can even earn enough to educate their children (while also feeding, housing and clothing the family), let alone all the other costs associated with them.  Unless you are referring to actual immigrants, those following procedures to immigrate, which I plainly was not.

                    No, they are certainly NOT equivalent.  Again, you can increase GDP with a massive influx of cash...and the accompanying inflation will decrease what individuals can purchase.  Same with Russia; that a decreasing population gives a decreasing GDP does NOT indicate that the average income has fallen as well.  The two (decreased GDP/increased wages) is quite possible within a decreasing population.

          3. My Esoteric profile image85
            My Esotericposted 3 years agoin reply to this

            I have to disagree about Clinton's role in the boom during his administration.  He set the policies that were put in place to generate the growth that we saw.  I also hold him partly to blame for the bust that occurred a decade later when he compromised with the Republicans and allowed the Glass-Stengel Act to be replaced with much weaker controls over the mortgage industry.  Having studied that episode a lot, I am convinced that without that one mistake, the housing bubble would not have happened, at least as bad as it did.

            I absolutely agree with your assessments regarding it not making much difference who the presidents were in the other instances with this one caveat - Bush's tax cut and Bush's war in Iraq made it much worse than it had to be.  Gore would not have gone down that path.

            While I agree, barring a few exceptions, you can't pin a good or bad economy on a single president, you can pin it on a philosophy (I didn't say Party for a reason).  In my book A Short History of Significant American Recessions, Depressions, and Panics: Why Conservative Economic Theory Does Not Work I go into great detail of what was behind each of the 30 odd Major economic downturns (there have actually been 48, ut not all of them were Major).  The bottom line is the economy did much worse overall when conservative economic theory (microeconomics only) was at play as opposed to "liberal" economic theory (micro and macroeconomics at play.).

        2. My Esoteric profile image85
          My Esotericposted 3 years agoin reply to this

          No, the stats are not off, they just agree with your preconceived notion of what they should be.  Yes, I do have sources, I always have reliable sources - in this case the US Govt.  They are listed in this article - https://www.cnn.com/business/economic-growth-indicators

          Now let us prove you wrong, point by point:

          1. US Payroll: On April 1, 2020, it was 136.3 million jobs. On Feb 1, 2021. it was 143.1 million jobs. On Oct 1, 2021 it was 148.3 million jobs - you do the math. (I wasn't talking about earnings.)

          2. I didn't say people would be please with higher mortgage rates.  What I (or rather the article) said was that increasing mortgage rate (up to a point) are a sign of a strengthening economy..

          3. Then you ignored the other 8 positive indicators and just went back to your workhorse of inflation.

          It is interesting that you think a single negative indicator outweighs 10 positive indicators.  Does that show a heavy bias or what?

          1. Valeant profile image77
            Valeantposted 3 years agoin reply to this

            Choosing to look only at the few negatives seems to be the propaganda the right gets fed when out of power.

            1. My Esoteric profile image85
              My Esotericposted 3 years agoin reply to this

              How about a SINGLE negative.

    72. My Esoteric profile image85
      My Esotericposted 3 years agoin reply to this

      Can someone please explain to me why Republican politicians are so insistent on helping people die?

      https://www.cnn.com/2021/12/02/politics … index.html

      https://www.cnn.com/2021/12/02/politics … index.html

      Biden does what he can to save people's lives while Republicans appear to want to do the opposite.

      It is just disgusting!!

      1. Fayetteville Faye profile image61
        Fayetteville Fayeposted 3 years agoin reply to this

        Deleted

        1. My Esoteric profile image85
          My Esotericposted 3 years agoin reply to this

          More than likely that is what they are trying to do.  But is self-defeating since 1,000 Trump voters are dying a day.

          1. peoplepower73 profile image86
            peoplepower73posted 3 years agoin reply to this

            This just in today:

            CNN analysis: Risk of dying from Covid-19 is higher in red states
            From CNN's Deidre McPhillips

            Since vaccines have become widely available, the average risk of dying from Covid-19 is more than 50% higher in states that voted for President Trump in 2020 than it is in states that voted for President Biden, according to a CNN analysis of data from Johns Hopkins University.

            In the first 11 months of the pandemic – from the initial surge through the winter 2020 surge, before vaccines became widely available – the average Covid-19 death rate was about the same along party lines. Through the end of January 2021, states that voted for Trump in the 2020 election had an average of 128 Covid-19 deaths for every 100,000 people, while states that voted for Biden had an average of 127 Covid-19 deaths for every 100,000 people.

            New Jersey and New York, two states hit hard early on, had the highest death rates during this time. Mississippi and Louisiana also ranked among the 10 worst-hit states.

            In early February 2021, the number of people who received their first dose of Covid-19 vaccine surpassed the total number of Covid-19 cases in the US.

            In the 10 months since then, nearly 60% of the US population has become fully vaccinated and the average Covid-19 death rate in the US overall is 25% lower than it was in the 11 months before.

            The average death rate dropped even more in blue states. But in red states, where vaccination rates generally lag the national average, the average death rate hasn’t changed nearly as much.

            More context: Since Feb. 1, red states have had an average of 116 Covid-19 deaths per 100,000 people – 52% higher than the average of 77 deaths per 100,000 people in blue states. The five states with the worst per capita death rates in that time all voted for Trump in 2020: Oklahoma, Alabama, Florida, Kentucky and West Virginia.

            Four in 10 Republicans remain unvaccinated, compared to about one in 10 Democrats, according to data from a Kaiser Family Foundation survey published Wednesday. Fully vaccinated Republicans were also less likely than Democrats to have received a booster dose.

            1. My Esoteric profile image85
              My Esotericposted 3 years agoin reply to this

              And of the 77 deaths in Blue states, almost all of them are Trumpers, making those states bluer.

              And of the 116 deaths in Red states, almost all of them are Trumpers as well, making those states bluer.

              And the fact that only 40% of Republicans are vaccinated means those statistics will only get worse helping America become bluer.

              As I said, self-defeating.

              1. Fayetteville Faye profile image61
                Fayetteville Fayeposted 3 years agoin reply to this

                Deleted

                1. My Esoteric profile image85
                  My Esotericposted 3 years agoin reply to this

                  "Some Republican leaders seem to support Joe Biden’s efforts to beat the pandemic by encouraging the public to get vaccinated" - Mitch McConnell for one and all of the moderate Republican senators and house members.  But they are in the minority, unfortunately.  Of course the most influential voice is uncharacteristically quiet on the subject, although when pressed, Trump gives it lip service

                  I always liked Michael Steele.

          2. Sharlee01 profile image85
            Sharlee01posted 3 years agoin reply to this

            Where do you get this stuff?  "since 1,000 Trump voters are dying a day."

            1. wilderness profile image75
              wildernessposted 3 years agoin reply to this

              Assumption, wishful thinking and hope.  That's where it comes from.

              1. Fayetteville Faye profile image61
                Fayetteville Fayeposted 3 years agoin reply to this

                Deleted

                1. My Esoteric profile image85
                  My Esotericposted 3 years agoin reply to this

                  Good article.

              2. peoplepower73 profile image86
                peoplepower73posted 3 years agoin reply to this

                Wilderness and Sharlee:  Here is a Gallup Poll on COVID-19 attitudes and beliefs that are based on political party division.

                https://news.gallup.com/opinion/gallup/ … -risk.aspx

                1. wilderness profile image75
                  wildernessposted 3 years agoin reply to this

                  And, of course, the only people that get COVID are the 51% that voted Trump in red states.  No Democrat would dare die of it.

                  As I said, wishful thinking and assumptions.

                  1. peoplepower73 profile image86
                    peoplepower73posted 3 years agoin reply to this

                    Wilderness:  Your attitude to ignore the truth speaks volumes. I know you hate CNN.

                    https://www.cnn.com/2021/09/28/politics … index.html

                2. Sharlee01 profile image85
                  Sharlee01posted 3 years agoin reply to this

                  These are the sites I use to compare stats on states. It is surprising that many of the red states although have less vaccinated have increased infection rates, but death toll compared with many states that have very high percent vaccinated. It would appear that the states that are not as well vaccinated and they did have long periods of more deaths. They now may have fewer deaths due to what could mean they have herd immunity. However, this herd immunity would be lesser to protect them as the virus mutates. They would most likely have problems with heavy spread and depending on the severity of the virus mutation they could have more die. However, hopefully, this new strain will be one that offers less serious symptoms.  One can hope...

                  One can definitely see where more are vaccinated they  are still having high infection rates, but fewer die

                  I like the Mayo clinic  site --   https://www.mayoclinic.org/coronavirus- … ne-tracker

                  https://www.worldometers.info/coronavirus/country/us/

                3. Sharlee01 profile image85
                  Sharlee01posted 3 years agoin reply to this

                  This is just not correct Worldometer keeps a tally of infections per day as well as deaths per day. And more importantly, they list the states that are doing worse. The top of the list is California, which has 63.2 of the population vaccinated. They are having the most infections daily. in the US.

                  One only needs to browse the list to ascertain what states are doing
                  poorly in regards to virus infection.  Most states have low death rates. This includes red states.  I have also added a link that lists the percentage of vaccinated in each state. Actually, it does appear that in many of the states with more vaccinated the spread is worse. As in my state of Michigan... We are having double infections than what we had had in the worst period of COVID, our death rate is also high.

                  It is very easy to see many red states are doing well, better than most Dem leaning states with much higher vaccination rates. One need only check these stats. It's tedious but gives a true picture of what is truely going on. It would appear, in my view, many red states have low vaccination rates, and have developed a natural herd, as Sweden has now done. The current charts on Sweden are remarkable.

                  https://www.mayoclinic.org/coronavirus- … ne-tracker
                  https://www.worldometers.info/coronavirus/usa/arkansas/

                  https://www.worldometers.info/coronavir … ry/sweden/
                  Since Mau 2021 they have had very little problem with COVID.

                  1. peoplepower73 profile image86
                    peoplepower73posted 3 years agoin reply to this

                    Sharlee:

                    In your Worldometer site if you do the following, you will see that the New Deaths compared to the Deaths per million are much higher in the red states than the blue states. To view this, do the following:

                    1.  In the New Deaths Column Heading, click on the  grey area next to the  grey Down  Arrow.  This causes a sort on New Deaths with the highest death rates at the top of the column

                    2.  Note that Michigan is at the top with +155 New Deaths with a
                    Deaths/1M pop of 2,614, with a total population of 9,986,857

                    3. Scroll down to California.  It has total New Deaths of +40 with a Deaths/1M pop of 1,897, with a total population of 39,512,223

                    4. So that is much lower than Michigan in Deaths/ 1M population and total population.

                    5.  If you look at the red states and compare them to the blue states you will see the Deaths/1M is much higher in the red states than the blue states based on Deaths per million and Total population.

                    1. Sharlee01 profile image85
                      Sharlee01posted 3 years agoin reply to this

                      "In your Worldometer site if you do the following, you will see that the New Deaths compared to the Deaths per million are much higher in the red states than the blue states. To view this, do the following:"

                      This is true. However, these per million stats are collected from the very start when data was collected. This means a state may have had high death tolls in some time over the past two years, but for many months now has had very few deaths. The charts that span the months can offer the facts if a state is having current deaths or if they are down.

                      You use California as an example --- today they had 64 deaths.
                      In Dec 2020 - middle of March they had a substantial rise in deaths  And from the middle of March on their death rate fell and remains low. The spike is what made the ratio between the number of death per million.
                      Is this due to vaccines? I would say yes.

                      The charts give a good picture of what has happened in regard to infections and deaths.

                      Yes, in some red states you are correct to say the ratio of death per million was more. But many blue states also have very high death per million ratios.

                      I study these charts frequently, and to be honest the states with large cities have the worst infection rates as well as death tolls.

                  2. wilderness profile image75
                    wildernessposted 3 years agoin reply to this

                    Whups!  Careful, Sharlee; it is infections per capita that count, not the infections per day in a specific state.  One would expect California to have a high infections per day, but if it is Republicans getting sick, a lower infection rate per capita.  Of course, that's assuming California is all blue, whereas it is only the massive population centers that is; the rest is red.  A large majority of the square miles votes red, even in California; it is just shoved aside as not counting because of the concrete jungles there.

                    1. Credence2 profile image81
                      Credence2posted 3 years agoin reply to this

                      You are a piece of work, you still give large patches of desolate geography more political clout than those places that are actually inhabited by people and not by cows and sheep?

                      If only they could vote....

                      Your bias shows, but that is ok, the classic conservative attitude  does not make it on my hit parade, either.

                    2. Sharlee01 profile image85
                      Sharlee01posted 3 years agoin reply to this

                      I would find it too tedious to try to determine what political parties are becoming infected more.  I think it has become a ridiculous pass time. I can remember the liberals of old were very much against any form of vaccines. I have added myself. I have reached a point in regard to COVID to think as little about it as possible. Did what I could, and have moved on. If I get it after being vaccinated, I will chalk it up as fate. I am very much over it.  Not wasting another day on the BS.

                  3. My Esoteric profile image85
                    My Esotericposted 3 years agoin reply to this

                    "This is just not correct Worldometer keeps a tally of infections per day as well as deaths per day. " - which is where I get my data.  Here is a snapshot of 7-day averages:

                    - Jul 23rd: 323 per day
                    - Sep 20: 2003 per day
                    - Oct 20th: 1534 per day
                    - Nov 19th: 1,094 per day

                    Do you want to claim Worldometers.

                    "The top of the list is California, (in deaths) - Would it surprise you to know that California is the most populous nation in the country? So why would you expect California NOT to have the highest death rate per day?
                    BTW, Worldometers doesn't have a "deaths per day" metric, so why did you use it.
                      NOW, why wouldn't use deaths per million? (I actually know why).  If you did, you would find that California, EVEN THOUGH they were first to have Covid spreading unchecked throughout the state, has one of the LOWEST rates, 35th out of 50.  Why didn't you use that statistic.

                    To your other claims:  Explain why out of the 10 top states with the highest death rates nind of them are Red states while out of the 10 bottom states with the lowest death rates, seven of them are Blue states?

              3. Valeant profile image77
                Valeantposted 3 years agoin reply to this

                Yeah, seriously.  Since new reports note that red counties (counties that supported Trump by 60% or more) have 3x as many deaths as blue ones, the figure is more likely to be closer to 3,000.

                On December 2, 3,798 people died of covid.  One quarter would be Biden supporters and three quarters would be Trumpers, that math was way lower than Eso claimed.

              4. My Esoteric profile image85
                My Esotericposted 3 years agoin reply to this

                Simple.  Since, until just recently, 1,000+ people have been dying from Covid a day, of those 95% or more are unvaccinated, it is mainly Trump voters who are not vaccinated, it stands to reason that most of the dead are Trump voters.  I just rounded and assumed the "+" part were not Trump voters while the rest are.  Easy Peasy.

      2. My Esoteric profile image85
        My Esotericposted 3 years agoin reply to this

        The GOOD news that the economy added another almost 1/4 million jobs in November.  The BAD news is it wasn't the 1/2 million analysts were expecting. 

        The GOOD news also is:

        - 6+ million jobs have been added back to the economy since Biden took office.

        - Unemployment plummeted to 4.2%, just slightly above the 3.5% mark Trump set

        - Wages are up in certain sectors: Transportation (10%) and Hotels/Restaurants (13%)

        - After accounting for inflation, the typical American has more money in their pocket (that is a metaphor for those who like to sharpshoot) than they did last year,

        - Applications for federal tax ID numbers for small businesses is up over 30%

        - The adjustments to employment numbers has been up for every month of his term so far,  That implies the 235,000 private sector jobs for November will probably be adjusted upward in the coming months.

        - Including today's 235,000 the 3-month average in new jobs is 400,000.


        -

        1. wilderness profile image75
          wildernessposted 3 years agoin reply to this

          Gotta like that unemployment "aside" - that Biden's number is just "slightly higher" than Trump's.

          Personally I would not label 20% higher as "slightly".

          "After accounting for inflation, the typical American has more money in their pocket (that is a metaphor for those who like to sharpshoot) than they did last year"

          ONLY if you count the stimulus packages, borrowed from the future, as "money in their pocket".  The average wage increase has not kept up with inflation and certainly those millions on SS have not, and won't, keep up.

          But yes, in spite of the exaggerations, we ARE doing better than a year ago.  By a good sized chunk as the country opens back up.

          1. My Esoteric profile image85
            My Esotericposted 3 years agoin reply to this

            "ONLY if you count the stimulus packages" - And what has that got to with the truth of the statement?  Wasn't that the point of the stimulus package, duh.

            1. wilderness profile image75
              wildernessposted 3 years agoin reply to this

              As an indication of how well the country is doing it sucks.  And I thought that was the point of your post - that we're doing very well, partly because people have money now that their children must pay back.  I disagree with the philosophy behind that statement, that's all. On the other hand, inflation has hurt nearly everybody, and that's not so good.

              1. My Esoteric profile image85
                My Esotericposted 3 years agoin reply to this

                And again, why not.  The purpose of the stimulus was to get/keep the economy growing - it seems to have done just that.

                And your argument about "children having to pay back" is just false.  When, in our history of debt, has "our children" suffered trying to pay the debt down?  Never!

      3. My Esoteric profile image85
        My Esotericposted 3 years agoin reply to this

        Since the Right wants to blame Biden for increasing gas prices, they should also compliment him for falling prices - yet they won't, lol.

        "The outlook for home heating costs this winter is also improving significantly. Natural gas futures been nearly cut in half over the past two months. "

        https://www.cnn.com/2021/12/07/energy/g … index.html

        1. Sharlee01 profile image85
          Sharlee01posted 3 years agoin reply to this

          I look at this one day, in a week, lots of variables are involved with the very slight decrease in gas prices. It's a good bit of news and Biden certainly needs a positive bit of media coverage.

          1. My Esoteric profile image85
            My Esotericposted 3 years agoin reply to this

            The big thing that may be more permanent is the large reduction in natural gas prices (largely driven by global warming - the Fall has been warmer than expected).

      4. My Esoteric profile image85
        My Esotericposted 3 years agoin reply to this

        Biden gets tough with China and Russia in a way Trump never would (and he didn't praise Putin or put down our intel community while doing it!)

        https://www.cnn.com/2021/12/08/politics … index.html

        1. Sharlee01 profile image85
          Sharlee01posted 3 years agoin reply to this

          (not sure why Trump's name needs to come up in this conversation in regard to how Biden chooses to Govern when it comes to foreign policy. But it is very apparent to me it is bait.)   So, I will offer my view of how I feel about Biden's way of Governing when it comes to foreign policy. Please take time to visit the link where you will find a factual list of actions, as well as sanctions Trump put on Russia.  Not sure if Biden removed any or all of the sanctions Trump put on Russia, he may very well have.
          https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/nation … s-n1267975
          Trump never had to get tough with either, he kept them in their place without any form of confrontation. I have multiple times offered the link to the actions and sanctions Trump placed on Russia and once again will state Trump was very much hard on Russia. Hopefully this time you will take time to read the link. All other times I listed the actions and sanctions, you went silent on the subject. Brookings ---   https://www.brookings.edu/blog/order-fr … on-russia/

          Trump also slapped Russia with sanctions for election meddling
          https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa- … SKCN1OI27F
          I am sure you would dig up Biden's only sanctions on Russia -- Election meddling... Thought I would save time by saying Trump also did that...

          In regard to your opinion that Biden is getting tough on Russia and China --- I disagree.  He once again shows total weakness and does nothing. He
          offers us a bunch of "well I will be doing this or that". His past shows his words mean little... In my view, he lies on the spot. We still are dealing with American's trapped in Afghanistan.  If you recall he said --- "we will stay until all American's are out".  These kinds of statements should not be made by a president unless he is able to keep his promises.

          Your article ---  "In just the last two days, Biden's White House has announced that American diplomats would boycott the 2022 Winter Olympic Games in China and the President held a secure video call with Vladimir Putin in which he made clear the US is ready to impose economic penalties should Moscow escalate military action in Ukraine.
          "One nation can't force another nation to change its border; one nation cannot tell another to change its politics, and nations can't tell others who they can work with," Biden told the Russian leader, according to an official familiar with the conversation."

          Who in the hell cares if diplomats don't attend the Olympics? He should be calling for the games to be out and out boycotted. Genocide is being committed daily in China! And you call that tough...

          And "US is ready to impose economic penalties "...  If we had a strong president the ink would have been drying on those sanctions --- nothing but words. This is Biden's MO, nothing more.

          Russia has not removed their troops, have they?

          You always baffle me how you can jump on a flower speech, and run with it. I myself like action, a president that keeps peace with strength. I feel Trump kept the peace due to this form of Governing.

          I am very much fearful of where all this might go, and we have a frail somewhat senile man pulling the shots.

          1. Valeant profile image77
            Valeantposted 3 years agoin reply to this

            It amazes us how you whitewash the Trump presidency over and over again.

            Kept peace?  He facilitated the ethnic cleansing of one of our allies when he pulled the troops from the Kurdish and allowed Turkey to slaughter them.

            And who then carved up the territory that we left?  China, Turkey and Russia.

            Yeah, that's really tough.

            https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/ar … ld/601963/

            1. Sharlee01 profile image85
              Sharlee01posted 3 years agoin reply to this

              Must add --- Biden's polls and support are some of the worse any president has had '. Biden re-election poll shows dismal 22% support; Harris even worse at 12%

              https://www.bostonherald.com/2021/12/07 … nks-to-12/


              Boston Herald
              PUBLISHED: December 7, 2021 at 6:16 p.m. | UPDATED: December 7, 2021 at 10:11 p.m.
              The numbers are cringeworthy — 22% and 12%.

              "That’s the support for President Biden and his VP Kamala Harris in an I&I/TIPP poll that asked who would you vote for in the 2024 election. Even if you doubt the veracity of all this polling, these are poor numbers.

              The only good news for Biden, the survey adds, is “no favorite has emerged among the large field of potential challengers to run against Biden in the 2024 primaries.”

              But the sinking survey results are not out of the norm. A Wall Street Journal poll out Tuesday pegged Biden’s approval rating at a dismal 41%. Rasmussen had it at 42%.

              Congress, however, was at 22% in the Journal poll, but that’s another story.

              “It’s undeniable. Joe Biden is hurting in the polls right now and it’s due to a number of factors,” said Erin O’Brien, associate professor of political science at UMass Boston.

              Those factors, she said, include the nagging pandemic, soaring inflation, lingering doubts about Biden’s foreign policy chops after the botched pullout from Kabul and lingering legislation.

              The Journal adds that with Biden flatlining in the polls, he won’t be in a position to help Democrats fighting to keep their jobs in the midterms.

              This comes as Democrats hold a slim majority in the House, where the split is 221-213, and in the Senate, at 50-50, but with Harris as the tiebreaker.

              Support for former President Donald Trump remains strong among those loyal to him, so that also could be reflected in the polling that shows Biden needs to rebound or it will be too late to get much done in the second half of his tenure.

              Now Biden faces a new challenge.

              He held a video conference Tuesday with Russia’s Vladimir Putin over Russian troops heading toward the Ukrainian border.

              Just hours before the call got underway, the Associated Press reported that Ukrainian officials charged Russia was continuing to escalate the crisis by sending tanks and snipers to war-torn eastern Ukraine to “provoke return fire.”

              Republicans are watching to see how Biden fares, considering how poorly his administration handled withdrawal from Afghanistan.

              It’s all showing in the polls, with the Journal adding 63% of voters said the country had gone off-track, with just 27% saying the nation was on the right course. Some 61% said the economy was headed in the wrong direction."

              https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/pol … 320098001/
              "Gloomy landscape for Democrats in midterms as Biden's approval drops to 38% in USA TODAY/Suffolk poll"

              1. Fayetteville Faye profile image61
                Fayetteville Fayeposted 3 years agoin reply to this

                Deleted

                1. My Esoteric profile image85
                  My Esotericposted 3 years agoin reply to this

                  Only one president since WW II was worse than Biden at this point in their presidency - Trump.  The next closest was Clinton at 47%.  However, I am not worried.  NO, other president has faced such headwinds as Biden has in their first 10 months; one was of Biden's own making, the rest were not but people blame him anyway.

                  Those include:
                  1. His terrible decision to follow Trump's plan to leave Afghanistan
                  2. The crisis at the border largely made worse by Republicans lying to anybody who would listen that the borders were open when they weren't.
                  3. Republican resistance to getting vaccinated which allowed the Delta variant to get so bad during the Summer and now the Winter.
                  4. The Democratic in-fighting over the infrastructure bills.

                  These far overshadow the three great accomplishments in the Covid relief plan, the bi-partisan infrastructure bill, and a strong economy (even though nobody but economists want to believe it)

                  I do think you are going to see a slow improvement in his numbers as inflation recedes, the good economy gets "noticeably" better, the passage of the Build Back Better plan, his get tough attitude with our adversaries (I didn't realize it, but Biden already got Putin to pull back once already), when the benefits of the bi-partisan infrastructure bill begin to be felt.

                  I absolutely agree with this " How can someone (including Biden) though bring unity when we have those who continue to push lies and division?  Those (millions upon millions) who want to blindly follow incendiary rhetoric? "

            2. Sharlee01 profile image85
              Sharlee01posted 3 years agoin reply to this

              Must add --- Biden's polls and support are some of the worse any president has had '. Biden re-election poll shows dismal 22% support; Harris even worse at 12%

              https://www.bostonherald.com/2021/12/07 … nks-to-12/


              Boston Herald
              PUBLISHED: December 7, 2021 at 6:16 p.m. | UPDATED: December 7, 2021 at 10:11 p.m.
              The numbers are cringeworthy — 22% and 12%.

              "That’s the support for President Biden and his VP Kamala Harris in an I&I/TIPP poll that asked who would you vote for in the 2024 election. Even if you doubt the veracity of all this polling, these are poor numbers.

              The only good news for Biden, the survey adds, is “no favorite has emerged among the large field of potential challengers to run against Biden in the 2024 primaries.”

              But the sinking survey results are not out of the norm. A Wall Street Journal poll out Tuesday pegged Biden’s approval rating at a dismal 41%. Rasmussen had it at 42%.

              Congress, however, was at 22% in the Journal poll, but that’s another story.

              “It’s undeniable. Joe Biden is hurting in the polls right now and it’s due to a number of factors,” said Erin O’Brien, associate professor of political science at UMass Boston.

              Those factors, she said, include the nagging pandemic, soaring inflation, lingering doubts about Biden’s foreign policy chops after the botched pullout from Kabul and lingering legislation.

              The Journal adds that with Biden flatlining in the polls, he won’t be in a position to help Democrats fighting to keep their jobs in the midterms.

              This comes as Democrats hold a slim majority in the House, where the split is 221-213, and in the Senate, at 50-50, but with Harris as the tiebreaker.

              Support for former President Donald Trump remains strong among those loyal to him, so that also could be reflected in the polling that shows Biden needs to rebound or it will be too late to get much done in the second half of his tenure.

              Now Biden faces a new challenge.

              He held a video conference Tuesday with Russia’s Vladimir Putin over Russian troops heading toward the Ukrainian border.

              Just hours before the call got underway, the Associated Press reported that Ukrainian officials charged Russia was continuing to escalate the crisis by sending tanks and snipers to war-torn eastern Ukraine to “provoke return fire.”

              Republicans are watching to see how Biden fares, considering how poorly his administration handled withdrawal from Afghanistan.

              It’s all showing in the polls, with the Journal adding 63% of voters said the country had gone off-track, with just 27% saying the nation was on the right course. Some 61% said the economy was headed in the wrong direction."

            3. Sharlee01 profile image85
              Sharlee01posted 3 years agoin reply to this

              Must add --- Biden's polls and support are some of the worse any president has had '. Biden re-election poll shows dismal 22% support; Harris even worse at 12%

              https://www.bostonherald.com/2021/12/07 … nks-to-12/


              Boston Herald
              PUBLISHED: December 7, 2021 at 6:16 p.m. | UPDATED: December 7, 2021 at 10:11 p.m.
              The numbers are cringeworthy — 22% and 12%.

              "That’s the support for President Biden and his VP Kamala Harris in an I&I/TIPP poll that asked who would you vote for in the 2024 election. Even if you doubt the veracity of all this polling, these are poor numbers.

              The only good news for Biden, the survey adds, is “no favorite has emerged among the large field of potential challengers to run against Biden in the 2024 primaries.”

              But the sinking survey results are not out of the norm. A Wall Street Journal poll out Tuesday pegged Biden’s approval rating at a dismal 41%. Rasmussen had it at 42%.

              Congress, however, was at 22% in the Journal poll, but that’s another story.

              “It’s undeniable. Joe Biden is hurting in the polls right now and it’s due to a number of factors,” said Erin O’Brien, associate professor of political science at UMass Boston.

              Those factors, she said, include the nagging pandemic, soaring inflation, lingering doubts about Biden’s foreign policy chops after the botched pullout from Kabul and lingering legislation.

              The Journal adds that with Biden flatlining in the polls, he won’t be in a position to help Democrats fighting to keep their jobs in the midterms.

              This comes as Democrats hold a slim majority in the House, where the split is 221-213, and in the Senate, at 50-50, but with Harris as the tiebreaker.

              Support for former President Donald Trump remains strong among those loyal to him, so that also could be reflected in the polling that shows Biden needs to rebound or it will be too late to get much done in the second half of his tenure.

              Now Biden faces a new challenge.

              He held a video conference Tuesday with Russia’s Vladimir Putin over Russian troops heading toward the Ukrainian border.

              Just hours before the call got underway, the Associated Press reported that Ukrainian officials charged Russia was continuing to escalate the crisis by sending tanks and snipers to war-torn eastern Ukraine to “provoke return fire.”

              Republicans are watching to see how Biden fares, considering how poorly his administration handled withdrawal from Afghanistan.

              It’s all showing in the polls, with the Journal adding 63% of voters said the country had gone off-track, with just 27% saying the nation was on the right course. Some 61% said the economy was headed in the wrong direction."

              Reuters poll shows only 77% of Dem support Joe...  This is getting pretty obvious, Biden is in the tank with Dem voters.
              https://graphics.reuters.com/USA-BIDEN/ … opagnqapa/
              https://www.politico.com/news/2021/12/0 … oes-523719

            4. Sharlee01 profile image85
              Sharlee01posted 3 years agoin reply to this

              Ya know what, I don't bring Trump up --- ever. However, when someone does bring him up, and compare his Governing, that certainly opens the door to discuss the subject. I backed my view with a link to factual actions and sanctions, which shows how he dealt with Russia. he did not make threats, as a rule, he set out punishment as a rule very quickly in regard to Russia. 

              Trump has accomplished what the US set to do and pulled our troops out of Turkey --- The U.S. had achieved its goal of defeating ISIS.
              Trump promised to get us out of foreign wars. Wars that we entered with a purpose... he kept his promise. He drew no red line and ignored it when citizens were hit with chemical warfare.  He made a decision and kept to his word, and did it without a problem. he left no American
              behind...

              Obama left Syria for Russia ...

      5. My Esoteric profile image85
        My Esotericposted 3 years agoin reply to this

        More Good News from the Biden administration:

        President Joe Biden's Federal Emergency Management Agency is putting climate front and center in its new four-year strategic planning document, after the (climate-change denying) Trump administration erased all mention of climate from its previous plan.

        https://www.cnn.com/2021/12/09/politics … index.html

        1. Sharlee01 profile image85
          Sharlee01posted 3 years agoin reply to this

          This sounds like a run-around of words... Lots of claims, and very little HOW he intends to accomplish his set dates for these positive climate changes. Very few plans lot's of predictions.

          He slammed Trump (which we all realize Trump was not a green president).

          Very curious if he has done away with any of Trump's policies that he felt harmed the environment. Other than the pipeline, and rejoining the Paris Climate accord. I mean Trump slashed most all O Obama's EO on climate, has Biden canceled Trump's many EO's that affect climate?

          Or is he just once again reading a script that was stuck-in front of him?
          .

          1. Fayetteville Faye profile image61
            Fayetteville Fayeposted 3 years agoin reply to this

            Deleted

            1. Sharlee01 profile image85
              Sharlee01posted 3 years agoin reply to this

              I am on board with working hard to improve our growing climate problem. It is most possible he is trying to appease the progressives. I have not found any solid plans on accomplishing his claims. He certainly has given some wordy promises on the subject. It is definitely true both parties give the same form of lip service.

              I hope we see some progress on making the planet a better place.

              1. Valeant profile image77
                Valeantposted 3 years agoin reply to this
                1. Sharlee01 profile image85
                  Sharlee01posted 3 years agoin reply to this

                  5 great things Biden did for the climate in 100 days. What am I missing these are all promises, without any true concrete plans. 

                  — and 4 things he should do next --- These are really good suggestions.
                  Will Biden take these suggestions, and implement them?

                  That's a wait-and-see in my view. Biden has a bad habit of making promises he does not keep, he has done this throughout his career.

                  He did get the infrastructure bill passed, and he very well has a chance to keep some climate promises with that cash. So far we have political promises. He certainly has the time to make good a few of his climate promises.

                  1. My Esoteric profile image85
                    My Esotericposted 3 years agoin reply to this

                    What promises has he not kept that he has had time to keep or that the Republicans didn't blow up?  You talk like he has been in office eight years.

                    But you do ask a good question - what has Biden accomplished in 10 months?
                    - American Rescue Plan
                    - Ended the war in Afghanistan (unfortunately)
                    - Rejoined the Paris Climate Accord
                    - Trying to rejoining the Iran nuclear deal and get Iran to do the same thing after Trump made the world a much more dangerous place.
                    - extended a 15% increase to SNAP funding, helping children who qualify for free lunch
                    - restored funding to veterans programs, including programs to assist veterans’ mental health (that had been cut by Donald Trump)
                    - boosted funding to the Affordable Care Act, providing new options for people who need health insurance and lowering costs for people already insured
                    - protected tens of thousands of aviation jobs
                    - provided socially disadvantaged farmers with debt relief. (Many who suffered greatly under Trump's disastrous trade war with China)
                    - cancelled student loan debt for more than 300,000 Americans with severe disabilities;
                    - canceled millions in student debt for students of for-profit schools
                    - paused student loan repayment until January 31 2022 due to COVID-19
                    - ordered federal agencies to enact policies to increase the number of affordable homes in America.
                    - restarted posting White House visitor logs (after Donald Trump had stopped doing so)
                    - implemented a program to make American supply chains less reliant on foreign companies and is working to resolve other supply chain entanglements left by Donald Trump
                    - signed pension relief, keeping more than 100 pension plans solvent and providing retirement benefits to millions.
                    - reduced the Donald Trump-supported pay gap between women and men working in the White House and has more women and minorities as part of his Cabinet as well as key advisers than any other president
                    - released rules that protect patients from unexpected medical bills and ordered an increase in funding to address America’s mental illness and addiction crisis.
                    - terminated a 2018 Donald Trump directive that put up roadblocks to families trying to help undocumented immigrant children
                    - reinstated a program cancelled by Donald Trump that allows minors from El Salvador, Guatemala, and Honduras to reunite with a parent living lawfully in the United States
                    - directed that children separated and incarcerated at the border be reunited with their parents
                    -  blocked drilling at Alaska's Arctic National Wildlife Refuge
                    - stopped issuing new leases for oil and gas exploration on public lands.
                    -  rejoined the World Health Organization;
                    - invoked the Defense Production Act to make vaccines and personal protective equipment like masks;
                    - warned Russian president Vladimir Putin the United States would no longer roll-over for his aggressive actions
                    - sanctioned Russian officials in retaliation for the poisoning of opposition leader Alexei Navalny and for its attempts at election interference and for the SolarWinds hacking attack
                    - brokered the bi-partisan infrastructure deal (which finally was passed).
                    - Oh Yes, then there is this Biden will sign executive order setting 2050 net-zero emissions target for federal government

                    It looks to me that Biden has been very busy.  During Trump's first 10 months, he played a whole lot of golf.  Speaking of golf, what Biden hasn't done is spend $151,500,000 on playing golf.

            2. My Esoteric profile image85
              My Esotericposted 3 years agoin reply to this

              Yes, he has reversed lots of anti-earth policies Trump put in place and there are more to come.  Just google it, its easy to find.

              1. Fayetteville Faye profile image61
                Fayetteville Fayeposted 3 years agoin reply to this

                Deleted

                1. Credence2 profile image81
                  Credence2posted 3 years agoin reply to this

                  In your world view of compromise and such, how does such obstinance sit with you?

                  In my opinion, the Dems need to gather and get vital legislation passed with or without Republicans while there is still time, before they return and reintroduce the "Dark Ages".

                  1. Fayetteville Faye profile image61
                    Fayetteville Fayeposted 3 years agoin reply to this

                    Deleted

                    1. Credence2 profile image81
                      Credence2posted 3 years agoin reply to this

                      You are probably right about the necessity for some sort of compromise, where Republicans actually cooperate. I will believe it when I see it.

                      A handful may not be enough to ward off the scare tactics and inflammatory language and such that would drive the larger number.

                      It is hopeful that if Schumer and McConnell as leaders can come to some meeting of the minds, there may well be hope.

                      As you say there has been an infinitesimal spark regarding bipartisanship and compromise.

                      What compromise we have seen has come with immense difficulty and we are going to need much more of the same. But, in the meantime, I will keep my powder dry and just wait and see.

                    2. wilderness profile image75
                      wildernessposted 3 years agoin reply to this

                      "The big question is can we get our politicians to replicate  this?"

                      As long as their paycheck, and personal political power, depend on toeing a party line it will be rare indeed.

                      1. My Esoteric profile image85
                        My Esotericposted 3 years agoin reply to this

                        The "toe the party line" is paramount.  It didn't used to be this way before the rise of social conservatism infected our government.

                    3. My Esoteric profile image85
                      My Esotericposted 3 years agoin reply to this

                      I use to agree with you regarding compromise, but no longer.  I now view compromise as a great goal to strive for but is no longer the end-all-be-all.  With things like voting rights, civil rights (both on the decline), and climate change on the table (all existential threats to our democracy) then the Democrats need to force through bills any way they can.  I split with Sen Joe Manchin on that.  I do not want the Senate to end up like the House, it wasn't intended to be that way, but the filibuster must be made workable.

                      1. Credence2 profile image81
                        Credence2posted 3 years agoin reply to this

                        Well Esoteric, more trouble in "River City".

                        "As The Hill reported, Senator Lindsey Graham of South Carolina addressed the GOP Senate caucus this week as they debated whether to allow the Democrats to raise the debt ceiling to prevent the US from defaulting on its debt. Trump was apoplectic that they would do this because he believed the Democrats would suffer politically if the country defaults and the markets crash, which is his fondest hope. Graham counseled his fellow Senators against saving the country saying, "It's pretty obvious to me that this will not be received well by the Republican faithful, including Donald Trump." He said that Majority Leader Mitch McConnell had led them up a hill and they were being shot in the back."

                        How does this man, Trump, have such a magnetic pull over so many? He is not even close to being a real leader, he is only exemplary in the aspect that he has got so many that are willing to slavishly follow him into oblivion.

              2. Sharlee01 profile image85
                Sharlee01posted 3 years agoin reply to this

                You are right it was very easy to find what Biden has factually done in regard to canceling Trump's EO's... Unfortunately, he did very little in that respect.

                Tracking regulatory changes in the Biden era scroll at filters box to see facts on what Biden has done, this will tell you will give you a good idea what he promised, and has not done.

                https://www.brookings.edu/interactives/ … biden-era/

                I think you will be very disappointed to see he has done little in regards to getting rid of much of Trump's EO's.  Back in Jan and Feb, he made lots of promises in regards to canceling out Trump's EO's  -- just very few were actually even dealt with. All talk, shell game...

                1. My Esoteric profile image85
                  My Esotericposted 3 years agoin reply to this

                  No, I am absolutely not disappointed, but after reading this, I find you very much delusional.

                  https://www.cnn.com/interactive/2021/po … ve-orders/

                  1. Sharlee01 profile image85
                    Sharlee01posted 3 years agoin reply to this

                    I'll stick with Brookings over CNN... As I said CNN will have a brand new format  the first of the year, hopefully, the propaganda will stop. I will tune in and check it out when the new format is in play. Otherwise, I have no respect for anything they dish up. Sorry...

                    You may need to consider looking at some other sources, it appears you frequently use CNN as a source. Lot's of great sources out there...

        2. My Esoteric profile image85
          My Esotericposted 3 years agoin reply to this

          An analysis (not opinion) I just read starts out this way:

          One of the more insidious myths this year was that young people didn't want to work because they were getting by just fine on government aid. People had too much money, went the narrative.

          Only trouble is, the numbers don't back it up.
          Instead, early retirement —


          Other important lines:

          Instead, early retirement — whether forced by the pandemic or made possible otherwise — is playing a big role in America's evolving labor market.

          But among those who have left and are not able to -- or don't want -- to return, the vast majority are older Americans who accelerated their retirement. - Which is probably why we can have rising participation rate, very low unemployment rate, and lots of empty jobs.

          Last month, there were 3.6 million more Americans who had left the labor force and said they didn't want a job compared with November 2019, says Aaron Sojourner, a labor economist and professor at the University of Minnesota's Carlson School of Management.
          Older Americans, age 55 and up, accounted for whopping 90% of that increase.


          "Part of it is a job quality shortage," says Sojourner. "It's a bit of a puzzle why employers aren't raising wages and improving working conditions fast enough to draw people back in. They say they want to hire people — there are 11 million job openings — but they're not creating job openings that people want."

          In normal times, retired people are often drawn back into the workforce. But the "unretirement" rate fell significantly during the pandemic, exacerbating the shortage of workers, according to research from the Kansas City Fed.


          https://www.cnn.com/2021/12/15/economy/ … index.html

        3. My Esoteric profile image85
          My Esotericposted 3 years agoin reply to this

          America must be liking Biden better, there is a sharp increase in his approval rating recently according to RCP average rating. It is now at a two month high of 44.2.  It is higher if you discount Rasmussen and Trafalger.

          Will it continue?

          https://www.realclearpolitics.com/epoll … -7320.html

          1. Sharlee01 profile image85
            Sharlee01posted 3 years agoin reply to this

            I am reverting back to the subject of your thread --- And must point out a few negatives.

            Combine President Joe Biden's age (he'll be 82 shortly after the 2024 election) and his ongoing political struggles (he's mired in the low 40s in job approval) and you get this: a series of stories examining whether Biden runs again and, if not,  and a list of who might take his place.
            (IMO seems the Democrats have all but put old Joe out to pasture).

            We are in the midst of just one of those news cycles, with The New York Times publishing a big takeout on the potential Biden replacements within the Democratic Party over the weekend.

            The White House, aware of the whispers, made clear Biden is planning to go for a second term. "The President has every intention of running for reelection," White House press secretary Jen Psaki said on Monday.
            But ... what if Biden's plans change? Below, a look at the most commonly mentioned names for 2024 contenders and a single line on their viability.

            * Kamala Harris: She's undoubtedly struggled as vice president but she's still the most likely Democrat not named Biden to wind up as the Democratic nominee in 2024.

            * Pete Buttigieg: The most naturally talented candidate in the 2024 field, "Mayor Pete" has also been front and center selling Biden's infrastructure bill.

            Elizabeth Warren: The Massachusetts senator is still popular among liberals -- and wouldn't be splitting the vote with Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders this time around like she did in 2020.

            * Amy Klobuchar: Other than Buttigieg, the Minnesota senator was probably the best regarded of the losing candidates in 2020 -- and her Midwest roots are always a plus given the electoral map.

            * Roy Cooper: Term-limited out of office in 2024, the North Carolina governor has ample time to consider his next step -- starting with his service as the vice chairman of the Democratic Governors Association.

            * Mitch Landrieu: Being tasked with implementing the infrastructure bill is a big (and high-profile) job that the former New Orleans mayor has taken to with relish.

            * Gina Raimondo: She made the leap from Rhode Island governor to Biden administration commerce secretary but doubts remain as to whether she is too moderate to win a Democratic primary in this moment.

            Gretchen Whitmer: The Michigan governor needs to win what could be a tough reelection race next year before she can turn to considering a national run in earnest.

            * Phil Murphy: The record of New Jersey governors running for president isn't great of late (sorry, Chris Christie!) but Murphy could use the next few years of his governorship as a testing ground for some national policies for the party.

            This is not my view, but CNN  Analysis by Chris Cillizza opinion.

            It would appear some analyst at CNN can smell the coffee
            .

            * J.B. Pritzker: Pritzker has two things going for him -- 1) He's the governor of a major Midwestern state (Illinois) and 2) he's very, very rich.

            * Stacey Abrams: Abrams talked openly about running in 2020 before passing on the race; but she needs to win the Georgia governor's mansion in 2022 before thinking too much about 2024.

            Now it's pretty clear even some at CNN are getting in line to discourage Biden from running in 2024.

            They can see what a true problem Biden has become to the Democratic party.  As have so many left-leaning media outlets.  Not sure Biden has many donors that would back his run.

            https://www.cnn.com/2021/12/13/politics … index.html

            Biden Should Not Run Again — and He Should Say He Won’t
            https://www.nytimes.com/2021/12/14/opin … -2024.html

            You may want to start having a look at some of the candidates CNN listed., always good to research, and get to know how you might vote for.

            I know I will be having a look at those that might run in the Republican party.

            1. Fayetteville Faye profile image61
              Fayetteville Fayeposted 3 years agoin reply to this

              Deleted

              1. Sharlee01 profile image85
                Sharlee01posted 3 years agoin reply to this

                I don't think a president needs to take a victory lap when he accomplishes something positive. I feel people take note of accomplishments due to the effect that accomplishment has on them personally, and as a whole on the country.  And yes,  Trump's thrived off of informing any and all of what he felt was an accomplishment.  He had a way of making his followers that their concerns really mattered to him, and was very out there, very visible to the people. They seem to feel they were part of Government, and being heard.

                I feel many American's from both sides were pulling for the infrastructure bill... We pulled for the infrastructure Bill Trump tried to get off the ground, which went nowhere. The infrastructure bill to most is something that should have been done years ago.  Biden accomplishment that, and this is a positive in my view.

                I can only speak for myself in regard to inflation. I feel the new administration made some serious very blatant errors that some economists say they should have recognized could cause inflation due to the countries pandemic situation, and the problems that were brewing even before the Trump office. The main two a supply chain problem was brewing due to the lockdown situations around the world, and then pouring too much money into the economy when the supply chain problem was getting a bit better -- the cash caused a great supply and demand strain that caused a severe supply chain problem and back-up at our ports.

                It will take a long while to fix that problem and to get it back to normalcy.

                I agree that most likely the majority of citizens just hear snippets of information, and they run with it. The media is greatly affecting what people not only think, but believe.

                It's wise to turn to economists for information on anything that pertains to the economy. And they often are at odds in their analysis.

                Biden's communications skills in my view, are those of an old-time politician.  So, I can't blame his communication staff. I think they have their jobs cut out for them, never knowing when he will go off script and make up an unnecessary fictional story about someone or something he claims he did or show a flash of red-faced anger. I think his team most likely do their best.

                1. My Esoteric profile image85
                  My Esotericposted 3 years agoin reply to this

                  "I feel people take note of accomplishments due to the effect that accomplishment has on them personally, " - [i[I used to think that, but no longer.  Americans have, for the most part, lost their critical thinking ability (I assume the Republicans will now cancel that as they are with American history).  I include the Left in that criticism, although it is more prevalent on the Right. 

                  People nowadays, I think, focus on the shiny object in front of them, whether it is real or propaganda.  The latest one is inflation.  Few of them remember, nor care, when inflation was really bad and not middling bad as it is now.  People don't remember or care that the cause of this inflation is temporary in nature, they only care that it exists at all.

                  As a result, any other good thing a president or Congress may do is lost in the racket made by the opposition about the problem de jour.

                  "Biden's communications skills in my view, are those of an old-time politician." - And the problem with that is ... ?  I do not like to be spoken to in sound bites, so Biden is a breath of fresh air.

                  As you loved about Trump, going off-script is authentic.  Are you going to give Biden the same benefit?

                  1. Sharlee01 profile image85
                    Sharlee01posted 3 years agoin reply to this

                    I was not offering how I feel about  Trump's communication skills, just did not offer my own feelings on the subject. I offered an opinion on what I felt others might feel about how he communicated.

                    With Biden, I simply offered my own opinion ---  Biden's communications skills in my view, are those of an old-time politician.  So, I can't blame his communication staff. I think they have their jobs cut out for them, never knowing when he will go off script and make up an unnecessary fictional story about someone or something he claims he did or show a flash of red-faced anger. I think his team most likely do their best. 

                    In my opinion, Trump was not in any respect a politician when it came to speaking to the public. He was unfiltered much of the time, and one could see he had a hard time reading others' words. I weeded through his words to put context to his words early on, I could see his communication skills were all over the place...  However, over his years in office, I trusted him to keep his promises or try very hard to keep true to his words. 

                    .

                    1. My Esoteric profile image85
                      My Esotericposted 3 years agoin reply to this

                      Again, the question is "what is wrong with communicating like an old-time politician?

                      1. Sharlee01 profile image85
                        Sharlee01posted 3 years agoin reply to this

                        I can only offer one opinion on that, mine.  And to be honest I have detested the phoniness of politicians for many years.  So what is I don't like? Let me count the ways... I don't like the made-up little scenarios they conveniently come up with as need  -- the I was talking to a mom --  before I came today..."   I don't like unrealistic promises.  I don't like race-baiting or any form of baiting for that matter... I don't like emotional phony acting.  One thing I can't stand about Biden  -- how he runs onto a stage - Like hey look how healthy I am BS. He copied that from a man that was healthy and did that little run-in naturally, Obama. Which was enjoyable to watch because it was not a phony gesture.

                        So, this is my problem with the old-time politician. Most were completely scripted, phony IMO.

              2. My Esoteric profile image85
                My Esotericposted 3 years agoin reply to this

                Soooo true!

            2. Valeant profile image77
              Valeantposted 3 years agoin reply to this

              Your claim about Biden's approval seems to ignore historical trends. 
              - George W. Bush, 2nd term, elected at 51%, down to 41% by December
              - Barack Obama, 1st term, elected with 67% approval, was at 49% in December of 2009.
              - Barack Obama, 2nd term, elected with 52% approval, was at 41% by December of his first year. 
              - Donald Trump, elected at 45% approval, was at 35% by December of his first year.

              Seems a dip in approval during the first year is pretty normal and not some event to panic over.  Yet, your point that many would like to see new options is not wrong at the same time.

              Pretty decent list of options as well.  The lesson learned in 2016 is if the right puts up a Trumpist, the Democrats will answer with someone moderate, male, and white.  So, Cooper and Murphy head the field.

              On the right, you'll likely have:
              Full on Trumpists:
              Pompeo
              DeSantis
              Noem
              Abbott
              Cruz
              Rubio
              Haley
              Scott
              Trump, Jr. (with a single campaign platform, elect me so I can pardon Daddy)
              Trump, Sr. (likely from jail)

              Former Trumpists, trying to court but not be fully associated with Trumpism:
              Pence
              Christie

              Conservative, yet Anti-Trumpers:
              Hogan
              Cheney

              1. Sharlee01 profile image85
                Sharlee01posted 3 years agoin reply to this

                The article was from CNN. The opinions offered as stated at the bottom of the piece were that of Analysis by Chris Cillizza, CNN Editor-at-large.  However, I do agree with his sentiment.  he did not include any form of prior president's approval rates. It would have been a very good addition to the piece. He seems to have given up a bit on carrying Biden's water. I found the piece non-bias.

                I think you nailed the list of who will run if Trump doesn't.

                1. Valeant profile image77
                  Valeantposted 3 years agoin reply to this

                  My point was less about the CNN article and more to your consistent perception that a dip in the polls in the first year of office is something unique to Biden.  It's not.

                  1. Sharlee01 profile image85
                    Sharlee01posted 3 years agoin reply to this

                    As I said, I think Cillizza should have included the stats you offered. They certainly would give a more non-bias view, showing a historical picture of stats in regard to past president approval ratings.

                    His article suited my thought -- The main point I was trying to make, was I feel some left media outlets seem to at this point, not being protective of him as I feel they have been up until now.

                  2. Sharlee01 profile image85
                    Sharlee01posted 3 years agoin reply to this

                    It's not unique to Biden, I think I can safely say, I watched this happen many times over my many years.  I follow polls, as I did with Trump. I associate them with what the president is doing that might be contributing to the polls, good or bad. 

                    As a rule, I try to add at the end of my comments on polls that they can certainly turn around. I would say I dwell more on present news, and my comments reflect that.

                    It will be very interesting to see how Biden does in the years to follow, and if his polls reflect whatever he does while on the job.

                    1. Credence2 profile image81
                      Credence2posted 3 years agoin reply to this

                      "It will be very interesting to see how Biden does in the years to follow, and if his polls reflect whatever he does while on the job."

                      As the future is unknowable, there is nothing wrong with the assumption that in future years Biden will do well. Let's wait and see, because we are not there yet.

                      1. Sharlee01 profile image85
                        Sharlee01posted 3 years agoin reply to this

                        I did not offer a prediction of how I felt he would do in any respect.   In fact, I said this --- As a rule, I try to add at the end of my comments on polls that they can certainly turn around. I would say I dwell more on present news, and my comments reflect that.

                        I had hoped my comment would indicate Biden's poll could turn around and reflect whatever he did on the job in the coming years.

                        Hopefully, this clears up the context I was trying to convey.

            3. My Esoteric profile image85
              My Esotericposted 3 years agoin reply to this

              You will have one real choice on the Republican side.  Trump, or he is in jail, his mini-me DeSantis.  The "base" will allow no one else.

              1. Valeant profile image77
                Valeantposted 3 years agoin reply to this

                I don't know, Tim Scott has his nose so far into Trump's pooper that Trump might think he could govern through him.  And he could be the GOP version of Obama.

                1. My Esoteric profile image85
                  My Esotericposted 3 years agoin reply to this

                  I don't think Scott has the "creds" with the base.  Besides, he is black and there is only a small portion of the Trump base that thinks that is OK.  Remember, one reason "the base" became so motivated was in reaction to having a black president. 

                  Sadly, Obama brought out the dark side of American culture.  Had Clinton, even though she is a she, wouldn't have engendered such a visceral reaction from what had been a silent subset of America society.

              2. Sharlee01 profile image85
                Sharlee01posted 3 years agoin reply to this

                I feel DeSantis would pull in Trump's base, and many republicans that like Trump's agenda, and ideologies. He has several things going for him, he is young, he is forceful, and one can see he is not one that plays Washington games, he has a very obvious conservative side. He has the ability to make decisions in regards to problem-solving, he gets right on problems, and works to offer solutions. He does not use a politician's broom to ignore and say" look here not there when it comes to problems."

                This is just a surface opinion, I have not researched him. But keep in mind, IMO, the majority of American's just look at what they see on the surface.

                1. Fayetteville Faye profile image61
                  Fayetteville Fayeposted 3 years agoin reply to this

                  Deleted

                  1. Sharlee01 profile image85
                    Sharlee01posted 3 years agoin reply to this

                    I have not heard DeSantis address anything other than how he felt the 2020 election was handled in his own state. He is walking the line of a politician that is evident. He certainly is smart enough not to alienate Trump's strong base, if he truely wants to win in 2024. Very quick on his feet.

                    I have not found "Gov Ron DeSantis was selling merchandise mocking masks, COVID vaccines and Dr Fauci" I have found that a PAC was selling this form of merchandise. I have not uncovered he was involved in any respect seeling or deriving personal funds from such a venture.

                    "A political action committee tied to Republican Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis has been selling anti-mask and anti-Fauci merchandise, including shirts that read "don't Fauci my Florida."

                    In my view ---  I have come to respect Fox over the past because I feel they report all the news. Are they biased to the right --- defiantly as CNN and MSN show a left-leaning bias? So we must agree to disagree in regard to news networks."  https://www.cnn.com/videos/business/202 … -politics/

                    It is very obvious due to DeSantis's words he does not agree with Dr. Faici's opinions on how COVID should be handled. I do ow he did pretty well-getting people to take a COVID Vaccine and did it with good speed.
                    Did better than the majority of other states.
                     
                    In Florida, 15,468,294 people or 72% of the state have received at least one dose.

                    Overall, 13,227,652 people or 61% of Florida's population has been fully vaccinated.

                    I am well known to have said from the first days of the pandemic to say Fauci was Trump's number one mistake in his handling the pandemic. I stick by that sentiment.

                    I am not for locking up anyone without due process. But, I do feel Fauci lied to congress on several occasions, and should be removed from his job until this matter is well investigated.

                    ECO and I were only discussing DeSantis because his name was on a list CNN put out of politicians that might run in 2024. I have not endorsed anyone at this point.

                    I do think however runs will need to incorporate Trump's agenda into their own to win. 

                    DeSantis is getting lots of buzz... Even my very liberal, very much dyed-in-the-wool Deml sister that lives in Florida loves him and has said she will cross over and vote for him.  This would be a first for her to vote Republican.  People are just sick of following failed politics and are searching for all that is new... Biden has truely scared her big time.

                    1. My Esoteric profile image85
                      My Esotericposted 3 years agoin reply to this

                      "I have not heard DeSantis address anything other than how he felt the 2020 election was handled in his own state. " - Where he initially said it was the most honest election ever.  Then he went on to restrict voting rights of minorities and the elderly.  I simply don't understand why it will be harder for me to vote in 2022 than it was in 2020.  Seems very unAmerican to me.

                  2. My Esoteric profile image85
                    My Esotericposted 3 years agoin reply to this

                    "We absolutely cannot elevate any individual that denies truth and reality to the office of the presidency." - Yes, we did that with Trump and look where that got us - a totally divided country because of his lies

                    Do you think Fox news will survive the Jan 6 commission and the various defamation lawsuits against it?

                    "He is Also fundraising off of a "Lock up Fauci campaign"" - Which shows his character is no better than Trump's.

                    1. Fayetteville Faye profile image61
                      Fayetteville Fayeposted 3 years agoin reply to this

                      Deleted

                      1. My Esoteric profile image85
                        My Esotericposted 3 years agoin reply to this

                        Sadly, you are probably right because we have learned "the base" simply doesn't care if anything is true or not or if they are receiving "balanced" news, in fact I doubt they even want "balanced" news, lol.

                2. My Esoteric profile image85
                  My Esotericposted 3 years agoin reply to this

                  " He has the ability to make decisions in regards to problem-solving, he gets right on problems, and works to offer solutions. " - I won't deny that he does that.  But just because he does, is not necessarily a good thing. In fact, quick decisions that were poorly thought through can be very dangerous - as we saw many times with Trump.

                  To be a "good thing" the decisions must have a positive outcome on society - and DeSantis' record in that regard is as dismal as Trump's.  He, like Trump, is responsible for thousands of excess deaths in Florida due to covid.  His decisions have limited the liberty of most Floridians, even those of his own Party.

                  I will grant he "probably" has made more good decisions than Trump, but not by a whole lot since Trump didn't make all that many

              3. Fayetteville Faye profile image61
                Fayetteville Fayeposted 3 years agoin reply to this

                Deleted

                1. peoplepower73 profile image86
                  peoplepower73posted 3 years agoin reply to this

                  Sharlee:  Fox doesn't present all the news no more than CNN does. Both of them preach to their own choir and that is a major factor of what is keeping this country divided. 

                  The difference is Fox prime time "news casters" have entertainers as news casters while CNN has a staff of bonified journalists. In this day and age, it is easier for people to relate to entertainers than real journalists. 

                  Can you imagine Walter Cronkite presenting the news today?  He wouldn't last five minutes.   What are Carlson, Hannity, and  Ingram's credentials as journalists?  And then you have Trump who is plugged into Fox as his propaganda channel.  He even takes advice from a previous bartender, Hannity. 

                  Trump has been very successful in creating a culture that attracts the kind of people that will vote for him. Don't forget he said  this, “I could stand in the middle of 5th Avenue and shoot somebody and I wouldn’t lose voters,” Now you may think  he was just boasting, but metaphorically, that is what he has done.  They don't care what he does or says, as long as they believe he is going to make America great again.

                  Trump and his cohorts have three years to campaign for their next election while Biden tries to run a country that is plagued with a virus, supper storms, and Putin, none of which are of his making.

                  1. Sharlee01 profile image85
                    Sharlee01posted 3 years agoin reply to this

                    Trump does have three years to campaign on Biden's lack of being able to handle problems, and he will point to the problems as problems he created due to bad decision making.  The blame game is very unattractive in a leader in my view. The problems that the country is experiencing in regards to the economy, immigration, crime, and foreign affairs are all on
                    Biden.  Many are at this point blaming the raising COVID on him too. I stop there,  blame China for the virus.

                    We will need to disagree on our opinion of Biden. It would do me no good to waste words, now would it? And plus, I respect your right to stand by your opinion.

                    1. peoplepower73 profile image86
                      peoplepower73posted 3 years agoin reply to this

                      Sharlee:  As far as the blame goes, have you ever heard Trump take responsibility for any of his mistake.  He has always blamed others for his mistakes.

                    2. Valeant profile image77
                      Valeantposted 3 years agoin reply to this

                      You are seriously delusional to make the claim that all the problems we are facing are all on Biden.

                      Crime rose during the pandemic.  Inflation is a global problem from the pandemic.  Immigration issues need Congressional solutions.  Foreign affairs could not have been much worse than what we had with Trump.  And Covid is due to the low rates of vaccination by Trump's supporters - which is amazing that you can put that on anyone but them.

                      1. My Esoteric profile image85
                        My Esotericposted 3 years agoin reply to this

                        "Crime rose during the pandemic." - It also rose because of the very easy access people have to weapons and the massive buying spree of guns during Trump's term.

                        " Immigration issues need Congressional solutions.  " - Which Republicans vehemently oppose

                    3. My Esoteric profile image85
                      My Esotericposted 3 years agoin reply to this

                      "Trump does have three years to campaign on Biden's lack of being able to handle problems, " - That will be hard to do since Biden is handling plenty of problems very well - much better than Trump ever did.

                      We are way past trying to blame China for the virus. Having appeared, it was going to spread regardless.   

                      {b]But we are not way past blaming leaders for their good or bad response to it.[/b]

                      (Please don't assert China created the virus, they didn't.  At worst, they had an accident in a research lab. At best, it developed naturally. In neither case was the Chinses gov't responsible for the creation of the virus.)

                      1. Sharlee01 profile image85
                        Sharlee01posted 3 years agoin reply to this

                        "(Please don't assert China created the virus, they didn't.  At worst, they had an accident in a research lab. At best, it developed naturally. In neither case was the Chinses gov't responsible for the creation of the virus.)"

                        Curious I did not say it was man-made? I was stating I blame china for the virus plain and simple.  If a lab leak or an accident came out of China, that is an established fact. There is no context to imply I am accusing China of the virus being man-made. In my opinion, it certainly may be, I have read articles from various scientists that feel it has components of being man-made, but no conclusive proof.

                  2. My Esoteric profile image85
                    My Esotericposted 3 years agoin reply to this

                    I have to disagree, PeoplePower, and here is why. ... and of course I can't find the stats I have seen before.  In any case, when the demographics are split between liberal, independent, or conservative OR Liberal, Independent, or Republican.  As I remember it, Liberal/Democrats found their news from mostly from CNN-type outlets while an even higher percentage of Conservative/Republicans use Fox/OAN/Newsmax. 

                    Likewise, a small percentage of Libs/Ds use Fox, et al. for news while an even smaller percentage of Cons/Rs use CNN-type.  Moderate/Independents (which is an even larger demographic than the other two groups) split their time between the two types of sources. 

                    Further, the more extreme you are the more likely you are to stay in your own stovepipe - AND - the more vocal and obnoxious you become.

                    My point is that both preach to more than their own base, but, Fox's audience is much more stovepiped than CNN.  Also, the "liberals" by and large head to MSNBC rather than CNN (which the two combined are equal to Fox in viewership in many categories). That fact means to me that CNN reaches a much more balanced audience than Fox.

                    As to " Fox doesn't present all the news no more than CNN does", I think the revelations from the Dominion lawsuit that Fox does not present "all the news".  Personally, I don't think that can be applied to CNN in any regard.

                    Speaking of Trump and his culture - I bet well over 50% of his close circle have been convicted of something, is currently being tried, is being investigated, or about to be.  (and I think I am being conservative)  Even ex-Gov Perry may be come under investigation for his text to Meadows suggesting a way to overthrow the Constitution.

        4. My Esoteric profile image85
          My Esotericposted 3 years agoin reply to this

          Y'all might find this interesting.  Most of you are probably old enough to remember the misery index, I know I am.  It is the sum of the inflation rate and unemployment rate. Currently, it is 11.2, which is ... not good.  Here is the history of when it has been worse since 1948. (If I give a single date, then it is plus or minus a couple of months on either side for duration.)

          - Jan 1948 (Truman - D) following WW II
          - Mar 1951 (Eisenhower - R)
          - Dec 1970 (Nixon - R)
          - Jul 1972 through Nov 1986 (Nixon - R; Ford - R; Carter - D; Reagan - R)
          - Jan 1990 through Jan 1992 (H. W. Bush - R)
          - Jun 2008 (G. W. Bush - R)
          - Jan 2010 through Dec 2011 (Obama - D) following the Great Recession
          - Apr 2020 (Trump - R)
          - Jun 2021 through now (Biden - D)

        5. My Esoteric profile image85
          My Esotericposted 3 years agoin reply to this

          Isn't it interesting that the in this day of "historic" inflation, an unofficial poll by Michael Smerconish found that when asked "Are you financially better or worse off today than one year ago?

          - 3,261 (44%) said Better Off
          - 3,021 (41%) said About the Same
          - 1,089 (15%) said Worse Off.

          That falls in line with  real polls I have seen.  How does that square with the "perception" that Biden is doing poorly on the economic front?  The reality is - he is doing great, but the drumbeat of bad media is driving his numbers artificially down.

          1. wilderness profile image75
            wildernessposted 3 years agoin reply to this

            Yeah, doing great...after getting a 5.9% increase in SS to cover 6.8% inflation and then losing it to a 42% increase in Medicare.  Doing great.

            Do you honestly think those people reporting "better off" will still feel the same when they have spent all the unemployment and stimulus freebies, when their rent comes due after being put off for months, when they go back to work and begin paying half again for gas to get there?  I don't.

            1. My Esoteric profile image85
              My Esotericposted 3 years agoin reply to this

              " they have spent all the unemployment and stimulus freebies," - Seems to me those are already spent.  Unemployment ended a long time ago.  About the only thing left is that terrible child tax credit which helped cut child poverty by half (boy, how unamerican that is).  But brighten up, the expansion of that has ended so all of those kids can go back into poverty.  A great day for conservatives.

              1. wilderness profile image75
                wildernessposted 3 years agoin reply to this

                Marx must be your hero of all time.  “From each according to their ability, to each according to their needs”.  Do you actually pretend the concept works, or just say it's great even though you know it doesn't work in reality?

                1. My Esoteric profile image85
                  My Esotericposted 3 years agoin reply to this

                  It is a shame you only know how to talk in polemics, hyperbole, and false equivalencies..

                  1. wilderness profile image75
                    wildernessposted 3 years agoin reply to this

                    As in "But brighten up, the expansion of that has ended so all of those kids can go back into poverty.  A great day for conservatives."?  Perhaps you're right.

                    1. My Esoteric profile image85
                      My Esotericposted 3 years agoin reply to this

                      I figured you would feel that way, it is the conservative thing to do - help kids suffer.

        6. My Esoteric profile image85
          My Esotericposted 3 years agoin reply to this

          Here are some stats that Biden will make better on the Democratic side.

          - Years holding the Presidency: Ds 22 yrs; Rs - 28 yrs

          - Stock market return (Trump's favorite measure of doing a great job): Ds 992%; Rs 109%

          - Total jobs created: Ds 42 million; Rs 24 million

          - Income growth: Ds 2.2% annually; Rs 0.6% annually

          - GDP annual growth: Ds 4.1%; Rs 2.7%

          Sources: Politico, Bloomberg, USDL

          Is it any wonder that it is better to have Democrats running things?

          1. Valeant profile image77
            Valeantposted 3 years agoin reply to this

            Too bad they didn't also put deficits in there.  But that could be the only campaign ad the dems run in every election.

            1. Fayetteville Faye profile image61
              Fayetteville Fayeposted 3 years agoin reply to this

              Deleted

              1. My Esoteric profile image85
                My Esotericposted 3 years agoin reply to this

                Even better, Clinton drove the deficit negative and actually reduced the Debt in real terms.

          2. tsmog profile image83
            tsmogposted 3 years agoin reply to this

            No economist here. To add support as I see it the article linked below gives great insight of the battle between the parties which had better economies. I'm going with Democrats after reading the article. Worth a skim . . .

            https://www.thebalance.com/democrats-vs … my-4771839

            1. My Esoteric profile image85
              My Esotericposted 3 years agoin reply to this

              That was a great article.  Here are some takeaways for those who don't ready it.

              - One dollar spent on increased food stamp benefits generates $1.73 in economic output. - a fact overlooked by conservatives who oppose helping Americans.

              - Republicans’ business-friendly approach leads most people to believe that they are better for the economy. A closer look reveals that Democrats are, in many respects, actually better.

              - For Trump, No new wars or recessions until 2020 pandemic which is the opposite of all other presidents - Trump continues to live an undeserved charmed life.

              - The Republican tax cuts of 2001, 2004, 2008, and 2018 all led to poor outcomes

              - The Democratic tax increases of 1993, 2009, and 2010 all led to good outcomes.

              - Democrats favor more government intervention to protect Americans. Republicans want the government to play a minimal role in the marketplace. where Liberal policies led to less misery for the American people and conservative policies lead to more misery.

            2. Fayetteville Faye profile image61
              Fayetteville Fayeposted 3 years agoin reply to this

              Failure to pass BBB has negative growth implications," Goldman Sachs said in a report on Sunday after Manchin said he will not support BBB.
              Goldman Sachs lowered its GDP forecast for 2022 on Sunday after Sen. Joe Manchin effectively killed President Biden's Build Back Better legislation.
              I suppose President Biden will then have the blame for sluggish, negative growth hung on him also. Politics really does feel futile these days.  The "slowed" growth will then be something Republicans run on in 2022.

              1. tsmog profile image83
                tsmogposted 3 years agoin reply to this

                Thanks for the info! I will go on a hunt later for info. I added economics to my things to learn. My list is getting longer and if I keep researching current news I will not do any on that list ha-ha

              2. wilderness profile image75
                wildernessposted 3 years agoin reply to this

                It does not seem wise to me to work to increase our GDP using borrowed money, or even tax receipts.  The first will work, but the increase is not sustainable and is ONLY because we put the cost of that one year gain on our children.

                The second results in no net increase; whether Congress spends our money or we do, on items we wish to spend our earnings on rather than what Congress wishes to spend our earnings on, the effect is the same and GDP does not change. 

                So Democrats wanting that big number to help ensure their power are not concerned with the country or the people; only that their power continue unabated and are willing to do whatever is necessary to accomplish that.

                1. My Esoteric profile image85
                  My Esotericposted 3 years agoin reply to this

                  "It does not seem wise to me to work to increase our GDP using borrowed money, or even tax receipts.  " - [b]Besides that is the way it has Always worked, I am not sure your logic holds up.[i/]

                  GDP = the sum of consumer spending, government spending, investments, and the net of exports over imports.

                  The tax receipts are used for government spending.

                  Social programs, transfer payments, and tax incentives are used for consumer spending and investments.

                  The fact that we run a deficit or a surplus doesn't seem to enter into the calculation.  What seems to matter most is consumption in one form or another.

                  1. wilderness profile image75
                    wildernessposted 3 years agoin reply to this

                    You've hit the nail on the head.  Tax receipts (plus borrowing) are used for government spending, but when the government spends it the consumer that earned it and would have spent themselves for what they want does not.  No net increase (outside of borrowing) in spending, then, and no net increase in GDP.

                    Same thing for social programs, transfer payments and tax incentives; the money comes from tax receipts, meaning the consumer that earned it cannot spend it.  No net increase in consumption; just different people than the one that earned it spends it.

                    The only alternative route is for the consumer to keep what government spends and save it all.  Save it outside of loan institutions (under the mattress, maybe) where it cannot be used to make loans with which would increasing spending.  Only in that case does GDP go down when govt. does not tax and spend. 

                    I'd even go so far as to say that govt. borrowing won't change GDP...unless it is from a foreign entity that is effectively pumping money into the American economy and GDP.  Of course, it soon turns around and repayment is sent overseas, decreasing the GDP by the amount borrowed plus interest (American consumers are the ones paying the bill, after all).

                    I will grant you, though, that most of govt. spending is for American labor and products (at least I hope so), while much of consumer spending is for imports.  In that manner GDP can rise when govt. chooses where the money is to be spent.

                    1. My Esoteric profile image85
                      My Esotericposted 3 years agoin reply to this

                      "but when the government spends it the consumer that earned it and would have spent themselves for what they want does not. " - So you admit gov't spending adds to the GDP.  And you are wrong to suggest that the taxpayer taxes would have been put into the economy. The fact is, a lot of the disposable income of the wealthy who, as you frequently point out pay a lot of the taxes, does NOT end up in the US economy. So, in that respect, there IS a net increase in consumption.

                      That point aside, GDP is based on consumption, and the gov't consumes. Further, if you take the income approach to GDP, then gov't spending drives a lot income for those that produce the goods and services it buys.

                      1. wilderness profile image75
                        wildernessposted 3 years agoin reply to this

                        "So you admit gov't spending adds to the GDP."

                        If you think that's what I said you need a course in reading comprehension.  From my post, re govt spending vs consumer spending:  "No net increase (outside of borrowing) in spending, then, and no net increase in GDP."

                        Sure - we've been over this before.  You complain that the wealthy take money out of circulation by hiding it in their mattress.  Or perhaps by putting it in offshore banks because we, in our massive wisdom, take too much of it for govt. to determine how to spend it. 

                        Yes, the govt consumes...with the wealth that the consumer would have spent if given the chance.  I do believe I said that, while noting (which you glossed over) that govt. can only spend what it has taken from consumers.

              3. Sharlee01 profile image85
                Sharlee01posted 3 years agoin reply to this

                https://money.usnews.com/investing/news … cron-fears

                The report was released on Saturday before Manchin offered his no on BBB ---"(Reuters) - Goldman Sachs on Saturday cut its outlook for U.S. economic growth to 3.8% for 2022, citing risks and uncertainty around the emergence of the Omicron variant of the coronavirus.

                Goldman economist Joseph Briggs said in a note that the Omicron variant could slow economic reopening, but the firm expects "only a modest drag" on service spending.

                The firm now sees 2022 gross domestic product (GDP) growth of 3.8%, down from 4.2% previously on a full year basis, and Q4/Q4 growth of 2.9%, down from 3.3% before, Briggs said.

                "While many questions remain unanswered, we now think a moderate downside scenario where the virus spreads more quickly but immunity against severe disease is only slightly weakened is most likely," he said.

                Worker shortages could last longer if people do not feel comfortable returning to work due to the variant, according to the note.

                Goldman pointed the spread of the virus could worsen supply shortages should other countries implement tighter restrictions, but increase in vaccination rates among foreign trade partners would prevent severe disruptions."

                The economy is suffering from many variables, one such variable is the virus causing concerns.  The country is being bogged down due to a virus that is being handled poorly. We were promised more testing, more tracing, and have gotten nothing but words.

                Testing has become very hard in Michigan sometimes taking two or three days for an appointment. One can pay for the drug store tests, but not all can afford that... I don't know about your state but Michigan never saw the promised people from the Government help trace...

                Our hospitals are over run, and no beds at this point. Under Trump, he quickly provided pop-up hospitals beds in some entertainment venues.

                At this point, I had to wait two weeks for a booster and was told they only have so much vaccine and a lack of staff...

                Our media reports all of this, soon the three major networks will be reporting these problems. Biden is not doing all he can to help with COVID.

                It would well appear Goldman Sachs can see the writing is on the wall... Big problem due to winter COVID spike.  The failure of BBB has nothing to do with their forecast. I think they were very clear on why they forecasted lower economic growth in 2022.

                1. Fayetteville Faye profile image61
                  Fayetteville Fayeposted 3 years agoin reply to this

                  The news of Omicron  (We just got our first case a few days ago) and the potential for it to affect the economy are well noted, thank you. Makes sense. Looks like we might have a double whammy, if you will.
                  https://www.cnbc.com/2021/12/20/goldman … plan-.html

                  "Today Northwest Arkansas hospitals have a total of 78 COVID inpatients, which is the highest level since the end of September. Last year, hospitals in NWA saw an increase in hospitalizations following the holiday season, so there is certainly concern that cases could continue to increase as family and friends gather. We are especially concerned about the unvaccinated, who account for the vast majority of hospitalized COVID patients. While the future impact that the omicron variant will have on our state and region remains unknown at this time, it serves as a reminder that this pandemic is not over. We strongly encourage community members to get vaccinated including booster doses when due. The available COVID-19 vaccines offer the best chance of protection from contracting the virus or from becoming hospitalized or seriously ill. We also encourage individuals to follow recommended guidelines to stay safe, including masking in public (which people have never done) places, social distancing, and washing hands frequently.”
                  Vaccinations are widely available here. We are only at 50% fully vaccinated though.  sadly I don't see that rising much. Even though Gov. Hutchinson has implored folks to get the shot. Too large of a number just don't want it. States who have more demand for the vaccine should be getting help. I agree.

                2. My Esoteric profile image85
                  My Esotericposted 3 years agoin reply to this

                  "The report was released on Saturday before Manchin offered his no on BBB --" - But we are talking about the report they released on Sunday, after Manchin shot Biden down aren't we?  That is more recent news where they said "Failure to pass BBB has negative growth implications,"

                  "but not all can afford that... " - That is certainly true, but the fact of the matter is "the vast majority can afford it", so why don't they buy their own?

                  "Our media reports all of this," - Of course they do, because it is bad news for Biden.  We all know that if it were good news, they would be as silent as they always are.

                  "soon the three major networks will be reporting these problems." - "soon"? LOL.  Why have I been hearing about it for weeks now?

                  We have no problem with boosters here in Florida, sorry your state is having issues.

                  Could the problems you are having there have anything to do with your Republican legislatures, jurists, and the high number of Republicans who refuse to get vaccinated?  Is that a possibility?

                  "Biden is not doing all he can to help with COVID." - What is he not doing?  I know one thing - he has not mandated mask wearing and vaccinations nationwide yet.  But when he tries to do something like that, guess who is trying to stop him - you guessed it, YOUR SIDE.

                  1. Sharlee01 profile image85
                    Sharlee01posted 3 years agoin reply to this

                    I was addressing a comment that Faye made  --- Which indicated this --

                    "FAYETTEVILLE FAYE WROTE:
                    Failure to pass BBB has negative growth implications," Goldman Sachs said in a report on Sunday after Manchin said he will not support BBB.
                    Goldman Sachs lowered its GDP forecast for 2022 on Sunday after Sen. Joe Manchin effectively killed President Biden's Build Back Better legislation.
                    I suppose President Biden will then have the blame for sluggish, negative growth hung on him also. Politics really does feel futile these days.  The "slowed" growth will then be something Republicans run on in 2022."

                    I pointed out the statement from Goldman on the reasoning they gave which had nothing to do with BBB.

                    "but not all can afford that... " - That is certainly true, but the fact of the matter is "the vast majority can afford it", so why don't they buy their own?"

                    This would be your opinion, we have many in the US that would rather eat than pay for a test. This matters little because the nation is having a great shortage of tests. As I said a few days ago here in mich we were waiting 3 to 5 days for appointments for tests, it's now two weeks... Biden has so skrewed this up so bad... He could have been on the problem months
                    ago. There is no excuse in my view that we should have a test shortage.
                    We have been told to only seek tests if symptomatic.

                    ""Our media reports all of this," - Of course they do, because it is bad news for Biden.  We all know that if it were good news, they would be as silent as they always are."

                    Really? Biden has no good news... And it's about time they report all the messes he has created due to POOR PROBLEM SOLVING! He should
                    have been on this test problem from day one --- actually, free kits were something he touted in his campaign.

                    I am well aware of what is going on in Florida, my sister lives there, and brags about how well is going So, she attributes it to her great Governor.

                    I attribute the problems to my Dem Governor, she is dumb as dirt. And hate to break your bubble 61.5%are vaccinated in Michigan versus 62.9 in Florida. It would seem your Gpovenor did a good job all around.

                    Biden is doing nothing but giving wordy speeches in regard to COVID. He continues to hide, and do nothing to handle anything. 

                    As I have said the Country is in trouble with this man in the White House.

                    We don't need mandates, we need to move on and realize we will ride out a virus taking what precautions we can, and live as close to normal as possible, without all the fear-mongering. I realize YOUR SIDE loves a good scare and just melt to most challenges, turning to Government and cry Help me-  help me ---   But, thank God MY SIDE does not appreciate all the woe is me. My mom always called this type in individual paper asses.  Guess you can see she rubbed off on me. Hey, your guy will be dishing you up some meaningless words today. Perhaps it will give you comfort. Me I don't want words, I want tests, and I wanted them like -- yesterday.  I don't want "we are working on it" I want action.  By the way, IMO Trump would have been on top of this.

                    1. Fayetteville Faye profile image61
                      Fayetteville Fayeposted 3 years agoin reply to this

                      Here is the fact sheet that is the basis for President Biden's speech today. The plan:

                      https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-roo … e-omicron/

                      Also, Goldman Sachs did address the following :

                      In a report on Monday, Goldman Sachs predicts slowing economic growth in 2022 after the apparent failure of President Joe Biden's BBB plan.

                      "Goldman Sachs downgraded its growth forecast for the U.S. economy in the wake of Sen. Joe Manchin’s announcement during a televised interview that he will not support President Joe Biden’s Build Back Better plan.

                      In a note to investors, Goldman Sachs said it is lowering its forecast in response to “changed fiscal assumptions.”
                      https://www.thewellnews.com/economy/gol … bbb/?amp=1
                      But you are correct and I did read your link also about Goldman addressing Omicron and its expected impact on the economy as well.
                      Looks like tough times.

                      1. Sharlee01 profile image85
                        Sharlee01posted 3 years agoin reply to this

                        Did not catch that article yesterday --- Only Saturdays. Times like we have not had in many years.

        7. My Esoteric profile image85
          My Esotericposted 3 years agoin reply to this

          Gee, President Biden must be doing something right - first time unemployment filings at a 52 year low!

          https://www.cnn.com/2021/12/30/economy/ … index.html

          1. Sharlee01 profile image85
            Sharlee01posted 3 years agoin reply to this

            Do you even consider that most were returning to previous jobs after being off collecting unemployment due to a pandemic? The numbers should return close to the workforce that was off work for the virus. The numbers look wonderful, but no new jobs

            " The raw numbers support Biden’s claim of record job gains on his watch, but the talking point glosses over the reality that the U.S. economy remains about 5 million jobs under its pre-pandemic peak".

            There are 11 million open jobs as the quitting spree continues: ‘It’s still a very tight labor market’
            https://www.cnbc.com/2021/12/08/october … -high.html

            Chart --   https://fred.stlouisfed.org/series/LMJVTTUVUSQ647S

            1. My Esoteric profile image85
              My Esotericposted 3 years agoin reply to this

              "Do you even consider that most were returning to previous jobs after being off collecting unemployment due to a pandemic?" - Actually, I don't.  Why, because that effect ended many months ago.

              "U.S. economy remains about 5 million jobs under its pre-pandemic peak".
              - Yes, that is true, but those won't be filled anytime soon.  New studies show that there was mass early and regular retirements that are staying out of the workforce.  Some think some will eventually return, but don't hold your breath. The other reason is workers are now telling employers with sucky wages and working conditions to shove it.

              1. Sharlee01 profile image85
                Sharlee01posted 3 years agoin reply to this

                "Actually, I don't.  Why, because that effect ended many months ago."

                Can't agree, many have not returned to work. We have somewhere between 9 and 10 million that have not returned, but most likely will in the next month or so.

                I feel many will be returning to work in the next months. This will bode well for Biden.

        8. My Esoteric profile image85
          My Esotericposted 3 years agoin reply to this

          This article starts out like this:

          The year dawned in a blaze of hope that new, effective Covid-19 vaccines -- free and available to all -- would deliver the country from the worst public health emergency in 100 years, in which 350,000 Americans had already died. - a "hope" which I would argue Trumpers dashed and are now paying the price in sickness and death despite all of President Biden's efforts to convince them otherwise.

          Anyway, this author finds hope for 2022.

          https://us.cnn.com/2021/12/31/politics/ … index.html

          I suspect the pandemic will not really end in America until the 90,000.000 who are still unvaccinated either: 1) pick up temporary immunity from being infected, 2) change there mind voluntarily, 3) change their mind because they got really sick, or 4) died.

          At the current rate of 500,000 {it was higher on Dec 30) it will take 6 months for everybody to become infected.  Given that some of the new infections are in vaccinated people, let's say 80% of new cases are in the unvaccinated, that timeline extends to 7.5 months.

        9. peterstreep profile image82
          peterstreepposted 3 years agoin reply to this

          I just want to wish everybody a lovingly, healthy, inspiring new 2022.
          Take care of yourself and your loved ones and strive for the positive things in life.
          Cheers!

          1. Sharlee01 profile image85
            Sharlee01posted 3 years agoin reply to this

            Same wishes coming your way... So, kind of you to send good wishes.

        10. My Esoteric profile image85
          My Esotericposted 3 years agoin reply to this

          On a side note - more proof that Trumpers are being successful at thwarting President Biden's efforts to reign in the pandemic.  Yesterday's preliminary new cases, 704,661, on a trajectory to pass 1 MILLION new cases a day.

          Also, Hospitalizations, a much better measure, has hit an all time high.  The silver lining to that is most of them are unvaccinated Trumpers, some of who will die from it and hopefully many others will learn they were wrong and get vaccinated after they recover and not vote Republican - who got them into that mess.

          1. Sharlee01 profile image85
            Sharlee01posted 3 years agoin reply to this

            "The silver lining to that is most of them are unvaccinated Trumpers, some of who will die from it and hopefully many others will learn they were wrong and get vaccinated after they recover and not vote Republican -"

            SICK COMMENT  -- YUCK

        11. My Esoteric profile image85
          My Esotericposted 3 years agoin reply to this

          President Biden had a record breaking year on the job front.  6.4 million jobs were added in 2021, DESPITE another poor month in December.  That said, even with the disappointing numbers, the unemployment rate tumbled again, this time to 3.9%, a new pandemic era low. 

          That may be the reason for the low December numbers - everybody who wants a job, has a job.

          https://www.cnn.com/2022/01/07/economy/ … index.html

        12. My Esoteric profile image85
          My Esotericposted 3 years agoin reply to this

          December's inflation numbers are in - and they aren't good for Biden.

          Over all, they increased to 7%, year over year.  Taking out food and energy, it was 5.5% (a little more than a nickel) over last year.

          Fortunately, the biggest contributors to the inflation don't impact low income people that much: housing, used cars, and trucks.

          The December increase in food prices was 0.5% and energy FELL 0.8%.  Those do affect low income earners the most.

          https://us.cnn.com/2022/01/12/economy/i … index.html

          Also, the news about why testing took such a hit this year.

          Biden did try, and succeeded on his promise to make it much, much easier for people to get tested.  What he "failed" to do was accurately predict the Omicron variant that appeared 8  months after he made his promise (something the right has unfairly took him to task for). 

          He DID use the Defense Production Act to increase testing early on and by SUMMER, if you wanted a test, you could get a test!, something the naysayers conveniently forgot.  Further, because demand was so low, manufacturers cut WAY back on producing tests. Another FACT the naysayers here and elsewhere ignore!

          And Then Came Omicron, catching everybody, including the pope-like "private sector" by surprise.  Now, because the naysayers here and elsewhere expect Biden to produce miracles, they were disappointed.  You see, in the real world, it takes time ramp things back up - which in this case is the end of January.  But that is not good enough for the naysayers. (I use the term "naysayers" because, for this issue, the far Left are being as stupid as the Right in criticizing Biden's response to this new crisis.

          1. GA Anderson profile image84
            GA Andersonposted 3 years agoin reply to this

            Another case of Deja Vu. Change a couple of words—Biden to Trump and Omicron to Covid-19 and your comment would sound like one from Sharlee.

            GA

            1. Valeant profile image77
              Valeantposted 3 years agoin reply to this

              Can we expect this to be your main contribution to these forums from now on, just going around and trying to be the hypocrisy police against left-leaning members?  Cause that's going to get old, quick.

              1. GA Anderson profile image84
                GA Andersonposted 3 years agoin reply to this

                Hypocrisy police? Nope, I think it is more than that. It's a credibility issue.

                For four years one side makes an attack position their mantra and provides tons of data; studies, polls, video snippets, as support for their mantra, as support for the credibility of their claims. The other side responds with mantras of their own to attack the opposing side's credibility.

                Then when the quarter changes and field positions are reversed both sides pick up on the mirror-image of the previous quarter's sides. Of course it is hypocrisy, but it is even more of a case of credibility.

                If the other side's words and arguments were so wrong when they uttered them, why aren't they just as wrong now when they are used in reverse?

                It is a credibility issue Valeant. That's a lot more important than just hypocrisy.

                If one's support for their position, (their credibility)—against an opposing position, is so strong, (data, studies, `facts', and polls), and so right, (by moral and humanitarian standards), when one claims their position destroys the other side's position, then how can they possibly expect to be seen as credible when they adopt the formerly opposed position with just a change of names? The concept remains the same, it is just the party names that have changed.

                That is more than a hypocrisy issue bud. You would be more on the mark if you had named me the credibility police. That does run in the family. My sister is head of the hypocrisy police and my brother runs the grammar police. I'm just the friendly road cop that tries to keep everyone out of the ditches. (and not doing very well at it)

                How much credibility does the statement, "It was wrong when you said it but it is right when I say it" possibly have to someone, not on either side?

                And yep, since I prefer to stay out of the mud of personal attacks, (both political figures and forum members), you can expect that to be my main forum contribution. The only thing left is to find participation points that don't deal with those specifics. I enjoy policy discussions all day long, but personal attacks only last the time it takes to scroll through them.

                Comments such as the ones that prompted your "hypocrisy police" charge are just a bonus. Just a dividend for hanging around.

                GA

                1. peoplepower73 profile image86
                  peoplepower73posted 3 years agoin reply to this

                  GA:  This is  not my  opinion.   These are pure numbers for  you bean  counters out there.

                  https://www.usinflationcalculator.com/i … ion-rates/

                  Mike

                  1. GA Anderson profile image84
                    GA Andersonposted 3 years agoin reply to this

                    I don't see the connection of my comment to inflation Mike. And I am trying to stay away from bean-counting nowadays.

                    GA

                  2. Sharlee01 profile image85
                    Sharlee01posted 3 years agoin reply to this

                    And the beans are now accumulating quickly, and steadily.  Just this morning rising to 7%. the highest rate in 40 years. When do we say enough is enough? It is what it is. Maybe time to look at causation instead of playing a comparison game. Looking at what is currently feeding inflation.

                    1. Valeant profile image77
                      Valeantposted 3 years agoin reply to this

                      At what point do we look at corporations reporting record profits and wonder if they are the cause of the inflation?

                      As someone jumping on the Great Resignation train, my stock portfolio sure doesn't mind the price gauging.  But as someone who also hates corporate greed, I'm torn.

                      1. Sharlee01 profile image85
                        Sharlee01posted 3 years agoin reply to this

                        It is obvious, big corporations are adding to inflation. When supply is short they will hike prices up.  It's written in stone, and most likely will never change.

                      2. My Esoteric profile image85
                        My Esotericposted 3 years agoin reply to this

                        I am no fan of big corporations, as I hope everybody knows, but I don't see corporate greed being much of a driver of inflation.  After all, corporations were just as greedy when inflation was near zero all of these years.

                    2. My Esoteric profile image85
                      My Esotericposted 3 years agoin reply to this

                      Causation is simple for this round (unlike 40 years ago).  It boils down to a demand-supply mismatch.  There is simply more demand than suppliers can satisfy. 

                      So that brings us to the question of why there is so much demand or why supply is insufficient.  The answer to both is - the pandemic.

                      In response to economies shutting down across the globe, gov'ts, especially in America, started replacing the income lost to the shuttering of businesses for two reasons, to prevent starvation and to increase demand.    Initially, because of home confinement across the nation, people spent little of the money they received, thereby increasing their savings.  Then, when the economy opened up, they started spending big time - demand soared

                      Everything else being equal, given the huge surplus capacity, supply should have easily kept up with demand, keeping inflation under control.  After all, there was lots of unused production space laying around as well as trucks laying idle, lots of job openings to fill the supply and distribution requirements, and theoretically as it turns out, plenty of people to fill those jobs.  WRONG!

                      People DIDN'T go back to work en masse as expected, drivers stayed out of their trucks.  Further, the on-going pandemic kept production low in places that normally filled our demand for regular consumer items.

                      The reason for the lack of workers wasn't because of the extended unemployment, as those on the Right want you to believe.  Recent studies showed that when comparing states who cut off benefits early with states who didn't, the difference in employment rates was barely discernable.  Instead, other studies showed that three main factors kept people from rejoining the workforce: 1) fear of becoming infected, 2) lack of child care, 3) an ability to wait for a better job, and 4) retirements! 

                      It turns out that a lot of the mismatch between job openings and people willing to fill those jobs are people who retired or took early retirement and have no desire to return to the workforce.   This is why the unemployment rate is so low and the participation rate is on the upswing, even while 4 million jobs go unfilled.

                      Simply said, there aren't enough people willing to produce supplies to fill the demand or to distribute the supplies to where people can buy them.  This leads to much more demand than the economy has the ability to fill.

                      Hence,  inflation

                      How do you get inflation back under control?  Reduce demand or increase supply.  One way to increase supply is to get everybody vaccinated, but we know a certain segment of society will oppose that.  To decrease demand, slow down the economy which the Fed is hoping to do by increasing interest rates.

                      1. Sharlee01 profile image85
                        Sharlee01posted 3 years agoin reply to this

                        Keep telling yourself --- All that

                2. Valeant profile image77
                  Valeantposted 3 years agoin reply to this

                  If it were truly a credibility concern, you would apply it equally across the board, pointing out things that were fine for the last four years and are suddenly huge issues to some.  Instead, it seems you're just the latest in the long line of Trump apologists.

                  1. GA Anderson profile image84
                    GA Andersonposted 3 years agoin reply to this

                    I think I did apply "it" equally across the board. I didn't point out either side's perspective as being right or wrong. I didn't address either side's "things." My point was simply the obvious interchangeability of them; the change from a position to be rebutted to a position to be promoted. Simply because of a change in the political winds.

                    Surely you can see that. Textual examples abound, (as your "hypocrisy police" charge shows you know), with just a quick look-around in this forum.

                    Trump apologist? Damn, now I don't get a straw for my soda.

                    Ga

            2. My Esoteric profile image85
              My Esotericposted 3 years agoin reply to this

              Sorry, I can't agree.  Trump is a sour grape while Biden is a piece of celery.

              On the one hand, the arrows flung at Trump, at least most of the ones I flung, were based on solid facts.  Those defending him largely came from a place of fantasy (a fantasy they may believe to be true, but a fantasy nevertheless).

              Most, but not all, of the slings and arrows being sent Biden's way are NOT based on facts, but based on the same fantasies used to defend Trump.

              There is only one legitimate issue that Biden should take a lot of heat for, and that is his handling of Afghanistan.  He was SO focused on getting our butts out of there, he couldn't see the forest for the trees.

              Inflation has nothing to with Biden and everything to do with the effects of the pandemic.  I am not sure that IF Trump hadn't screwed the pooch so badly in our response to it, it would have made much difference, inflation-wise, so I can't lay the blame for inflation on him either. (It would have saved hundreds of thousands of l lives, however.)

              I will argue the so-called crisis at the border is more a legacy of Trump and  Republican insistence that our borders were open - when they were not.  All those who showed up at the border heard was all of the Republican lies that Biden and Democrats were keeping the borders open, when the opposite was true.  Who in their right mind wouldn't want to escape the danger and oppression at home when they hear, falsely, that it is a walk-in-the-park in crossing our border.

              Testing - I already covered that elsewhere.  Biden's major fault was not being prescient enough to foresee Omicron.

              1. GA Anderson profile image84
                GA Andersonposted 3 years agoin reply to this

                Okay, I'm gonna leave this one alone. Your sour grape and celery thought was pretty good.

                GA

          2. tsmog profile image83
            tsmogposted 3 years agoin reply to this

            For me I am not concerned with national numbers. I am concerned with my local/region costs. Those are not good in my eye. I blame most of it on covid stuff affecting suppliers with delivery in the mix and opportunist.

            I don' know about you, but yesterday I got a letter from my gas & electric company raising rates by 5% on both of those. Its is SDG&E and I live in San Diego area. They say because of increase of cost of natural gas and infrastructure. No matter comparing that to my soc sec increase of 5.9% I see that as a loss now.

            At the market prices are affecting me. I think twice about that treat of steak now and then .Have you looked at the cost of bacon now? Produce is going up. I see an average of $5 - $10 increase these days in total cost of weekly shopping. Again, wiping out my soc sec increase. My gas for regular is $4.86 now and seems to go up daily. The only good thing is I only fill up about every 3 - 4 weeks.

        13. My Esoteric profile image85
          My Esotericposted 3 years agoin reply to this

          Here is one thing President Biden could do to help get people vaccinated - TAX THEM.  It seems fair, after all, their poor choice is costing the rest of us millions and millions of dollars - they need to pay for that!

          https://us.cnn.com/2022/01/12/americas/ … index.html

          1. GA Anderson profile image84
            GA Andersonposted 3 years agoin reply to this

            Ha! Wouldn't that make great headlines: A Vax tax. Then he could go with a White tax to help pay for reparations for historical white vs. non-white aggressions.

            And just think of the possibilities if he succeeds with those: a Redneck tax, a Dumbass tax, a Multiple gun tax . . .

            Sarcasm was all I had for that thought—an us vs. them tax.

            GA

            1. Sharlee01 profile image85
              Sharlee01posted 3 years agoin reply to this

              My fav, the dumbass tax...  Ya, that's my fav.. Although, us vs. them tax almost tied.

              1. peoplepower73 profile image86
                peoplepower73posted 3 years agoin reply to this

                This is the typical conservative response to a progressive idea. Just like gun control.  If you control guns, then why not knives, forks spears, cars, and anything else that can be used to kill people.

                It's called the slippery slope that does not take into account any common sense or judgement.  The conservative mentality is it is better to do nothing than to have the slippery slope of government over reach.  Therefore, let's have the ant-vaxers spread the disease instead of trying to control their contagion.

                This is what they are proposing in Quebec.  Let's see if it flies.

                https://www.reuters.com/world/americas/ … 022-01-11/

                1. Sharlee01 profile image85
                  Sharlee01posted 3 years agoin reply to this

                  In my opinion, taxing someone due to their refusal to put something into their body that they choose not to is imposing on their rights as human beings.

                  Hopefully, this makes my feelings very clear on the subject of mandates or any form of punishment for another human being's refusal to put anything in their body that they do not want to.

                  I choose to keep all the freedoms my fellow American's
                  and I have enjoyed over our lifetimes.

                  We are both vaccinated and boosted, as were the 16 people that spent Christmas eve with me --- we all got Omicron.  We had to wait three days to obtain the test, and four days to receive our positive result. Maybe Biden should concentrate on problem-solving as he did back in Sept... When he promised to make more teat available. Just days ago he finally signed a contract to order those tests.

                  We have a severe shortage of health workers here in Michigan, he has done nothing.  We had hundreds leave the field when he threatened to mandate vaccines. He promised free test kits to every home -- YA got yours? Neither have I.

                  Today that fool promised N95 mask for every home!  The truth ---  We have a shortage of testing, shortage of healthcare workers, shortage of treatments, but no shortage of Omicron...  I have never witnessed a more inept president. And I pray in 2022 he is brought before Congress for his ineptness in his handling of COVID, the border, and his use of Government overreach with his DOJ.

                  I am a conservative, and as a conservative, I cherish my rights and don't expect any other American to be forced to give up their rights. It would seem liberals feel they have the right to dictate to those that don't agree with their ideologies. To be honest, I find this trait antisocial. Many seem to feel contrary to the laws, and customs of the society we have enjoyed. Even many seem to be devoid of sociable instincts or practices that have worked for American's for many many years.  To me personally, it appears many  Democrats have become unprincipled in pursuing and pushing their causes.

                  Biden has more to worry about than anti- vaxer... His polls ---

                  He keeps promising all kinds of things --- so far he has done nothing but pushes his half-baked spending bills. He is purely underwater.

                  He has created a huge pile of problems and a huge pile of
                  unkept promises. And both pies get higher every day.

                  1. My Esoteric profile image85
                    My Esotericposted 3 years agoin reply to this

                    In my opinion, allowing someone not to put something in their body that has been PROVEN to be SAFE and EFFECTIVE which will prevent me, my family, and my friends from getting sick and dying infringes on my and their rights to live free from fear of harm from the stupidity and selfishness of others.

                    "I choose to keep all the freedoms my fellow American's
                    and I have enjoyed over our lifetimes." - So you think individual freedoms Trump my freedom to live life without fear you will harm me because of your actions.  I see

                    I suppose you will now side with those who don't want their kids to take polio vaccines or chickenpox (Varicella) or Diphtheria or Hepatitis A or Hepatitis B or HPV (Human Papillomavirus) or the several other vaccines required to attend school.

                    I wonder when Conservatives will bring the first lawsuit to get the Supreme Court to stop those from being required.

                    I'll leave the rest of your BDS trope nonsense to others to respond to.

                  2. peoplepower73 profile image86
                    peoplepower73posted 3 years agoin reply to this

                    Sharlee:  I don't see the virus as you do.  I see it as the enemy of the human race, an organism so small that it can only be seen with an electron microscope. It is like an alien to this world.  But is not alien because it knows how to replicate using us as a host.

                    I see that we are all in this together, just like fighting a war and the enemy  is the virus. I see it as our patriotic duty to protect ourselves and defend ourselves from this enemy.  Wars require sacrifice and giving up some rights and freedoms.  It is all of our patriotic duty to get vaccinated and practice the CDC guidelines.  People want certainty, but there is no certainty when you are in a war. 

                    These are different times than the times that you mentioned in the past. where we have the rights to our individual freedoms. Omicron may not be as virulent as Delta, but is is far more contagious and spreads at quicker rate.

                    You may not expect other Americans to give up their rights.  But there are individual rights and collective rights. Right now we are in the stage where we need collective rights.  In a war, everybody gets vaccinated against disease that they can contract by being in foreign lands. There is no room for anti-vaxers.  If one who is not vaccinated gets a disease it can be transmitted to everybody in that front.  That is precisely how I see where we are with this virus.

                    You and your fellow Americans may not like the uncertainty and may want to blame Biden for everything, but we are in a different time than the past and this is going to be a different history than the past.

                    I have always believed if one cannot adapt to change, one is not going to survive.  It is truly survival of the fittest. If it requires wearing a mask and  being vaccinated for me to survive then I have the right to expect everybody else to wear a mask and be vaccinated as well.

                    The virus could care less whether you are a conservative or a liberal, what your individual rights are what freedoms you are giving up.

                    I believe Trump made a big mistake by not handling the entire virus at the federal level when he first knew how bad it was and downplayed it. And now Biden needs to handle it at the federal level as well. It just like gun laws, every state has their own laws and it is pure chaos. There are over 2,00 gun laws on the books.  The right wing is always worried about government over reach, but I think there is more uniformity in policy and procedure when something like this virus is handled at the federal level instead of at the state and local level. Just like when we at war, which in my book we are. I say we need collective rights, not individual rights. The human race is at war.  That is why it is called a pandemic.

                    1. My Esoteric profile image85
                      My Esotericposted 3 years agoin reply to this

                      "I see that we are all in this together, " - The problem with that is Conservatives don't believe that to be true.  That is one of the reasons they so strongly opposed the Constitution back in the day.  They did not believe in a united America.

                      1. peoplepower73 profile image86
                        peoplepower73posted 3 years agoin reply to this

                        Scott: And yet when conservatives recite the Pledge of Allegiance, it must be just words to them without meaning.

                        "I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America; and to the Republic for which it stands, one Nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all."

                        With King Trump, there is no republic.  We don't have one nation indivisible  He has successfully divided the country and it certainly is not indivisible and there is no justice for all, especially Trump and his cohorts.. 

                        Trump and company, Fox prime time players, and MAGA have made a mockery of the truth about justice and about this virus.

                        Here is what PBS says about the senate hearing about Fauci and Walensky

                        https://www.pbs.org/newshour/health/wat … 9-variants

                        Here is what Fox News says about the same senate hearings.

                        https://www.foxnews.com/media/rand-paul … s-mandates

                    2. Sharlee01 profile image85
                      Sharlee01posted 3 years agoin reply to this

                      " I have the right to expect everybody else to wear a mask and be vaccinated as well."

                      This statement stands out...  You may want to consider those that who refuse to be vaccinated have individual reasons why they won't be vaccinated.  They possess the same conceit as you --- "I have the right" to expect everybody else  to respect my decision not to be vaccinated ."

                      In regard to the virus.  I see it as a virus that is affecting the human race. Yes, an organism that is so small that it can only be seen with an electron microscope.   It's not an alien to this world. We have had viruses from the beginning of our existence.  And yes, it knows how to replicate using us as a host.  Viruses also follow a true factual path, which leads to denaturing itself due to its losing its ability to replicate. itself in a herd... 

                      "I see that we are all in this together, just like fighting a war and the enemy is the virus. I see it as our patriotic duty to protect ourselves and defend ourselves from this enemy. "

                      This is a good opinion in my view. But that is my view, and many just do not agree with that view.  This is just what is evident. So, we will need to move along the best we can. It does no good to fight about the issue. It would be good if we could convince those that won't be vaccinated to be kind to our concerns, and convince them to use masks and distance out of respect for our wishes. Because we no longer should need to mitigate to protect them or ourselves due to their decision not to be vaccinated.

                      1. peoplepower73 profile image86
                        peoplepower73posted 3 years agoin reply to this

                        Sharlee:  I left out those who have underlying medical conditions that preclude them from being vaccinated and wearing a mask.

                        "Viruses also follow a true factual path, which leads to denaturing itself due to its losing its ability to replicate. itself in a herd... "

                        So how many more people have to die until we reach heard immunity and how many of those who die are going to be anti-vaxers?  It seems stats are showing it is the ant-vaxers who are a large cohort of those who end-up in hospitals and die.

                        Why hasn't the flu reached heard immunity?  It has been around for years, but people still get sick from it. We have to get shots every year, because it keeps mutating to stay alive and replicate.

                        Just like the Corona virus and just like us.  We have to stay alive to replicate as well. I don't think we are as adaptable as a virus.  We have brains that get in our way. The virus just has a piece of simple RNA and/or DNA and we have to play catch-up ball to keep up with its changes.

                      2. My Esoteric profile image85
                        My Esotericposted 3 years agoin reply to this

                        "This statement stands out... " - The problem with your analysis is you are comparing a pea to a grapefruit.  One the one hand, my rights won't harm anyone while, on the other hand, their rights may KILL someone.  Those are NOT two equivalent Rights. Which Right, in your mind, should win out?  It can only be one!  I choose my Right to protect myself and reject their Right to Kill me simply because they are unreasonably delusional.

                2. My Esoteric profile image85
                  My Esotericposted 3 years agoin reply to this

                  Let me modify this a bit from "The conservative mentality is it is better to do nothing ..." to "The conservative mentality is it is better to do nothing and let lots of people get sick or die ..." - Sort of like what the conservatives on the Supreme Court did today.  I don't know if was with "malice aforethought" or not, but they consigned thousands more people to unnecessary death and millions to hospital stays they otherwise wouldn't have had.

              2. My Esoteric profile image85
                My Esotericposted 3 years agoin reply to this

                Hey, if any of those rise to the same level of threat to society, why not?  Why do we have laws against murder?  An unvaccinated person is just a bullet waiting to strike some unknowing innocent.

          2. Sharlee01 profile image85
            Sharlee01posted 3 years agoin reply to this

            "TAX THEM.  It seems fair, after all, their poor choice is costing the rest of us millions and millions of dollars - they need to pay for that!"

            You have outdone yourself with this gem of wisdom.

            How about we tax the fat, the people that choose to overeat and clearly die more frequently from not only COVID but Heart diseases, and diabetes, and attribute to many other diseases. Yes, I say let's tax the fat... Let's make a law that they can only be served small portions in eateries, and not allow them on airplanes. Let's mandate they lose weight, or they lose their jobs.  Let's make a mandate that they will be weighed each week at their job, and fired if they don't lose weight on a weekly basis.  While we are at it let's tax smokers.

            And then there are drug addicts. Let's not forget those that drink alcohol. Science tells us all of the above-mentioned causes of diseases, and are choices that can be avoided, the all-cause burden on society and taxpayers.

            I won't get personal, I would like to, but hopefully, my comment will get you thinking about your suggestion.

            1. My Esoteric profile image85
              My Esotericposted 3 years agoin reply to this

              Actually, it is not my idea, they implemented in Quebec, Canada.  It seemed to work because as soon as they announced it, people started making appointments to get vaccinated.  Also, it makes sense to me.  Why do you want to pay for their stupid choices which might very well kill you or your children boot?

              Fat people don't kill other people as a general rule or make other people sick and are stuck with the bills.

              Unvaccinated people take beds away from people who are sick through no fault of their own.

              Drug addicts who hurt other people often go to jail and have to pay, if they can, compensation.

              Here is another suggestion.  Take one hospital in an area and set it aside for unvaccinated people who are sick with Covid.  Leave the others free to accept normal patients who are purposefully jeopardizing other people's wellbeing.  If that hospital fills up - oh well, let those unvaccinated people find another Covid hospital somewhere else.

              As you can see I have absolutely zero sympathy for people who purposefully jeopardize my family and friends health from there stupid and selfish choices.  If someone can prove an unvaccinated person gave them the virus, then the unvaccinated person should be charged with felony assault and battery if the newly infected person doesn't die and voluntary manslaughter if they do.

        14. My Esoteric profile image85
          My Esotericposted 3 years agoin reply to this

          Well, the Conservatives did it again - consigned thousands upon thousands of Americans to die miserably and an order of magnitude of Americans to suffer debilitating illness in the hospital.  The Supreme Court made another Jim Crow or Plessy-type ruling and shot down President Biden's attempt to reign in this pandemic and save countless lives.  Instead, they chose to help let the pandemic continue unabated spewing off more variants until one comes along that will kill each of those conservative Justices who voted to allow it to happen.

          https://us.cnn.com/2022/01/13/politics/ … index.html

          Now I'll wait for the Trump defenders on this site to start attacking Biden for the Supreme Courts decision.

          1. GA Anderson profile image84
            GA Andersonposted 3 years agoin reply to this

            Double damn, Deja Vu again, again. And it has nothing to do with hypocrisy.

            This time it's Jake again. You're channeling Jake. Unvaccinated and bullets . . . "consigned thousands upon thousands of Americans to die miserably  . . ." "Jim Crow"

            and then the capper: "let the pandemic continue unabated spewing off more variants until one comes along that will kill each of those conservative Justices who voted to allow it to happen.".

            Jake is back.

            GA

            1. My Esoteric profile image85
              My Esotericposted 3 years agoin reply to this

              Who is Jake?  Does he speak the truth like I do?

              "Unvaccinated and bullets . . . " - is an analogy.

              " "consigned thousands upon thousands of Americans to die miserably  . . ." - I speak the truth there.

              "Jim Crow (you forgot Plessy)" - again, an an analogy referring to an extremely poorly reasoned opinion.

              ""let the pandemic continue unabated spewing off more variants until " - Isn't that a plausible scenario?  Since the Justices' actions will continue the pandemic, it is reasonable to assume more variants will come along.  The next one may be as transmissible as Omicron and as deadly as Delta.

              1. GA Anderson profile image84
                GA Andersonposted 3 years agoin reply to this

                Surely you remember good ol' hyperbolic Jake? Your analogy, your word choices, and your phrasing were reincarnations of Jake's hyperbole.

                And ending your response with a rationalization of your ". . .  will kill each of those conservative Justices who voted to allow it to happen." statement is pure Jake.

                I disagree with many of your points but I think the position you hold is one of zeal and not reason, so I will generalize.

                Considering the possible choices of analogies to convey your message about the claimed danger of the unvaccinated: you chose bullets—with all its explosive connotations. A message that shuts the door on any other possible perspective. I think there are other arguable perspectives.

                The rest of the noted stuff uses the same vehicle; there is no other possible interpretation or perspective. Specifically, your Jim Crow, (and `Plessy'), choice. I perceive the current decisions differently. But your word choice says that can't matter. It is your opinion that theirs was such an "extremely poorly reasoned opinion." that it warrants the extremes of your comparative choices and there can be no other interpretations. You know that there are other perspectives. So, (rhetorically), what are you really saying, let's argue? Nope.

                And that, in a nutshell, is Jake 101.

                GA

                1. peoplepower73 profile image86
                  peoplepower73posted 3 years agoin reply to this

                  GA:  I bet you graded papers in another life.

                  1. My Esoteric profile image85
                    My Esotericposted 3 years agoin reply to this

                    No, according to the lady who read my hand decades ago, I was an oriental religious type.  That said, while I am not religious at all, I do have an affinity for Buddhism.  Hell, if I sit cross-legged, I look a little bit like him, lol.

                2. Valeant profile image77
                  Valeantposted 3 years agoin reply to this

                  I thought I had been keeping the spirit of Jake alive with my posts.  Why are you giving that title to someone else?

          2. Sharlee01 profile image85
            Sharlee01posted 3 years agoin reply to this

            Oh my, my my my ----   You have truely outdone yourself with this gem...  It is without a doubt one that I will put in my many memories of your comments that almost made me feel light-headed.

            "Instead, they chose to help let the pandemic continue unabated spewing off more variants until one comes along that will kill each of those conservative Justices who voted to allow it to happen."

            Why attack Biden when we have material like this?  KILL?

            Oh to return to the original subject of your thread. Here is another Great Thing Biden Has Done ---

              Biden White House will roll out of COVID tests expected to ship 'within 7-12 days of ordering'---  Really buck short Joe?

            The Biden administration is facing backlash over the rollout of COVID tests being made available to every American household, with critics saying its efforts are too little, too late.

            The White House announced Friday that 500 million rapid at-home tests will be available for ordering online beginning Jan. 19 for free. The two requirements upon ordering is a name and a residential mailing address. Up to four tests can be ordered per household on a government website.

            However, the White House's admission of when Americans might actually receive the COVID tests is garnering attention.

            "Tests will typically ship through the mail within 7-12 days of ordering, and be delivered First Class through the U.S. Postal Service," the White House tweeted."

            "Critics mocked the Biden administration's timeline for the COVID tests as some medical experts predicted the omicron wave of cases will subside by the end of the month. "

            "'7-12 days after requested' is a very long timeline for shipping these tests," said CNN correspondent Abby Phillip."

            "This is great, by the time people actually get their tests the Omicron wave will be over," City Journal contributing editor Charles Fain Lehman tweeted. "

            "Think you may have COVID? The geniuses in the Biden admin will get you a test after you’ve already recovered!" said RNC Chairwoman Ronna McDaniel"

            "What’s the opposite of Operation Warp Speed?" said Washington Free Beacon reporter Chuck Ross."

            "So, even assuming that this website doesn't have an Obamacare-style crash upon rollout, the tests should reach your house just in time for the omicron wave to already be over," said National Review senior writer Dan McLaughlin. "

            Seems Joe was just too busy promoting BBB and his Voter Act bill to note a big super spreader new mutation of COVID was headed our way.  He is waisting more cash on tests that most likely will be tossed out due to lack of need, or exp.  And actually, many Docs have been reporting the test does always pick up Omicron. I mean could this be any more ridiculous? Maybe he should work on helping get much-needed therapeutic to help with this huge surge of Omicron cases. I guess we might see those in July... This is what will be in next week's news.
            https://www.statnews.com/2022/01/07/on- … e-options/
            https://www.thegazette.com/health-care- … rt-supply/
            https://www.nytimes.com/2021/12/21/heal … icron.html
            https://www.wboy.com/news/west-virginia … ting-list/
            https://www.sunherald.com/news/coronavi … 31542.html

            I wonder if he has realized he has lost his talking point and will need to address all the BIG problems that are infuriating American's?

        15. gmwilliams profile image86
          gmwilliamsposted 3 years agoin reply to this

          Biden has & is doing some "excellent", "great" things.  He plans to TAX middle class Americans into impoverishment.   He plans to make America into a communistic, 3rd world country.  Oh yeah, Biden is the "man" of the hour.   Biden is the 2nd worst president in history.    Anyone who voted for Biden is......TOTALLY SUSPECT.

          1. My Esoteric profile image85
            My Esotericposted 3 years agoin reply to this

            Boy, you are a great fantasy writer.  Not a shred of truth but very fanciful.

        16. My Esoteric profile image85
          My Esotericposted 3 years agoin reply to this

          I have been advocating for one of these measures (Liability Insurance) for a long time to help curb death by gun and careless gun owners.  Maybe President Biden will pick up on it..

          https://us.cnn.com/2022/01/26/us/san-jo … index.html

        17. My Esoteric profile image85
          My Esotericposted 3 years agoin reply to this

          President Biden has been pushing the House to pass a bill (which Republicans will probably oppose) to help relocate chip manufacturers back to the United States.  The House finally heard him.

          https://www.reuters.com/business/us-hou … 022-01-25/

          1. Sharlee01 profile image85
            Sharlee01posted 3 years agoin reply to this

            Are computer chips bad for the environment?
            A typical semiconductor factory makes about 2 million integrated circuits per month and gulps about 20 million gallons of water, which ultimately must be disposed of as waste. Chips makers also use large amounts of energy and many toxic chemicals, all of which can harm the environment.

            https://www.google.com/search?q=manufac … p;ie=UTF-8
            https://news.stanford.edu/pr/96/960605c … vironment.
            https://www.theguardian.com/environment … nt-climate

            Was Joe not pushing the green deal, in his BBB?  Once again confusing message. "Do as I say not as I do " and he is already wasting a shi- Loud of money pretending to be a climate-conscious Nation. Maybe Joe can Build them back better than China...  Laughable.

            Can't wait for 2024, just can't come fast enough. In my opinion, Biden creates one hot mess after another for America.  This subject deserves a thread of its own.

            1. Valeant profile image77
              Valeantposted 3 years agoin reply to this

              Well, if you:
              a.) want us back in the stone age, you can rail against computer chips.
              b.) want supply chains to remain stuck in neutral
              c.) want us beholden to Asia, who we get most computer chips from, including for many things pertaining to national defense, then you can bring up the environmental issue.

              Would you rather be dependent on another country for something that vital?  Yes, there will be a larger carbon footprint.  But when it comes to national security, that might be worth the tradeoff.

              https://www.businessinsider.com/why-us- … age-2021-4

              https://www.kelly.senate.gov/press-rele … -research/

              The right complains about China.  The right complains about manufacturing jobs not being in the US.  The right complains about supply chains.  Biden tries to solve three problems at the expense of adding to the carbon footprint.  What your post makes clear, is that no matter how he tries to solve problems you complain about, you're going to complain.

              1. Sharlee01 profile image85
                Sharlee01posted 3 years agoin reply to this

                Missed my point... Perhaps I was not snaky enough.
                To simplify --- just pointing out Biden's hypocrisy, to put it mildly. He has portrayed himself as a "Mr. Green Jeans"...  Could once again put this one in the pile of his mistruths. Wonder what his far-left crew thinks about all this?

                No, I am not on the climate bandwagon, but I also would hate to see us manufacture computer chips... Big time plouter, as well as industries that require more water than any other industry.  It's a filthy procedure, why do you think we have not been big on producing Computer chips until Joe? Plus so much cheaper in China.  This is another Joe pipe dream, that will go nowhere in the end.

                Seems you would not be on board with this? 

                I am not, and I don't really get crazy about Climate. Oh well

                1. Valeant profile image77
                  Valeantposted 3 years agoin reply to this

                  I didn't miss your point at all.  You wanted to suddenly pretend you're for climate concerns while turning a blind eye to the other three major benefits to bringing computer chip manufacturing back into the United States just so you can lob your latest partisan attack at Biden. 

                  Computer chip manufacturing is going to exist whether it's in the United States or abroad.  That's a fact.  With the demand for that supply, there will be no reducing the carbon footprint of that industry.  Might as well have some control over the supply.

                  All that after supporting a president who rolled back environmental protections and sold protected lands to the highest bidders.  You'll pardon me if I note your own ridiculous hypocrisy regarding climate change.

                  1. Fayetteville Faye profile image61
                    Fayetteville Fayeposted 3 years agoin reply to this

                    Also, I was unaware that The US produces 12% of the world's computer chip supply.  I was actually thinking it was much lower. But in 1990, the US produced 37% of the world's chip supply!

                    Why the decline in the US?  Well like much else , It became cheaper to build chip facilities in countries whose governments offerred more attractive financial incentives to construct  factories, like tax breaks and grants. There's also less regulation in places like Asia.

                    So can we sumise that in part our regulations to mitigate environmental impacts drove these companies away?.  Now they are operating in cheaper, more lax pastures. Essentially polluting in an unbridled way or at least In a way that was not allowed in the US. Even if they're half a world away their pollution will eventually affect our entire planet.

                    So wouldn't it be not only in our country's interests but  also in global interests that this manufacturing takes place on soil that will at least Have some safety regulations?

                    Also, let's not forget that we have groups here looking at ways to help chip makers reduce environmental impacts.

                    "Ultimately, this research could have an impact well beyond the computer industry, proponents say. If computer design tools that explicitly model environmental impacts are developed for other types of manufacturing, it should be possible to reduce substantially pollution production in many industries that have many times the environmental impact of the microelectronics industry." 

                    https://news.stanford.edu/pr/96/960605chipsenvir.html

                  2. Sharlee01 profile image85
                    Sharlee01posted 3 years agoin reply to this

                    I think you may have missed it yet again --- just pointing the finger of hypocrisy, and now with all the water you seem to be carrying for Joe, seems you may be in his league. Can't even imagine how you would have handled this if it were trump... You're do keep me smiling.

                    I did not think you would join in on this one.

                    1. Valeant profile image77
                      Valeantposted 3 years agoin reply to this

                      I would have handled it the same way, been happy that we were bringing manufacturing back to the United States and not leaving our national security in the hands of those in Asia. 

                      Are there drawbacks?  Sure.  But as Faye and I both noted, these drawbacks didn't change the overall impact to climate change since they would be done somewhere any way, and the United States can at least set some standards, and ones that would be higher in the third world countries where they do not care as much about the issue.

                      It appears that Biden is solving problems to help supply chains, inflation, manufacturing and national security with this one solution.  Instead of crediting him with a solution, all you can do is distract to the one negative.  Says way more about your own world view than mine.

                      1. Sharlee01 profile image85
                        Sharlee01posted 3 years agoin reply to this

                        Solving problems --- seen his polls. And this brainstorm will sink him even further. Who in the hell is he listening to?

                2. peoplepower73 profile image86
                  peoplepower73posted 3 years agoin reply to this

                  Sharlee:  There is always hope with new innovative ideas.

                  https://www.upi.com/Archives/1996/06/07 … 834120000/

                  1. Sharlee01 profile image85
                    Sharlee01posted 3 years agoin reply to this

                    Nice point... good read.  Thought you might just jump on the bandwagon. Credit to you.

                3. My Esoteric profile image85
                  My Esotericposted 3 years agoin reply to this

                  I hope you or your progeny don't live too close to: Rivers, Coasts, Forests, Tornado Alley, and the like.  If they do, then they WILL suffer sooner or later from that thing you don't care about or want to do anything about.

                  1. Sharlee01 profile image85
                    Sharlee01posted 3 years agoin reply to this

                    Yes, especially if Joe starts manufacturing computer chips.    Better read Faye's comment. It's one big plant seems does not matter where the pollution occurs, so all is well... Those pesky chips need to be made somewhere. And actually, she is 100% correct.

                    Even I do not want Joe to make computer chips in America. Imagine even me.

                    By the way, have you seen the latest polls? And even your CNN tanked hm pretty good ---  https://edition.cnn.com/2022/01/26/poli … index.html
                    https://nypost.com/2022/01/25/biden-app … -low-poll/

                    And his solution, "let's make climate killing computer chips -- yeah that's the thicket!" One hot mess after another.

                    https://thehill.com/homenews/administra … w-low-poll

                    1. Fayetteville Faye profile image61
                      Fayetteville Fayeposted 3 years agoin reply to this

                      I want to qualify my comment again. We actually used to do much more manufacturing of chips here. 37% of the world's chips in 1990 actually were manufactured here. Now, only 12%.  Companies left partially because of the regulations that we put on them. Again, I'd like to say that I would rather see them manufactured under stricter regulations than unbridled in third world countries. Plus, I have seen quite a few studies that point to ways they can be manufactured in a cleaner manner and some of the larger corporations have actually made pledges to reduce their carbon output and have made some progress toward that.   There's no going back on this technology, it's involved in so much of our daily lives. I'd rather we as a country try and seize it and refine the process. Otherwise they'll be manufactured under little to no regulation in Asia which will catch up to us eventually.
                      I completely agree with you though, If we are going to increase this manufacturing again in our country I want to see it highly regulated and safe.

                      Additionally, This isn't something that just developed during President Biden's administration.
                      "The Trump administration and semiconductor companies are looking to jump-start development of new chip factories in the U.S. as concern grows about reliance on Asia as a source of critical technology."

                      https://www.wsj.com/articles/trump-and- … 1589103002

                      "T.S.M.C. Is Set to Build a U.S. Chip Facility, a Win for Trump
                      The White House has called for building up U.S. manufacturing and criticized a tech supply chain centered in China."

                      https://www.nytimes.com/2020/05/14/tech … ility.html

                      Trump administration wants to bring chip manufacturing to the U.S.
                      https://www.digitaltrends.com/news/us-g … facturing/

                      Trump administration wants more Samsung chip factories in the U.S.
                      https://www.sammobile.com/news/trump-ad … -factories

                      My problem with it happening under a Republican administration would be that there would be absolutely no regulation.

                      1. My Esoteric profile image85
                        My Esotericposted 3 years agoin reply to this

                        She won't believe you, Faye, sad.

                        "I completely agree with you though, If we are going to increase this manufacturing again in our country I want to see it highly regulated and safe." - Did Sharlee actually say that?  I thought she said she doesn't want chips made in America.  If fact, I got the distinct impression she doesn't want chips made at all.

                    2. My Esoteric profile image85
                      My Esotericposted 3 years agoin reply to this

                      It is almost impossible to take you seriously, your BDS is so bad.

              2. My Esoteric profile image85
                My Esotericposted 3 years agoin reply to this

                And, in this day and age, I am not sure that bringing the chip manufacturing back to the US would result in a net carbon REDUCTION, using better, more current manufacturing processes. 

                I suspect though that the Right will counter with American technology isn't good enough to reduce the carbon footprint of chip making.

            2. My Esoteric profile image85
              My Esotericposted 3 years agoin reply to this

              Actually, no, President Biden WASN'T pushing the "green deal" in BBB.  What gave you that idea except your right-wing propaganda outlets.

              "Once again confusing message" - Only to a select few who don't get it.

              Your BDS is showing big time in that comment.

              1. Sharlee01 profile image85
                Sharlee01posted 3 years agoin reply to this

                really, could have fooled
                https://www.novoco.com/notes-from-novog … lion-green
                https://www.greennewdealnetwork.org/pre … -release-1
                Climate investments
                The largest part of the framework includes around $550 billion of investments in clean energy and other climate change initiatives, including:

                An enhancement of existing home energy and efficiency tax credits.
                An electrification-focused rebate program.
                A credit of up to $12,500 for U.S.-made, union-made electric vehicles.
                https://www.cnbc.com/2021/10/28/whats-i … -plan.html
                https://thehill.com/opinion/energy-envi … e-salvaged
                Need more?

                So, very sorry about BBB. But it would seem odd on one hand to push a green deal, then push the very destructive manufacturing of Computer chips, and such. Would seem very hypocritical to most i would venture.

                1. My Esoteric profile image85
                  My Esotericposted 3 years agoin reply to this

                  Do you even know what the "green deal", which I suppose you mean the "green new deal" even is?

        18. Sharlee01 profile image85
          Sharlee01posted 3 years agoin reply to this

          What are the Great Things President Joe Biden Has Done While President

          Today returned to the title of this thread, and after Biden being in Office for over a year now, I did come up with some winners.

          At this point, the only real winners in the last 12 months are illegal immigrants, the cartels, the Taliban, China, and Russia. And all the countries that we have had to now increase our orders for oil. It much appears Joe will break a record on price per barrel. Way to go Joe.
          Biggest Stock Slide on Wall Street Since '20 as Oil Surges
          Stocks fell sharply on Wall Street Monday after another big leap for oil prices threatened to squeeze inflation’s grip on the global economy.  source
          https://www.usnews.com/news/business/ar … %20%24139.

          So in reality Biden did do some great things for some, but unfortunately, those "some" weren't Americans.

          So, hold on to your hats, the best is yet to come.

          1. My Esoteric profile image85
            My Esotericposted 3 years agoin reply to this

            You could have written exactly the same thing about Trump after HIS first year - "At this point, the only real winners in the last 12 months are illegal immigrants, the cartels, the Taliban, China, and Russia. And all the countries that we have had to now increase our orders for oil. "

            Just like a Trump Republican to blame high oil prices on an American president rather than the real culprit, the Russian president.  Way go go there comrade.

            Just like a Trump Republican to blame stock slide on an American president rather than the real culprit, the Russian president.  Way go go there comrade.

            Now, for a little honesty.  Great things Biden has done in the last 12 months

            - [i[From his first day in office, Biden set a different tone on COVID-19 from his predecessor, President Donald Trump. He embraced science and his top medical advisers -- like Dr. Anthony Fauci -- donned face coverings, and expressed sympathy for lives lost to the virus.[/i]

            - Biden pushed a $1.9 trillion relief package through Congress,

            - Biden oversaw a testing program that ramped up exponentially in his first months in office,

            - Biden oversaw getting shots in the arms of anyone who was smart enough and responsible enough to want one

            - Biden encouraged or mandated masks where he could, including on planes and other public transport.

            - Under Biden nearly all schools have in-person instruction.

            - Biden made N-95 and Covid Testing kits free (and debunked Trump's notion that testing causes cases to go up)

            - Biden has gotten unemployment to record pandemic lows

            - Biden got all but 2 million of the 10 million jobs lost to Covid back

            - When Trump left there were over 800,000 initial unemployment claims filed a month.  One year later it is down to below 211,000

            - Biden has repaired the relations with our allies that Trump had destroyed

            - Biden got a bi-partisan infrastructure bill past for the first time in many decades

            - [b]Biden stopped the very dangerous right-ward tilt to our judiciary[/i]

            - Biden has orchestrated a unified front to try to stop the worst terrorist in modern history and organized a massive support effort to keep Ukraine alive

            Thank you for giving me the opportunity rehearse Bidens accomplishments.

            1. Valeant profile image77
              Valeantposted 3 years agoin reply to this

              Seriously.  What kind of idiot doesn't know who to blame for the aggression of war that affects global oil prices?  Again, some patriotism there.  Blame your own leader for the actions of the enemy.  Traitor to this country those sentiments are.

            2. Sharlee01 profile image85
              Sharlee01posted 3 years agoin reply to this

              "Just like a Trump Republican to blame high oil prices on an American president rather than the real culprit, the Russian president.  Way go go there comrade."

              How silly --- We have had inflation for many months long before Putin started a war with Ukraine. Funny you did not remember that.

              As I said if you say it you believe it... LOL

              Biden has done nothing to stop Putin, nothing. Last I heard Putin is still conducting an out-and-out an out war, committing genocide on the people. This one is on Biden. As Syria was on Obama.

              " Biden has orchestrated" This is laughable, he is hiding that's what he does best.

              Once again, here are his accomplishments.

              At this point, the only real winners in the last 12 months are illegal immigrants, the cartels, the Taliban, China, and Russia. And all the countries that we have had to now increase our orders for oil. It much appears Joe will break a record on price per barrel. Way to go Joe.
              Biggest Stock Slide on Wall Street Since '20 as Oil Surges
              Stocks fell sharply on Wall Street Monday after another big leap for oil prices threatened to squeeze inflation’s grip on the global economy.

              At any rate, why argue about Biden, 2022 will provide a fresh new majority to Congress, and Biden can just stay in Delaware and chill because anything he dreams up will be tossed in the can.

              I for one am counting the months.

              1. peoplepower73 profile image86
                peoplepower73posted 3 years agoin reply to this

                Sharlee:

                "Biden has done nothing to stop Putin, nothing. Last I heard Putin is still conducting an out-and-out an out war, committing genocide on the people. This one is on Biden. As Syria was on Obama."

                " Biden has orchestrated" This is laughable, he is hiding that's what he does best."

                So much for Biden doing nothing in Ukraine and hiding.

                https://www.washingtonpost.com/national … s-ukraine/

                1. My Esoteric profile image85
                  My Esotericposted 3 years agoin reply to this

                  As I mentioned to Credence, this type of irrational thought is characteristic of high-scoring RWAs who are faced with reality.  Their claims get more and more ridiculous.  I watched this happen with my wife's sister.  Even her very right-wing husband couldn't take it anymore and told her she is nuts.

                2. Sharlee01 profile image85
                  Sharlee01posted 3 years agoin reply to this

                  I felt my context was very clear word for word ---   

                  "Biden has done nothing to STOP Putin, nothing. Last I heard Putin IS STILL  conducting an out-and-out an out war, committing genocide on the people. This one is on Biden. As Syria was on Obama."

                  So to further elaborate on my comment.  I had hoped to infer what steps Biden has taken has not stopped Putin.  I am fully aware of the sanctions, and that the US has been sending aid and weapons. However, the war rages on...

                  Last I checked no --- his sanctions have not worked, the weapons THUS FAR have not  STOPPED Putin,.

                  I feel my wording was very clear yet you turned it into something very different. I simply inferred nothing Biden has done has stopped Putin. The keyword is stopped, followed by  Last I heard Putin is still conducting an out-and-out an out war, committing genocide on the people. Hence to infer nothing he did has stopped Putin.

                  Today Biden stopped purchasing oil from Russia. Will that STOP the war?

                  Hopefully, I have clarified my statement.

                  1. Credence2 profile image81
                    Credence2posted 3 years agoin reply to this

                    So, what is Biden to do, Sharlee? I suppose that you had expected Obama to send troops against a tyrannical Syrian government? When we were already well overextended in Afghanistan and other parts of the world.  We could have the same "successful" outcome experienced in Iraq when GW waged his war there?

                    Do we send American troops to the Ukraine to fight the Russians? Are you willing to risk that level of escalation over a non-NATO nation like the Ukraine?

                    1. My Esoteric profile image85
                      My Esotericposted 3 years agoin reply to this

                      I have grown weary of her trek into Trump's fantasy world.  Almost all of her comments are disinformation and/or misinformation.

                      Just like her little word game emphasizing the word "STOP"..  She contradicts herself more and more now.  For example, in one breath, she says Biden has done NOTHING, yet in the next breath she says Biden DID DO something (sanctions).  So which is it, he did NOTHING or he did SOMETHING - they are mutually exclusive, lol.  (But, to a high-scoring RWA that contradiction comes with the territory.)

                      In addition, she hangs her hat on totally UNREASONABLE expectations in order to blame Biden for something, anything.

                      1. Sharlee01 profile image85
                        Sharlee01posted 3 years agoin reply to this

                        Your propensity to mentioned Trump in just about every one of your comments is very odd, in my opinion. 

                        And I trust Cred will understand the context of my comment.  He has excellent skills with context and wonderful social skills. he shares his views without the need to insult or belittle others' views.

                      2. Valeant profile image77
                        Valeantposted 3 years agoin reply to this

                        My issue tends to be the omission of anything prior to Biden to live in a fabricated narrative of blame and wear rose-colored glasses pertaining to the many failures that led to these issues currently plaguing our nation. 

                        Rise in crime -->  started in mid-2020.
                        Cutting oil production --->  started in mid-2020.
                        Afghanistan troop drawdown & Taliban prisoner release --->  done by Trump before he left office.
                        Stimulus --->  both presidents supplied it.
                        Immigration -->  the only people saying the border is open are right-wing media sites.  And then completely ignoring the encounters is a newer means of tracking immigration, with between 25%-30% being repeats, yet treated as if they are all uniquely individual because they are too dumb to understand the actual numbers are similar to 2019 numbers.

                    2. Sharlee01 profile image85
                      Sharlee01posted 3 years agoin reply to this

                      I have not stated any thoughts on what  Biden should do if anything. In fact, my comment indicated I feel nothing will stop Putin short of a world war.  If I have laid blame on Biden it was just my view that I feel Putin thinks him weak and saw the opportunity to strike before a new administration steps in 2024. And that's just my view,

                      . I have just added a rebuttal that what he has done thus far has not stopped Putin.  I don't think he could have done anything to stop Putin. I still feel this way.   

                      As I said in the first days of its crisis I am against starting a war. And that I felt aid and arming Ukraine was all we could do...  I feel (unfortunately) Putin will overrun Ukraine eventually, and again sadly that will be that.  There is nothing we can do short of a world war. I am against that.

                      I have long given up that Americans will jump in and prevent genocide. Realistically that was another America from long long ago...

                      We can only hope Putin stops with Ukraine. And I don't think anyone can predict that.

                      1. My Esoteric profile image85
                        My Esotericposted 3 years agoin reply to this

                        "In fact, my comment indicated I feel nothing will stop Putin short of a world war. " - So what does that imply? I assume it had to have some meaning.

                      2. My Esoteric profile image85
                        My Esotericposted 3 years agoin reply to this

                        "I have just added a rebuttal that what he has done thus far has not stopped Putin. "- No, you said (in the next sentence as well) that Biden did nothing to stop Putin. The truth is that Biden (and the West) did many things to TRY to deter Putin; they just didn't work against a madman.

                          The problem is, "trying" to do something doesn't carry any weight with you UNLESS it is successful.  To you, it seems, based on your comments, that if a person tries and fails, then that person is a failure in your eyes regardless if it turns out it was futile to try in the first place.

              2. My Esoteric profile image85
                My Esotericposted 3 years agoin reply to this

                "How silly --- We have had inflation for many months long before Putin started a war with Ukraine. Funny you did not remember that." - I presume you are talking about the increase in oil prices due to 1) the pandemic, 2) American producers refusing to produce, 3) supply and demand imbalances, and 4) Putin.

                Notice Biden isn't in the list since nothing he has done increased oil prices.  To sustain your false reality, you are forced to disingenuously say so.


                The rest of your comment is a poster child of how far your have been sucked into the Trump Cult.

                1. Sharlee01 profile image85
                  Sharlee01posted 3 years agoin reply to this

                  I consider your opinion in regards to inflation all-out ridiculous.  The Biden administration is fully responsible due to poor decision-making that tanked out the economy. It all started the very day he walked into the office.

                  To keep it as polite as possible --- believe whatever you please, I find it impossible to have a conversation with someone that is not willing to look at the facts. But chooses to placate an administration that has tanked America. 

                  And you little Trump dig --- I find that actually a very silly comment. Makes me wonder about your ability to converse without making an attempt to bait for an argument. I look at that as a very poor character flaw.

        19. James A Watkins profile image90
          James A Watkinsposted 3 years agoin reply to this

          Beijing Biden has done a remarkable job serving his paymasters, the Communist Party of China. Since they installed him as president, we have seen record inflation, our country go from energy independence to dependence, the rich get richer like never before in world history, the crushing of the middle class, forced injection of a gene-editing instrument, freedom crushed, censorship explode, a record wave of murder, a treasonous  opening of our border to millions of unvetted illegal aliens that include sex slavers, human traffickers, murderers, rapists, and terrorists, all of whom are being paid by Democrats with taxpayer’s money, infanticide glorified as a satanic sacrament, kindergartners groomed for deviancy, ordinary parents labeled terrorists, hatred of America pushed on schoolchildren, and massive acceleration of hatred toward America and Western Civilization as well as teaching our youth to hate and want to commit violence on white men, and the ongoing leftist war on normality, which is truly a war on reality.

          1. Valeant profile image77
            Valeantposted 3 years agoin reply to this

            Looking really desperate to start this as it's own thread and then start pushing it into random threads.

            1. My Esoteric profile image85
              My Esotericposted 3 years agoin reply to this

              He would do well as a writer for Saturday Night Live

          2. My Esoteric profile image85
            My Esotericposted 3 years agoin reply to this

            ROFL!!!

            Boy, you are funny.

        20. peterstreep profile image82
          peterstreepposted 2 years agoin reply to this

          Although it's not directly Biden's success but NASA's I want to congratulate the US (and the rest of the world) on its huge success with the James Webb space telescope.
          It is an incredible achievement and hopefully for years to come scientists will discover more about the universe we live in. How it originated, if there are more water-based planets (and life), if dark matter is real and lots more.
          The first image of the galaxies that are a whopping 13 billion years old is amazing. It is hardly comprehensible. To me it brings a sense of awe and how fragile and beautiful planet earth is.
          So thanks again NASA science team.

          1. tsmog profile image83
            tsmogposted 2 years agoin reply to this

            Hear, Hear!!! There is advancement isn't there, though becomes lost in all the political stuff. There is a lot happening in life if one takes a moment to notice. At least that is the way I see it. For instance on the news I saw a short segment of imitation leather made from mushrooms. If that takes off as hoped then it will assist with the climate crisis by eliminating a need for cattle that will lead to lower greenhouse emissions.

            This Mushroom-Based Leather Could Be the Next Sustainable Fashion Material
            https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-ne … 180979170/

            1. My Esoteric profile image85
              My Esotericposted 2 years agoin reply to this

              If that works, then I have a few belts worth in my yard right now, lol.

              1. tsmog profile image83
                tsmogposted 2 years agoin reply to this

                wink

            2. Sharlee01 profile image85
              Sharlee01posted 2 years agoin reply to this

              Thanks for sharing and lightening up the mood. However, what about the mold facture mushrooms cause people allergic to molds?  (meant to be funny, lighthearted, my own opportunity to be cavalier).

              1. tsmog profile image83
                tsmogposted 2 years agoin reply to this

                I have no idea while did not see it mentioned in the article nor on the news segment.

                1. Sharlee01 profile image85
                  Sharlee01posted 2 years agoin reply to this

                  Hey, I was pulling your leg... I mean many people are allergic to grass, you won't see me putten in cement.  I think I need to be more careful when trying to make a funny. I mean can you imagine if someone bought a wonderful mushroom coat, and wore it on a date with someone that was allergic to mushrooms? I mean it could be a skit on SNL.

                  1. tsmog profile image83
                    tsmogposted 2 years agoin reply to this

                    ha-ha smile 'ya got me. Nah, go for making funnies anytime you like. I have a challenge at times seeing it and sarcasm as well at times as usually members here are clever about it and in general I take everybody seriously maybe to a fault. BTW . . . at 10:00am PDT the hearing just started, so off I go for a listen and such. Who knows I may nod off since my morning begins at 4am PDT. We'll see . . .

                    1. Sharlee01 profile image85
                      Sharlee01posted 2 years agoin reply to this

                      Hey, ya want sarcasm... I am the queen. I will be more careful not to pull your leg. It is very hard to see funny or sarcasm when conversing online.

                      I will let you get to the hearings... I will wait and catch all the rip-downs that the media dishes up.

          2. My Esoteric profile image85
            My Esotericposted 2 years agoin reply to this

            Absolutely.

            And since the opposition wants to unfairly give Biden credit for inflation, then he should get credit for this as well.

          3. Credence2 profile image81
            Credence2posted 2 years agoin reply to this

            Yes, indeed, great science NASA continues to deliver. I only wish that we could fund more and do more.

            I have recently viewed very detailed photos of the Red Planet taken by a recent NASA probe. Picturesque, reminds me of much of the American Southwest, but you are reminded by studies of the Martian atmosphere  that the appearance is where the similarity ends.

        21. profile image57
          Smith68posted 2 years agoin reply to this

          Hello , main purpose is To Raise the top corporate income tax rate to 28% from 21% Impose a 15% minimum tax on the book income of large companies (at least $100 million annual net income) Tax profits earned from foreign subsidiaries of U.S. firms at 21%7.

          1. My Esoteric profile image85
            My Esotericposted 2 years agoin reply to this

            Not sure he wants to go back up to 28%, but the rest that you mention is wonderfully true.

        22. peterstreep profile image82
          peterstreepposted 2 years agoin reply to this
          1. My Esoteric profile image85
            My Esotericposted 2 years agoin reply to this

            Thanks Peter and Happy New Year.

            To summarize the summary, here is the British perspective on what Biden and his Democrats achieved:

            * The non-inflationary American Rescue Plan

            * Establish Juneteenth as a federal holiday FINALLY recognizing the emancipation of Blacks in America (something the British had done over a  century ago).

            * Create a House committee to investigate the Capitol attack which resulted in the referral to the DOJ of criminal indictments of the insurrections ring leader - Donald J. Trump.

            * Bipartisan infrastructure law

            * Confirm a supreme court justice correcting yet another insult to Black, female America by installing Justice Jackson even though white Conservatives tried hard to stop it from happening.

            * Gun-control legislation - as weak as it was, at least it was something.

            * The Chips and Science Act which will make America more independent from the strangle-hold Asia has on our critical chip industry (and therefore our economy).  Oh yes, it will create tens of thousands of new jobs and is ultimately anti-inflationary as well.

            * Aid for veterans exposed to toxic burn pits

            * Inflation Reduction Act which WILL in time accomplish that goal along with a host of other necessary improvements. President Biden just noted Just 12 hours until many of the cost-saving provisions in the Inflation Reduction Act kick in for millions.
            12:00 PM · Dec 31, 2022


            * Protections for same-sex marriage - not as good as a full reversal of the the devastating, anti-American Roe decision, but it is a start.

            * Government funding bill - Yes, even the Brits thought that important enough to mention even though a substantial number of House Republicans fought hard to shut the gov't down.

            * Ukraine aid and I might add bringing NATO together again in defense of Ukraine.

            * Reform the Electoral Count Act, correcting a loophole Trump tried to use to overthrow the government.  This, of course leads to a few major things the Democrats couldn't get past the Republicans

            ** Real electoral reform to prevent Red states from trying to disenfranchise millions of voters.

            ** Real gun safety laws to make it much harder for those who shouldn't have guns from getting them

            **  Codify Roe and restore the fundamental rights the Conservatives took away from women.

            ** Immigration reform

            **  Leaving the debt ceiling in place so that Republicans can once again threaten the full faith and credit of the United States.

            ** Reforming the police to reduce the number of minority deaths at the hands of rouge police officers.

        23. Health Hearty profile image60
          Health Heartyposted 19 months agoin reply to this

          It's good to see positive developments early in this administration. Progress in handling the pandemic and stimulating economic growth is promising. Lowering the Public Debt to GDP ratio and improving employment claims are certainly noteworthy achievements. It's crucial to acknowledge these efforts and track the outcomes over the next four years. Time will tell, but it's a positive start.

          1. Ken Burgess profile image69
            Ken Burgessposted 19 months agoin reply to this

            Wow... was this post stuck in delivery mode for 3 years?

            There has never been a worse Administration... since Carter, most likely this Administration's harm to America when finished will trump every Administration since Buchanan whose deplorable efforts led the country into Civil War.

            The profound damage done on the global stage is incalculable, taking just the singular decision to pursue his no-compromise, no-negotiation Neocon stance with Russia has cost half a million lives, crippled a million more, created more than 8 million homeless refugees, and cost America and its allies trillions in lost GDP.

            The continued war with Russia has emboldened every enemy and nation that has ever held a grudge or has longed to be free from America's influence.

            Alliances are being broken and former allies are walking away from the USA and joining with BRICS, or forming other alliances, with Russia, China, Iran.

            If you were deliberately trying to ruin this nation's economy and its position on the world stage, the efforts of the Biden Administration is practically a text book on how to do it.

            1. gmwilliams profile image86
              gmwilliamsposted 19 months agoin reply to this

              +10000000000

            2. Sharlee01 profile image85
              Sharlee01posted 19 months agoin reply to this

              Wow is not the word ---   Thank you for putting in the time. So well laid out, and so precise.  All so true.

          2. Sharlee01 profile image85
            Sharlee01posted 19 months agoin reply to this

            You track them, from Joe's nursing home in Delaware. The only thing Biden did early on was start a domino effect of one severe crisis after another. The final domino to fall is yet to come -- most likely a world war. weeeeeee

            1. My Esoteric profile image85
              My Esotericposted 18 months agoin reply to this

              Brought to you from the Trump fantasy-world echo chamber of make-believe.

              1. Credence2 profile image81
                Credence2posted 18 months agoin reply to this

                Welcome back.....

                1. My Esoteric profile image85
                  My Esotericposted 18 months agoin reply to this

                  Thank you.

            2. gmwilliams profile image86
              gmwilliamsposted 18 months agoin reply to this

              EXACTLY.

              1. Kathryn L Hill profile image80
                Kathryn L Hillposted 18 months agoin reply to this

                naw ... who wants war?
                Only those who have land issues.
                The want of land, yes.
                The want of war, no.

      6. Castlepaloma profile image76
        Castlepalomaposted 3 years ago

        I like all the magical tricks Biden can do with pushing and pulling out his teeth. No need for polygrip, when he creates all kinds of wild crazies expression he is not aware he is doing. I bet he could chew gum and make a sculpture and get a government grant for it.

        I can appreciate this kind of natural talent as a veteran sculptor and take notes. If I do this at age 103 I would bragg too. Just like Biden's long winded stories that he would have be 1200 years old to pull off.

        1. My Esoteric profile image85
          My Esotericposted 3 years agoin reply to this

          I must assume you were being satirical and not Trumpian who just loves to make fun of people..

          1. Castlepaloma profile image76
            Castlepalomaposted 3 years agoin reply to this

            All these assume leaders who create genocide and steal too much of our money. I can't take seriously or useful in life.

      7. Sharlee01 profile image85
        Sharlee01posted 3 years ago

        I do remember a hiccup in the first week of shipping the vaccine to the states, and the states many states not being capable of getting the vaccine to the centers to be given.  That problem was solved rather quickly.

        https://www.defense.gov/Explore/News/Ar … -criteria/

        Biden as of today still has many not returning to work preferring to sit out the summer and collect that $300.00 unemployment bonus. These payments are still being dished out in most states for 90 more days. This is a fact. Not sure how you come up with your opinion that Red states are the only ones not taking the vaccine.  California
        Number of people fully vaccinated: 17,205,248
        Percentage of the population fully vaccinated: 43.54

        New York
        Number of people fully vaccinated: 9,201,500
        Percentage of the population fully vaccinated: 47.3

        Illinois
        Number of people fully vaccinated: 5,113,364
        Percentage of the population fully vaccinated: 40.35

        Delaware
        Number of people fully vaccinated: 425,004
        Percentage of the population fully vaccinated: 43.65

        Oregon
        Number of people fully vaccinated: 1,934,265
        Percentage of the population fully vaccinated: 45.86

        District of Columbia
        Number of people fully vaccinated: 328,856
        Percentage of the population fully vaccinated: 46.6

        Washington
        Number of people fully vaccinated: 3,592,191
        Percentage of the population fully vaccinated: 47.17

        . Maryland
        Number of people fully vaccinated: 2,931,258
        Percentage of the population fully vaccinated: 48.49

        . New Jersey
        Number of people fully vaccinated: 4,389,480
        Percentage of the population fully vaccinated: 49.42
        https://www.beckershospitalreview.com/p … ch-15.html

        Now certainly you have a point that many red-state citizens are not choosing to get vaccinated.


        So although the stats show that these states have a better percentage rate of being vaccinated, it will appear that over half the populations in these states are unwilling to take the jab... And you might think common sense would convince them to take the vaccine due to the facts showing their states were ravished by COVID at higher rates than red states... They just seem to be willing to take the third wave in the upcoming fall.

        Please check out the death rates in the States, you will discover  most ( keyword MOST)  of the red states fall far below the Blue states

        Perhaps the citizens are less inclined to be vaccinated due to COVID not being as big of a problem in their states.   https://www.statista.com/statistics/110 … -by-state/

        1. My Esoteric profile image85
          My Esotericposted 3 years agoin reply to this

          Had to do some research and math to respond to your data and claims.  Obviously, your data is correct but out of context.

          "Please check out the death rates in the States, you will discover  most ( keyword MOST)  of the red states fall far below the Blue states" - based on that request, I did exactly that.  The problem is I couldn't find any data sets that broke covid deaths down by time frame in order to keep things in context and measure responses over time.

          I took the states with the highest deaths per million over all.  I separated the death rates into a 1st wave group and last wave group (some and more than two waves) and you are right, of course, most of those are Blue.  I then took some likely Red states and did the same thing.

          Here is a summary of the results using daily deaths per million as a metric.

          - If you sort them by over all death rates, you get 1-NY, 2-NY, 3-MA, 4-RI, 5-MS

          - If you sort the ones I looked at by daily death rates in the last wave, you get a different order: 1-AZ, 2-RI, 3-MS (which was also #5 in the overall count), 4-WY, 5-GA

          The point is, of course, is that Blue states 1) were first exposed to Covid and took the brunt of its expansion and 2) took early, sustained action to bring their daily death rates down which worked. 

          On the other hand, Red states, which were hit last, removed what precautions they did take early, refused to take the virus seriously, and are slow to get vaccinated.

          Since I like complete data, I will probably finish all 50 states states.  But just on the little I did, it is clear Red states are faring much worse than Blue state today in daily death rates.

          1. Sharlee01 profile image85
            Sharlee01posted 3 years agoin reply to this

            Worldometer keeps a daily update on all stats changing death stas\ts per million daily.

            My comment was to simply point out blue states are also having a hard time getting their citizens to take the vaccine. here in Mich, we no longer have many sites for the vaccine due of no one is showing up or making appointments.

            I would think all states are doing their best to convince people to get vaccinated.  Every year Michigan runs ads to promote the yearly flu shots, as they have with the OVID vaccine. Most years we reach about 50% of the population getting the flu shot, at this point we have 59% of eligible citizens vaccinated for COVID.

      8. MG Singh profile image62
        MG Singhposted 3 years ago

        One of the greatest things he has done is to blacken the American face among its allies by retreating from Afghanistan without even handing over the Bagram airbase to the government. All the American allies know that when the chips are down the Americans will just pack their bags and go away. They did the same thing in Vietnam so this is one of the greatest things Joe Biden has done.

        1. My Esoteric profile image85
          My Esotericposted 3 years agoin reply to this

          While I don't disagree with your sentiment, I do disagree with this "One of the greatest things he has done is to blacken the American face among its allies by retreating from Afghanistan without even handing over the Bagram airbase to the government. " - We DID hand over Bagram to the Afghans.  What makes you think we didn't?

          But to your other point, I agree whole-heartedly.  To my way of thinking that both on a humanitarian basis as well as a national security basis, it is critical we stay there.  Lots of bad things are going to happen once we are gone - up to and including another 9/11. 

          If what we were doing there wasn't working, you find a better way, you don't tuck your tail between your legs and run like we did in Vietnam.

          A lot of Americans think Biden's decision to pull out of Afghanistan and turn it over to our enemies is a good thing - I am not one of them.

          1. Sharlee01 profile image85
            Sharlee01posted 3 years agoin reply to this

            WOW! I did not realize Joe was compiling sure a list ----  Sure has earned lots of  https://hubstatic.com/15632245.jpg

            https://www.foxnews.com/media/washingto … t-100-days

            1. My Esoteric profile image85
              My Esotericposted 3 years agoin reply to this

              No idea what you are talking about.  Are you referring to the 10,000 lies from Trump?

              1. Sharlee01 profile image85
                Sharlee01posted 3 years agoin reply to this

                https://www.foxnews.com/media/washingto … t-100-days

                And man does he lie just to lie... LOL

      9. Sharlee01 profile image85
        Sharlee01posted 3 years ago

        No Trump never killed it, it was bogged down due to so many cases. Nothing more nothing less.  And my main point --- Biden is making an attempt to take credit for what other presidents did. It was Obama that deserved credit for the loan payoffs. Biden has done nothing thus far.  Zero

        1. Credence2 profile image81
          Credence2posted 3 years agoin reply to this

          Isn't taking credit for what other did or blaming others for his own mistakes characteristic of Donald Trump?

          Biden has been in office a little over 6 months, but we are quick to pass judgement are we not?

        2. My Esoteric profile image85
          My Esotericposted 3 years agoin reply to this

          "No Trump never killed it, " - Oh give me a break.  There were several on-going lawsuits against the DOE to make them follow the law.  Trump resisted at EVERY turn.

          This is just one fight Trump lost in opposing cancelling student debt as the law required (Trump is not a law and order person, obviously)

          https://www.nytimes.com/2018/12/14/busi … eness.html

          If you need more, I can get you lots more.

      10. Sharlee01 profile image85
        Sharlee01posted 3 years ago

        Not sure if Trump took credit for what others did. He certainly had no problem taking credit if he felt he deserved it. And that was aggravating at times.

        I pass judgment on what I see. I see a president that is confused at times. He becomes angry at the reporter's questions at times, he never gives a direct answer. He ignores problems. He came into office and on the first day with the stroke of the pen did away with Trump's immigration policies, due to his confused states, he invited immigrants to come to America --- All are welcome. This has made an already serious problem so much worse. He did away with the Keystone pipeline claiming it was better for the planet, then turned around and Ok the Russian pipeline that really climate-wise is much worse for the planet.  https://emerging-europe.com/news/pressu … -stream-2/

        This was pure hypocrisy on his part. he could give a crap about climate. Biden is Biden --- the same do-nothing guy he was in Congress.

        I don't as a rule like to go out on a limb, and I try to be fair --- but this man is a failure.

      11. Sharlee01 profile image85
        Sharlee01posted 3 years ago

        I can see why most here stay away from conversing with you...  I will follow their lead.  I think ECO and you,  should carry on this conversation. LOL

      12. Sharlee01 profile image85
        Sharlee01posted 3 years ago

        I am saying,   I do not see any problems before the last election, or the new laws that were passed in Georgia, or the new laws Texas is trying to pass.

        This is a ridiculous ploy Democrats are perpetrating to feed the demand for Trump garbage and keep them from looking at the real problems the Biden administration has on their plate. I might add it is a very easy bit to sell to those with TDS. It's actually what they need to keep from crashing and having to go cold turkey.

        This is my opinion. We just don't agree in any respect on this subject.

        1. My Esoteric profile image85
          My Esotericposted 3 years agoin reply to this

          So your final "opinion" is that you do not see a problem with RINOs making it harder to vote.

          It is my "opinion" that the moon is made of green cheese.  That is to say, is an opinion not based on facts worth anything?

        2. My Esoteric profile image85
          My Esotericposted 3 years agoin reply to this

          BTW - The ONLY "real problem the Biden administration has on their plate." is, IMO, withdrawing from Afghanistan.  I think that is a terrible mistake.  But beyond that, the nation thinks Biden is doing just fine, thank you.

          Hell, it weren't for conservatives listening to the right-wing vaccine disinformation we might be a herd immunity right now.  But the way things look now is we will never get there until enough of the unvaccinated die off.  At a death rate of 73,000 to 110,000 a year, it will take quite a while to get there.

      13. Sharlee01 profile image85
        Sharlee01posted 3 years ago

        All due to Trump's economy, and job creation by Trump pre-pandemic Simply some people returning to work. no more no less... More would have returned if Biden did not pay them to stay home...  These are regurgitated Trump jobs. Employers can't even fill jobs let alone create jobs. Where the heck did you get your info from  ---  The speech Biden gave today?  You do know many economists disagree with the inflation-depressed theory. 

        Job numbers would have been even better if Joe did not pay people to stay home.

        1. My Esoteric profile image85
          My Esotericposted 3 years agoin reply to this

          "All due to Trump's economy" which was all due to Obama's economy, you keep forgetting that part.

          If it weren't for Biden coming in and saving the day by getting shots into arms so quickly - much, much faster than what Trump had set up - people wouldn't be returning to work. 

          Oh yes, you forgot the stimulus which has a lot to do with restoring business and consumer confidence that Trump left it in by screwing up so badly with the pandemic.

          I get my info from gov't data.  You get yours from right-wing media.

          No, I don't know.  From what I read, most economists agree the inflation projections at this point in time.

          "Job numbers would have been even better if Joe did not pay people to stay home." - THE problem with that statement is that it is just a right-wing talking point.  All studies I have read say the enhanced employment benefits had very little to do with people not getting jobs.

          BTW, how come employment hasn't improved that much in the states that cut benefits?

          1. Sharlee01 profile image85
            Sharlee01posted 3 years agoin reply to this

            Trump provides two stimulus packages and several vaccines. 
            https://www.vox.com/policy-and-politics … 00-billion

            All the states that dropped Joe's $300 I am paying you to stay home rebounded unemployment went down, many to pre-pandemic numbers.

            Not sure why you thought  --   "how come employment hasn't improved that much in the states that cut benefits?"

            That is just inaccurate. 

            https://dol.georgia.gov/press-releases/ … rcent-june

            https://miami.cbslocal.com/2021/07/12/f … e-to-drop/

            https://www.statesman.com/story/busines … 828909002/

            https://www.kulr8.com/helena/montana-s- … 2dd80.html

            https://www.businessinsider.com/unemplo … its-2021-6

            1. My Esoteric profile image85
              My Esotericposted 3 years agoin reply to this

              Did you even read your Vox piece?  It starts out with "The working assumption among stimulus package negotiators is that Trump was on board with the bill. That assumption was wrong." - Trump had to be coerced into signing that bill as was true for the second one as well.

              You should have thought about the rest of them as well.

              GA - Unemployment falls to 4% in June. FACT - they paid the extra $300 through all of June save for the last 4 days

              FL - According to your source, unemployment rose from 5.8% in May to 5.9% in June.  But that was because more people joined the workforce even though they were still getting paid the extra $300.  That didn't stop until June 26.

              TX Like with the others, those great numbers you highlight occurred BEFORE they cut benefits.

              MT Again, all of those great number were from BEFORE benefits were cut.

              Then we have this story -

              Tammy Foster was forced to leave her job ... after a doctor advised her that it was unsafe for her to work during the pandemic due to complicating medical conditions, like diabetes.  While ... unemployment assistance did not equal what she had been making at her previous job ... it helped cover rent, food, utilities during the months she was not working.

              But when Missouri Gov. Mike Parson announced the state would stop providing additional federal unemployment benefits of $300 a week starting on June 12, Foster could no longer afford to stay home to stay safe. She ... found lower-paying jobs at another food-manufacturing company in the area.

              Foster had been working for four days when she started feeling ill. On July 6, she tested positive for COVID-19.  She said "The moment I was forced to go back to work, my life was put at risk,”

              This was a predictable outcome?

              Along that line "As of July 16, federal unemployment benefits have been cut off in 23 Republican-led states, ...  At the same time, some of these states, including Missouri, now are experiencing a surge in coronavirus cases, making it riskier for workers like Foster to go back to the workplace.

              Can you tell me why conservatives want to put people at risk of dying from the much more contagious and deadly Delta-variant?  Makes no sense to me.

              To continue on with Foster Now sidelined by a COVID infection, Foster said she’s more worried than ever about covering rent, and feels like she can’t be there for her three kids and husband. “I’m actually the person everyone in my family comes to for help,” she said. After falling behind on the past two months’ rent, she said, “I’m very concerned that I’ll be living in my car.”

              Then there is this The Labor Department’s June jobs report found 850,000 new jobs were added largely before federal benefits were cut. That shows steady growth, contrary to claims that enhanced unemployment was keeping people home, said Andy Stettner, a senior fellow at The Century Foundation, a progressive, non-partisan think tank.

              https://www.pbs.org/newshour/economy/wh … nt-benefit

        2. My Esoteric profile image85
          My Esotericposted 3 years agoin reply to this

          And you also forget that the so-called Trump economy went into the crapper, just like Bush's economy did just before Obama took over.  You know who else's economy's faltered before a Democrat was elected to save the day?

          Eisenhower
          Nixon-Ford
          Reagan-Bush
          Bush 2
          Trump

          Do you see a pattern there?  I suppose one of these days a Republican will leave a good economy to a Democrat.

          1. Sharlee01 profile image85
            Sharlee01posted 3 years agoin reply to this

            What I see, and what is true we had a pandemic, TYrump had a wonderful economy, with some record-breaking stats Pre pandemic. I am not willing to buy into Biden taking any bows for Trump's economy coming back to life.  here is a great link that shows Trump's stats pre-pandemic and post-pandemic. Compare his stats to other presidents. Sad how when you have a look at a moving chart that compares presidents one can really see how poorly Obama did until about 2015

            https://www.cnn.com/interactive/2020/10 … residents/

            1. My Esoteric profile image85
              My Esotericposted 3 years agoin reply to this

              "TYrump had a wonderful economy, with some record-breaking stats Pre pandemic. " - Yes, because unlike Obama before him and Clinton before him, he started out with a healthy economy, according to your source. It starts out by pointing out that "President Donald Trump inherited a strong economy, and it continued to grow at a healthy rate during his first three years in office."

              "... one can really see how poorly Obama did until about 2015" - of course you purposefully do not mention he started out with Bush leaving him with the worst recession since the Great Depression" while Obama left Trump a strong economy.  Why do you leave such context out? 

              You also leave out what your sources says about Obama.  Employers had added jobs for 76 months straight — the longest hiring streak on record at the time — and unemployment was just 4.7%, a 10-year low. Corporate profits were near all-time highs, and so were stocks. Overall, gross domestic product was growing around 2.5% a year — a modest rate for the world’s largest economy but very sustainable and roughly the same number Trump achieved.  And, it is true that. Not everything was rosy: the federal debt was at its highest level since the 1950s. [u]But by most metrics, it was hard to deny: the economy was on solid footing[/u[. And fortunately for Trump, the growth continued from there.

              Now, let's move on to your charts:

              JOBS - your charts show Obama (post-recession) did a much better job that Trump (pre-pandemic) in increasing jobs.  If you divide by the number of effective years (3 for Trump and 7 for Obama from the low point), you find Trump grew jobs at a 1.6% annually while Obama grew jobs at a 2.2%.  Clinton and Reagan did even better.  So, if "Obama did poorly" then Trump did terrible.

              UNEMPLOYMENT RATE - your chart clearly shows that Reagan (-2.1%), Clinton (3.1%), and Obama (3.1%) were clearly better than Trump's 1.2% reduction in the unemployment rate from when they were inaugurated (and, unlike Trump, all three faced very problematic economic situations when they took office)

              MORE LATER before I lose this again.

              1. Valeant profile image77
                Valeantposted 3 years agoin reply to this

                I'd even go farther with the unemployment numbers.  They were 4.2% when Trump actually took office in January, it was 4.7% in November.  Obama then lowered the unemployment rate from a high of 10% to 4.2% when he actually left office, a difference of 5.8%.  Trump at his best moment, from 4.2% to 3.5%, just a .7% difference.  5.8% versus .7%.  Not hard to see who was more responsible for that record low unemployment being achieved.

                As for Sharlee contesting your stats because you didn't post a link, these are all readily available at the Bureau of Labor.

                1. Sharlee01 profile image85
                  Sharlee01posted 3 years agoin reply to this

                  Curious I did not question ECO stats, just noted he rarely offers links or a source to his stats. Unlike me. I always try to add a link when q quoting stats. And actually, ECO certainly does research any subject he comments on as a rule.

                  1. Valeant profile image77
                    Valeantposted 3 years agoin reply to this

                    'Facts are what I go with, how about you. I note you have not added any links to dispute the stats you present.'

                    You didn't question his stats?  Are you certain about that?  For those of us who know the real stats at the Bureau of Labor, we knew his stats were accurate without needing him to provide any links.

                    1. Sharlee01 profile image85
                      Sharlee01posted 3 years agoin reply to this

                      I certainly offered him sources throughout our conversation on this thread, Actually, you rarely add sources either.  Bye Bye

                      1. Valeant profile image77
                        Valeantposted 3 years agoin reply to this

                        Which he then broke down to show that they did not prove the point that you were trying to make at all.  Your sources were all media sources.  His is the Bureau of Labor, the place where the official stats are kept, which is obvious to those of us who do deeper research and do not leave out critical historical data.

                        And we used to add sources, but none of you conservatives tend to read them, you tend to you dismiss them since they are not part of your right-wing media circles and we spend more time talking sources than the points we were arguing.  Many of us spend the most time trying to combat the false realities the right is currently living within.

      14. Live to Learn profile image60
        Live to Learnposted 3 years ago

        Biden is just the gift that keeps on giving. Just as we try to come to grips with Biden’s incredibly successful attempt  to shove us into an upward inflation spiral we find that his White House has decided to trample American’s first amendment rights.

        Yep. What damage this tyrannical commander in chief has done during his first year in office is unparalleled.

        Thanks democrats for showing the world how ignorant that half of our electorate can actually be.

        1. Credence2 profile image81
          Credence2posted 3 years agoin reply to this

          But I thank the Republicans for showing how ignorant their half remains....

          1. Live to Learn profile image60
            Live to Learnposted 3 years agoin reply to this

            I’ll take an ignorant sob who doesn’t trample my first amendment rights over an ignorant sob that does any day of the week.

            1. Credence2 profile image81
              Credence2posted 3 years agoin reply to this

              Republicans and right wingers interested in First Amendment rights?  Now, that is rich.......

              What continues to bother me about the folks on "your side" is this idea that they are "smarter" than the overwhelmingly majority that voted otherwise. I don't particularly see any evidence of that, besides mumbo-jumbo.

              1. Live to Learn profile image60
                Live to Learnposted 3 years agoin reply to this

                Hate to tell you this but I think there are still a lot of people who think it beggars belief that an overwhelming majority voted for an octogenarian, racist grifter.

                1. Credence2 profile image81
                  Credence2posted 3 years agoin reply to this

                  But, obviously there were many more that considered Trump far more problematic and even more coarse in nature or otherwise a less desirable choice.

                  That is the only objective yardstick regarding who is the most problematic; who did more people vote against?

                  1. Live to Learn profile image60
                    Live to Learnposted 3 years agoin reply to this

                    Well, Trump is gone and you can’t blame him for the current attack on our freedoms. But, I get it. All manner of atrocities are ok as long as the democrats are doing them

                    1. My Esoteric profile image85
                      My Esotericposted 3 years agoin reply to this

                      Trump is NOT gone.  He is alive and well and doing EVERYTHING he can to destroy American democracy and you seem to be helping him do that, in my opinion.

                      Because of his Big Lie, conservatives in every state are the ones that are attacking our freedoms.  Biden is valiantly trying to defend against this conservative assault.

                      1. Live to Learn profile image60
                        Live to Learnposted 3 years agoin reply to this

                        Are you serious? What freedoms are republicans attacking? Your freedom to complain about showing an id card to vote?

                        Since I have had to do that in every election for my entire adult life I’m not overly concerned about having to continue to do so.

                        My question is, who has gotten away with not providing proof of who they are in order to vote?

                  2. Sharlee01 profile image85
                    Sharlee01posted 3 years agoin reply to this

                    In my view, we won't be able to use that yardstick for a bit. However, I think Biden is really drownding, and some are just not noticing, maybe some will notice when all they see is a bubble on the water surface...

                    1. Valeant profile image77
                      Valeantposted 3 years agoin reply to this

                      You thought the guy responsible for over 400,000 excess American Covid deaths was a great president, so not sure your opinion is very accurate when considering job performance.

                      1. Sharlee01 profile image85
                        Sharlee01posted 3 years agoin reply to this

                        Well, I am very sure I have little respect for your opinion...  Just my truth.

                    2. My Esoteric profile image85
                      My Esotericposted 3 years agoin reply to this

                      Boy will you be surprised when the economy turns around under Biden and that the majority of people think he is doing a good job.  Oh Wait - the economy HAS improved a lot and the majority of people DO think he is doing a good job.

                      1. Sharlee01 profile image85
                        Sharlee01posted 3 years agoin reply to this

                        Hate to remind you, but that's your opinion, nothing more or less...

                        On another subject --- It seems Biden is doomed to fail with his infrastructure bill. He just does not seem to get a win on his own.

                        A test vote on Biden's bipartisan infrastructure bill fails Senate amid GOP objections

                        Senate Republicans on Wednesday mounted a filibuster against a motion to debate a nearly $1 trillion infrastructure bill that President Biden brokered with a bipartisan group of senators, dealing a big setback for efforts to fund new roads, bridges, and broadband improvements.

                        The procedural vote in the Senate needed 60 votes to succeed but fell short at 49, with Republicans complaining Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., rushed to a vote on a bill that wasn't quite ready.

                        Sen. Minority Leader Mitch McConnell called the test vote a "stunt" earlier Wednesday and correctly predicted it would "fail."

                        https://www.nbcdfw.com/news/politics/bi … r/2687070/

                        However, the Republicans are open to a more sensible bill and hope to work with the Democrats to get an infrastructure bill that is all about infrastructure and not free stuff...

                        So, pleased to see the GOP stand their ground.

                2. Sharlee01 profile image85
                  Sharlee01posted 3 years agoin reply to this

                  My hand is raised...

            2. Valeant profile image77
              Valeantposted 3 years agoin reply to this

              So care to explain the Trump DOJ subpoenaing the records of journalists.  I guess freedom of the press can be ignored as a First Amendment right when it suits you.

              1. Sharlee01 profile image85
                Sharlee01posted 3 years agoin reply to this

                The Trump administration was well within its rights to subpoena the records of the said journalist. Due to the nature of the investigation, they were conducting.

                "Justice Department spokesman Marc Raimondi confirmed

                "While rare, the Department follows the established procedures within its media guidelines policy when seeking legal process to obtain telephone toll records and non-content email records from media members as part of a criminal investigation into the unauthorized disclosure of classified information," the statement said. "The targets of these investigations are not the news media recipients but rather those with access to the national defense information who provided it to the media and thus failed to protect it as lawfully required."

                He said seeking media records is rare “and only done after all reasonable attempts have been made to obtain the information from alternative sources.”

                Justice Department policies require the approval of the attorney general before seeking subpoenas for such phone and e-mail records. A department spokesman said the records of the Post reporters were sought in 2020, when William Barr was still serving as then-President Donald Trump's attorney general.

                The DOJ was well within its rights. .
                https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/justic … s-n1266733

                Let's return to the Obama administration DOJ  in 2013 under AG  Attorney General Holder makes his case in regard to subpoenaing Journalist.
                https://fas.org/irp/congress/2013_rpt/hjc-holder.pdf

                https://www.wired.com/2013/05/doj-got-r … e-records/

                https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2013/05/d … ng-records

                1. My Esoteric profile image85
                  My Esotericposted 3 years agoin reply to this

                  It would very interesting to read your posts when Obama DOJ did the same thing.  I bet they weren't supportive of his actions like yours are for Trump today.

                  1. Valeant profile image77
                    Valeantposted 3 years agoin reply to this

                    No, I wouldn't support those done by Obama either.  It's not the journalists who should be investigated, but finding those violating laws if they are leaking information.

                    1. My Esoteric profile image85
                      My Esotericposted 3 years agoin reply to this

                      I think I was responding to Sharlee.

                      1. Valeant profile image77
                        Valeantposted 3 years agoin reply to this

                        As was I.

                  2. Sharlee01 profile image85
                    Sharlee01posted 3 years agoin reply to this

                    First, please read my comment again. I did not actually support the Trump administration or did I disparage the Obama administration for doing the same thing. IO did not offer a personal opinion either way.

                    Not sure why you felt I was biased?  I just simply offered a fact that both administrations subpoenaed journalist records for much the same reason, leaks...

                    Your assumption is wrong ---   In my view, I am all for doing whatever it takes to get to the goods on leakers.

              2. Live to Learn profile image60
                Live to Learnposted 3 years agoin reply to this

                Nope freedom of the press is definitely not something to be infringed by either party but that is hearsay. I have not seen proof. I did see and hear Jen Psaki openly admit what this administration is doing.

                I will add that, sooner or later, many of you will have to get over Trump.

                1. Valeant profile image77
                  Valeantposted 3 years agoin reply to this

                  You haven't seen proof that the DOJ wiretapped journalists?  Better open your eyes, Merrick Garland just banned the practice that happened with the DOJ under Trump.

                  What exactly did you hear from Psaki?  That they were pointed out posts of misinformation pertaining to social media that endangers American lives.  Wow, such an infringement to note something to a company that has the choice to act or not.  Just like the right to create a non-issue so they can increase their anger at their own government.

                  As soon as Trump and all of his sycophants like the group here, and the other 50% of the GOP that buy into his lies that lead to domestic terror incidents that put police in danger when they storm the Capitols of Michigan and Washington, D.C., the rest of us patriotic Americans will get over it.

                  1. Live to Learn profile image60
                    Live to Learnposted 3 years agoin reply to this

                    What a load of baloney. I am so bored with the narrative about January 6. The left didn’t care when little old ladies were being accosted on the streets by antifa. The left didn’t care when federal buildings were set on fire or police stations burnt to the ground. The left could have cared less when people were being murdered in ‘autonomous zones’. The left cheered when law abiding citizens were left without protection in cities that defunded police. The left claimed looting from stores of hard working Americans was justified and ok.

                    And you want everyone to be horrified that a bunch of middle aged people did nothing but push their way into the capital? One unarmed protestors got killed and the protestors did not kill anyone, no matter how often the left claims it happened. The left makes up ridiculous lies about the day that cannot be supported by verifiable facts?

                    Misinformation is just another term that has been convoluted by the left into the opposite of what it means. By the left’s reckoning misinformation is any information that does not support their narrative.

                    1. Valeant profile image77
                      Valeantposted 3 years agoin reply to this

                      Solid deflection to some falsities.  The 'left' said many times to arrest the looters and those committing violence, but to let those peacefully protesting police violence protest.  The left cheered when funding went to people trained to deal with mental health issues so that those people no longer got shot by police.

                      Just push their way into the Capitol?  Talk about a ridiculous lie unsupported by facts and video.  So no police were assaulted then?  No gallows were built?  No one was carrying zip ties to kidnap representatives?  No one wanted to hang Mike Pence?  No pipe bombs were found?  And being sprayed with bear spray definitely would have contributed to Sicknick's death.

                      When someone tries to whitewash the January 6 event like that, it simply proves they have bought into the misinformation being fed by the right and have left reality behind.

                    2. Credence2 profile image81
                      Credence2posted 3 years agoin reply to this

                      Middle aged people?

                      What kinds of people leave excrement and urine throughout the Capitol building and its offices? Are they patriots, really? Whatever sordid adjective I use to define them, trust me, I am just being polite.

                      This is the face of the rightwing rabble, shown raw..... The idea from the Right than any Left wing oriented protest reaches these kinds of lows is just equivocation.

                      1. Live to Learn profile image60
                        Live to Learnposted 3 years agoin reply to this

                        Excrement and urine? First time I have ever heard that. I’m tired of chasing down every lie the media throws out.

                    3. My Esoteric profile image85
                      My Esotericposted 3 years agoin reply to this

                      "The left didn’t care when little old ladies were being accosted on the streets by antifa." is a false right-wing myth.  It was the police assaulting those little old ladies.

                      "The left didn’t care when federal buildings were set on fire or police stations burnt to the ground. " - Another right-wing myth.  The Left opposed the acts of criminals and said so many times.  Problem is, your propaganda sources edit those out (that is why they are propaganda and not news).

                      "The left could have cared less when people were being murdered in ‘autonomous zones’" -  You keep putting out disinformation.  If you had wanted to be honest, you would have also reported that the Left shut down the "autonomous zone" shortly after those shootings.

                      "The left cheered when law abiding citizens were left without protection in cities that defunded police. " - YET ANOTHER Right-Wing lie.  No city "defunded the police".  Every city has a functioning police department doing a fine job of protecting its citizens..

                      "The left claimed looting from stores of hard working Americans was justified and ok." - MORE LIES.  Nobody on the Left said criminal acts by criminals were justified or OK.  THat is just Right-Wing propaganda that amplifies Russian propaganda.

                      "And you want everyone to be horrified that a bunch of middle aged people did nothing but push their way into the capital? " - Everybody with a thinking brain knows that is BS.

                      "One unarmed protestors got killed" - Why did you leave out she was killed climbing through a window into the Senate chambers (I think) where Congresspeople were still evacuating.  She should have expected to get shot.

                      "the protestors did not kill anyone, " - That is not true either.  They trampled to death one woman protester. Another died of a heart attack during the riot.  A third died of a drug overdose during the riot.  The assault by the insurrectionist against one police officer led to his death the next day.  Another two committed suicide resulting from being overrun by the insurrectionists.

                      "The left makes up ridiculous lies about the day that cannot be supported by verifiable facts?" - LIE.  The Left has not fabricated all of that video you deny exists that is being used to prosecute the insurrectionists.

                      "Misinformation" is the Trump supporters middle name.

                2. My Esoteric profile image85
                  My Esotericposted 3 years agoin reply to this

                  We will get over Trump when he shuts his mouth and stops trying to destroy our democracy.  He doesn't even have to admit he lost the election, we understand his mental problems won't let him do that, but just shut up.

                3. My Esoteric profile image85
                  My Esotericposted 3 years agoin reply to this

                  "I have not seen proof." - Then you need to start reading/watching/listening to real news and not your go-to right-wing propaganda outlets.  Either that, or simply open your eyes to the TRUTH and stop denying it.

                  1. Live to Learn profile image60
                    Live to Learnposted 3 years agoin reply to this

                    Honestly I searched for evidence of any truth in your claim. I found no site that could corroborate your claim. I know a lot of people on the left are led by their emotions and cannot parse the truth, so it can be difficult to understand the difference between truth and innuendo. I did see a few articles claiming someone claimed something but I could not find hard evidence to support your claim.

                    1. Credence2 profile image81
                      Credence2posted 3 years agoin reply to this

                      I provided you evidence to prove my accusation of a degenerate set of subhumans rather than middle aged Patriots, so now you managed to just "beam up" when in a clutch?

                      How do you get out of this one?

                      For a matter of fact, how does any Rightwinger explain the new lows reached in degenerate behavior by their bedfellows?

                    2. Valeant profile image77
                      Valeantposted 3 years agoin reply to this

                      'I did see a few articles claiming someone claimed something but I could not find hard evidence to support your claim.'

                      This is one of those examples of 'I only believe my own truth.'  When you're this detached from reality, discourse can cease.

                      1. Live to Learn profile image60
                        Live to Learnposted 3 years agoin reply to this

                        Lol. See you later pot. Or are you playing the part of the kettle?

                        You’ve offered no proof. Just ‘I believe it so you have to accept it as gospel’.

        2. My Esoteric profile image85
          My Esotericposted 3 years agoin reply to this

          BDS BS!! Here is your hero - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uNXgjnBpxGI

          1. Live to Learn profile image60
            Live to Learnposted 3 years agoin reply to this

            Read my comment to valiant. Trump is no longer President. You can’t blame him for the current embarrassment.

      15. Sharlee01 profile image85
        Sharlee01posted 3 years ago

        Hope you checked out the link I added, it shows Trump's pre-pandemic stats. As well as Obama's flat stats compared to the other presidents that the charts considered. Facts are what I go with, how about you. I note you have not added any links to dispute the stats you present. My link gives rolling stats, hard to argue or misrepresent a chart that gives a rolling stat.

        I have no intention of giving Biden credit for the recent jobs reports. These are people returning to work --- no more no less.

        1. My Esoteric profile image85
          My Esotericposted 3 years agoin reply to this

          I am using your link, lol.  To put it another way - my link is your link.

          Now, let's continue on analyzing YOUR data:

          MEDIAN INCOME - Even when you discount Trump's numbers with the fact that 20 states increased their minimum wage during Trump's 3 years under consideration, Trump probably did better than the other presidents, with the possible exception of Clinton.  Obama beat out both Bushes, even when you discount the recessions each had.

          S&P 500 - Trump was an also-ran with this metric (in spite of him, and you, making a big deal about it.  Even George H.W. Bush did better than Trump (pre-pandemic), as did Clinton, Reagan, and Obama (post-recession).  Hell, even Biden is beating the pants off of Trump here.

          HOUSING PRICES - I don't consider Trump's numbers a good thing.  Look at how he is mimicking George W. Bush prior to the Great 2008 Recession.  Frankly, it is scary.  And it hasn't stopped under Biden yet (although there are signs it is slowing down,)  Personally, I prefer Obama's somewhat flatter increases.

          FOOD PRICES - Looks to me like Obama was doing a good job keeping prices in check once the effects of the recession had past.  I won't hold the huge increase for Trump as that is probably pandemic related.  That said, it looks like Trump did do better than the other presidents (save Obama).

          CONSUMER SPENDING - Trump (pre-pandemic) had the same steady growth as Obama (post-recession).  Both were worse than Reagan and Clinton.  Slow steady growth is always better than rapid growth.  Both Reagan and Clinton's economy ran out of steam at the end of their terms.  That didn't happen with Obama and it wasn't happening with Trump either.  That said, Trump WANTED much higher growth than he achieved and I am glad he didn't get his wish.

          MANUFACTURING JOBS - Another thing that Trump touted but never lived up to his promise.  He did better than the Bush's and Clinton in this measure, but not Reagan or Obama (post-recession).  Eye-balling your graphs, it looks like Obama increased manufacturing jobs faster and for a longer period of time than Trump.  Trump had good growth in the first two years and then came to a screeching halt.  Obama just kept growing like the energizer bunny.

          DEBT-GDP RATIO - Trump did TERRIBLE here.  That large spike resulted from two things, the accumulated impact of his Tax Scam for the rich and the pandemic.  Divide his increase by years in office and you get an average annual increase of 7.4%,  Do the same for Obama and you get a 4% annual increase.  Enough said on that one.

          GROSS DOMESTIC PRODUCT - Since Consumer Spending is 70 - 80% if GDP, what I said about that applies here other than to note Trump's  (pre-pandemic) and Obama's _post-recession) GDP growth rates are about the same.

          So, let's see if your hyperbole holds water.

          Obama beat Trump in 7 of the metrics

          Trump beat Obama in 1 of the metrics

          Trump and Obama were about the same in the remaining 2

      16. Sharlee01 profile image85
        Sharlee01posted 3 years ago

        Whatever...Not entending to converse with you. Just don't care for your attitude.

      17. Kathleen Cochran profile image71
        Kathleen Cochranposted 3 years ago

        and less of the GOP: the party of NO

        1. My Esoteric profile image85
          My Esotericposted 3 years agoin reply to this

          And even worse, the party of anti-Democratic values.  They clearly want an authoritarian leader who sees the Constitution as an impediment to his rule.

      18. Sharlee01 profile image85
        Sharlee01posted 3 years ago

        I appreciate his pulling out quickly in his term. I don't like the way he did it. Poor planning could cost lives. At any rate why not bring any Americans home that wanted to leave, and other personnel that worked for the US to insure their safty.  It looks at this point all is going well with withdrawal.

        If this withdrawal would have been handled properly it would have been a notch on Biden's belt. he gambled with lives in my view. Again he appears at this point to be a very poor problem solver, he shows himself as a weak man that needs to leave all decisions up to committees, and others in his administration. Just not my idea of a strong leader. I am not saying he should not take advice, but he should act quicker, and not be waiting for others to solve his problems.

        He has always been a man that was in the background in his many years in Washington, never showed any inkling of fortitudinous. The US does not need a cuddly grampa we need a strong leader. Just my opinion.

        1. Valeant profile image77
          Valeantposted 3 years agoin reply to this

          It wasn't so much the poor planning, but the clear lack of our government to estimate the readiness of the Taliban to take control of the country.  Once the threat was determined, there was a clear response with a show of force from grandpa who is clearly carrying his whoopin stick.  He's not at all cuddly and the Taliban sees this.

          Under the peace treaty, should the Taliban take an American life, that would have voided such treaty.  They know this, we know this.  You saying it could cost lives, or that he gambled with lives, is just your own negativity.  It's why when the Taliban moved to Americans, they refused to attack and instead sent in negotiators.

          Like defund the police, Biden made the tough choice to honor Trump's treaty with the Taliban, knowing he was going to have some Americans not happy with his choice.  That's what a strong leader does, sticks to his convictions and doesn't flip flop like a fish all day long like Trump did for four years.

          You want weak leadership, when a President takes a phone call from a leader of a country, then throws our Kurdish allies to the wolves to be slaughtered, that's weak leadership.

          1. Sharlee01 profile image85
            Sharlee01posted 3 years agoin reply to this

            "Once the threat was determined, there was a clear response with a show of force from grandpa who is clearly carrying his whoopin stick.  He's not at all cuddly and the Taliban sees this"

            What did he do to show strength?  Are you informed that we at this point can's get our airlifts off the ground and people are climbing on the sides of the planes?  he should have just pulled the citizens out before removing our troops. A pretty simple and easy plan I would say.  How in the world can you support such an inept man?

            I must laugh at your trust in under the peace treaty, should the Taliban take an American life, that would have voided such treaty. OMG --- no comment.

            Just reported 7 dead at the airport ...  And so it begins.

            Biden made the tough choice to honor Trump's treaty with the Taliban. REALLY?   Blaming Trump --- 

            " They know this, we know this.  You say it could cost lives, or that he gambled with lives, is just your own negativity. "   

            The writing is on the wall, this fool had all the signs this mess could occur and ignored them.  The keyword is a fool. He needs to be replaced and fast.
            I am out of here... LOL

            1. Valeant profile image77
              Valeantposted 3 years agoin reply to this

              Of course we have to spoon feed you the fact that 5,000 troops were put back into Afghanistan to ensure no loss of American life as the Taliban moved in quicker then expected.

              Also, the seven dead at the airport were Afghan citizens trying to cling to the airplanes.  Not Americans.  Not an attack.  Try and get the facts before making a false accusation that these were American lives lost.

              As for Biden making the choice to honor Trump's treaty, you thought that was blame?  Way to completely ignore the entirety of the paragraph and the point that was being made.  That was showing Biden has the stones to make the tough call.  That was an example of leadership.  When your views only see things in the negative and cannot understand a simple argument, perhaps you might want to give up trying to converse with people because it's pretty apparent who the foolish one is then.

              1. Live to Learn profile image60
                Live to Learnposted 3 years agoin reply to this

                Funny that all sides find Biden’s lack of leadership on this appalling. I hear a British official broke down and cried on live tv when he admitted some would probably die during this.

                When your views are so skewed that you feel compelled to defend the indefensible you should stop conversing since it’s obvious who the foolish one is.

                1. Kathryn L Hill profile image80
                  Kathryn L Hillposted 3 years agoin reply to this

                  -ignorance or what? 

                  Ignorance is forgivable.

                  The "or what," not so much.

                2. Sharlee01 profile image85
                  Sharlee01posted 3 years agoin reply to this

                  Amen...

                3. Valeant profile image77
                  Valeantposted 3 years agoin reply to this

                  I doubt you would know all sides if they snuck up and bit you.  What did you think would happen when the United States left Afghanistan?  Did you march against Trump's negotiations with the Taliban, negotiations that excluded the current Afghan government?

                  When your views are so skewed that you can ignore the foregone conclusion that the indefensible would be the foregone conclusion to a treaty promoted by and negotiated by your party's leader, perhaps you should sit out trying to judge others.  You will look very foolish otherwise.

                4. My Esoteric profile image85
                  My Esotericposted 3 years agoin reply to this

                  "Funny that all sides find Biden’s lack of leadership on this appalling. " - What lack of leadership.  You are just stringing words together to make you feel better, there is no truth in them.

                  Now ask me if I like where his leadership in this instance led us, and I will tell you he made a big mistake.  But whether I disagree or agree with him, he clearly showed leadership.  ONLY BDS sufferers would say otherwise.

                  1. My Esoteric profile image85
                    My Esotericposted 3 years agoin reply to this

                    Another difference between a real leader like Biden and a coward like Trump.  Both men had the chance to take responsibility for what was happening because the "Buck Stops Here" with the Presidency.  Biden picked up the mantle regarding the debacle in Afghanistan.  Trump, on the other hand, always eschewed responsibility regardless of the subject.

                    1. Sharlee01 profile image85
                      Sharlee01posted 3 years agoin reply to this

                      Trump negotiated an agreement... You seem to want to ignore that. It would appear that the Taliban may be sticking to the agreement they had with Trump. Looks like Biden may once again be able to ride trump's coattails.

              2. Sharlee01 profile image85
                Sharlee01posted 3 years agoin reply to this

                "Just reported 7 dead at the airport ...  And so it begins."

                I certainly did not distinguish it was American's that died. Cotext matters. The statement was a standout sentence, attached to no other thought.

                I can't imagine how he can deliver troops to the country. The Taliban is in total control. They have the airports, the weapons we left, and warehouses full of additional weapons.

                We disagree on the subject in every respect. No reason to continue the conversation. Plus you're once again becoming personal.  Bye

                1. Valeant profile image77
                  Valeantposted 3 years agoin reply to this

                  As we had been arguing that Biden was 'endangering' America lives, your statement about there being seven killed, and 'so it begins' can definitely be seen as an accusation that Americans had died.

                  If you deem calling out your fabrications and lack of information on a topic to slander Biden a personal attack, perhaps you should stop making things up without evidence or the background knowledge about topics.

                  From earlier this week:
                  The president dispatched 1,000 troops in addition to the 3,000 the Pentagon sent to Afghanistan earlier this week and 1,000 troops who are already on the ground, according to a defense official who spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss the matter. The troops will help evacuate military personnel from Kabul as the Taliban continues to expand territorial gains at a stunning speed, raising fears they could soon topple the Afghan government. 

                  Biden said U.S. officials have warned Taliban officials that any action on the ground in Afghanistan that threatens the safety of U.S personnel or the mission there "will be met with a swift and strong U.S. military response."

                  So while you cannot imagine it, does not mean it did not happen already and that you are unaware of it as you make false claims based on your lack of understanding of the topic.

                  1. Credence2 profile image81
                    Credence2posted 3 years agoin reply to this

                    Valeant, trying to reason with these folks about this is an exercise in futility.

                    We all knew that from the military situation on the ground there that these events would eventually come to pass. Biden had to make the stark choice and not just continue to kick the ball down the field.

                    It is apparent that there is no shortage of "arm chair quarterbacks"

              3. My Esoteric profile image85
                My Esotericposted 3 years agoin reply to this

                And now another 3,000 for a total of 8,000.  I bet he will have to send even more.

            2. My Esoteric profile image85
              My Esotericposted 3 years agoin reply to this

              "Biden made the tough choice to honor Trump's treaty with the Taliban. REALLY?   Blaming Trump --- " - It was Trump who initially started pulling our troops out with no plan whatsoever.  Biden, unfortunately, chose not to change plans because he also foolishly thought we should leave rather than do the job right.

              1. Sharlee01 profile image85
                Sharlee01posted 3 years agoin reply to this

                The full Trump Taliban Peace agreement was online last winter, I saw it, now I am having a hard time finding the complete document. Trump did have a very good plan to evacuate those that would need evacuating.  The agreement was a good agreement, but the Taliban just before the election started to break parts of it. Here is the part that covered evacuation. It was a long time span that may have just worked. We will never know.

                "The agreement, signed on February 29 in Doha, laid out a 14-month period for the withdrawal of "all military forces of the United States, its allies, and Coalition partners, including all non-diplomatic civilian personnel, private security contractors, trainers, advisors, and supporting services personnel."

                I will continue to search for the entire agreement. It's a shame more are not aware of what is in it. So, I must disagree with your thought that Trump had no plan. he did, it was well laid out.
                https://www.dw.com/en/us-to-review-afgh … a-56320989

                It would appear Biden just jumped the gun so to speak and perhaps should have just followed the Trump agreement if possible.

                I will find the agreement I have it saved in a file. 

                I supported Trump's agreement and thought it a good agreement. I supported the pull-out under Biden, just not his hurried plan. Just not sure why Biden would not listen to his advisers on this pull-out.

                Just a thought --- It would seem if Biden would have played this right, it would have been respected by many trump republicans as well as Biden Democrats.

                I will try to find the agreement. Found it.

                "PART ONE
                The United States is committed to withdraw from Afghanistan all military forces of the United States,
                its allies, and Coalition partners, including all non-diplomatic civilian personnel, private security contractors, trainers, advisors, and supporting services personnel within fourteen (14) months following announcement of this agreement, and will take the following measures in this regard: "   Signed in Doha, Qatar on February 29,

                https://www.state.gov/wp-content/upload … .29.20.pdf

                I wish the media would have been fairer to Trump. Much of what he did do is well hidden or very lightly covered. 

                This withdrawal was bound to be ugly no matter who was president. We could be sure once we were out all hell would most likely break out.

                1. My Esoteric profile image85
                  My Esotericposted 3 years agoin reply to this

                  Here is what you were looking for. https://www.state.gov/wp-content/upload … .29.20.pdf

                  Problem is, neither Trump nor the Taliban followed the terms of the agreement - it quickly fell apart. Fir example, Trump was supposed to withdraw from 5 allied military bases by July 2020 - he didn't do it.

                  Consequently, Trump had no plan in place; there was nothing for Biden to follow..  Trump just unilaterally started withdrawing troops in December 2020.

                  "This withdrawal was bound to be ugly no matter who was president. We could be sure once we were out all hell would most likely break out." - THAT, nobody should disagree with.

                  The mainstream media was plenty fair with Trump.. It is not their fault that much, but not all, of Trump did was despicable.

                  1. Sharlee01 profile image85
                    Sharlee01posted 3 years agoin reply to this

                    Your statement holds no truth --- "Trump was supposed to withdraw from 5 allied military bases by July 2020 - he didn't do it."  Trump was keeping to the agreement until he left office.  The Taliban was not keeping to parts of the agreement, but much of it.

                    July 14 2020 --- Pentagon says US has withdrawn from 5 bases in Afghanistan as part of agreement with Taliban    Source https://www.cnn.com/2020/07/14/politics … index.html

                    Biden could have just respected Trump's agreement and removed troops by the May deadline. He did not. It is at this point unclear if the Taliban would have kept their agreement for evacuating those that needed to be evacuated. Biden seems to always be a day late and a dollar short. It is the US that did not keep the agreement that was signed in Doha, Qatar on February 29, 2020.  This blunder is all on Biden's shoulders.
                    It's only your opinion that the Taliban would not respect the agreement as of this morning it appears they just maybe respecting withdrawal and evacuation. I find it amazing you can't give credit where it is due. He did not keep the agreement in any respect. I would think at that point the Taliban recognized it as promises not kept.

                    Factually the US had an agreement with the Taliban, Bided did not in any respect abide by it.  He is the president, it is his responsibility to either follow prior administration agreements or disrespect them. He disrespected a timeline...

                    Trump kept to the agreement drew down the troop as a promise to 2,500 troops in the country when he left. All Biden had to do is start removing those citizens that need to be evacuated, and then after that, remove the few troops that he left to ensure a safe evacuation.

                    Biden just is not equipped to do the job of President, and he has built a mainly poor administration that also lacks the ability to do their jobs.

                    The agreement is very well laid out, it simply handles a good safe way of pulling out of Afganistan.

                    The facts are in the agreement ---   https://www.state.gov/wp-content/upload … .29.20.pdf

                    Biden gave up airspace which was so important to work for a safe evacuation. He did not have any plan, and just should have used Trump's.

                    Again Trump was a problem solver. Many just had no idea of what he was doing on a daily basis.

                    1. My Esoteric profile image85
                      My Esotericposted 3 years agoin reply to this

                      ""Trump was supposed to withdraw from 5 allied military bases by July 2020 - he didn't do it." " - ARE you claiming that Trump DID give up 5 allied military bases by July 2020?  Show me your proof. 

                      "and just should have used Trump's." - But Trump didn't have a plan.  He had a failed agreement which you yourself say the Taliban reneged on.  So, what plan?  When he drew down to 2,500 troops why weren't embassy personnel coming out?  Why weren't the interpreters coming out?  He had no plan.

                      Why didn't Trump release the 5,000 Taliban prisoners the plan called for?

                      Where in that plan does it even talk about bring the interpreters out?  It doesn't

                      1. Ken Burgess profile image69
                        Ken Burgessposted 3 years agoin reply to this

                        Just to clarify some points, to give readers some facts:

                        President Biden has had 7 months to choose to do whatever he wanted to do in Afghanistan.  What Trump, or Obama, or any previous President did is irrelevant.  If the President wanted to deploy a million troops to Afghanistan and pursue the Taliban to the ends of the Earth he could have.

                        Now that we have that out of the way, lets deal with why President Biden pulled the plug on Afghanistan:

                        In short, China wanted America out of its way. 

                        In Long, last month, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi met with senior Taliban leader Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar and his delegation in the city of Tianjin to negotiate terms on a variety of issues in preparation for America's complete withdrawal.

                        For many years China wanted America out of Afghanistan, once Biden took Office they began in earnest for America's withdrawal.

                        Taliban authorities have been intensively engaged by China on an extension of the $62 billion China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) their primary interest being the construction of energy pipelines between Pakistan and Afghanistan into China.

                        Pakistan as well is in full support of it, they have long supported the Taliban, they typically support anyone that is not considered on friendly terms with India.

                        China has branded the United States' mission in Afghanistan a 'failure'.
                        Wang Yi called the Taliban 'a pivotal military and political force' in Afghanistan,' saying it was 'expected to play an important role in the process of peace, reconciliation and reconstruction.'

                        China will now consolidate its influence and control over the entire region, Pakistan, Iran, Afghanistan, will now be little more than satellite states of China, supplying it with energy resources and political clout in the UN and world negotiations at large.

                        https://www.fdd.org/analysis/2021/08/10 … ly-august/

                        https://www.algemeiner.com/2021/08/09/a … nd-russia/

                      2. Sharlee01 profile image85
                        Sharlee01posted 3 years agoin reply to this

                        This was your statement it holds no truth at all -------

                        QUOTING YOU  "Trump was supposed to withdraw from 5 allied military bases by July 2020 - he didn't do it."

                        MY PROOF YOU WERE WRONG ----  July 14, 2020 --- Pentagon says US has withdrawn from 5 bases in Afghanistan as part of an agreement with Taliban   

                        HE DID KEEP HIS WORD. And I did show you the proof... Once again source.

                        "Washington (CNN)The Pentagon announced Tuesday that the US has withdrawn from five bases in Afghanistan and reduced the size of its forces there as part of the agreement it entered into with the Taliban
                        earlier this year."

                        Trump certainly had a plan, as well as an agreement he was keeping. I offered you a link to the Contract read it.

                        Not sure you read any links I provide, you just do not seem to be able to accept facts. I read Trump's agreement is an Agreement the US made with the Taliban. Believe what you please.

                        https://www.cnn.com/2020/07/14/politics … index.html

        2. My Esoteric profile image85
          My Esotericposted 3 years agoin reply to this

          "It looks at this point all is going well with withdrawal." - ????  What makes you think that?

          "At any rate why not bring any Americans home that wanted to leave, and other personnel that worked for the US to insure their safty. " - Isn't that what he is trying to do now?

          "The US does not need a cuddly grampa we need a strong leader. " - I would argue that he showed a LOT of leadership in pulling us out.  I just strongly disagree with his decision to do so.

          "If this withdrawal would have been handled properly it would have been a notch on Biden's belt. " - It was handled properly enough ASSUMING the Afghan army had not quit.  My question is - what intelligence did we have that would have suggested the likelihood of the total collapse of the Afghan resistance.

          Since I disagree with his fundamental decision to cut-and-run, I am not of a mind to support him, but I still must look at the situation logically.  IF our intelligence suggested strongly that the Afghans would hold for quite awhile, then they did plan properly.  BUT, if there was a reasonable, but still unlikely chance of the collapse, then he screwed the pooch.

          We now know the Pentagon had gamed out this scenario because they left troops prepositioned to quickly get back in-country.  But Biden and the State Department did not do the same and had no plan, apparently, to get Americans and Afghan allies out if it all hit the fan - which it did.  It all comes down to how likely was it that what did happen, would happen.

          " I am not saying he should not take advice, but he should act quicker, and not be waiting for others to solve his problems." - I have no idea what that means.

      19. Sharlee01 profile image85
        Sharlee01posted 3 years ago

        So, Biden claimed he was keeping his promise, and defiantly stands behind the decision to pull out, as Trump also agreed with. My point would be would it not have been smart to vacate all Americans and anyone else that we have promised to evacuate when we still had control of the airports. My view seems very reasonable.  The air bridge will be closed quickly, the fact is the Taliban has complete control of the country. Do you assume they will help us evacuate American's or anyone for that matter? 

        I would think the president has gone out on a limb claiming he will get US citizens out. At this point not sure what we will see next. It looks like a calm at the two airports where citizens are waiting to escape the country.  Biden just more or less in his speech drew a red-line...  Now we wait and see...

        It is my view Biden's plan was a bad one, it would have been very easy to leave the country when we had some control over the country.

        Again I supported Trump's decision to pull out, I am pleased to see a pull-out, not such a big ugly chaotic mess that Biden has created.

      20. Valeant profile image77
        Valeantposted 3 years ago

        One, because she only reads the one poll, Rasmussen.  That's how she believes Biden is unpopular, while all other polls put him above 50% approval still, but she ignores them whenever she quotes the polling.

        Second, I think you've also got to take a look at black Americans to see there is an issue with vaccination rates.  Both sides do share some culpability, you just don't hear black America railing openly about being anti-vax.

        But, while cases are rising again as the delta variant spreads, the deaths in July were just over 8,000 in 2021, compared to over 25,000 in 2020.  Biden's response to the pandemic is clearly saving lives.

        Unemployment rate is down, stock market is near record levels, infrastructure is getting done.  Biden did the right thing in getting us out of Afghanistan, albeit without the sunshine and rainbows the right unrealistically demands from every decision Biden makes.  And he is backing the efforts to fund the battle against climate change so that the next generation has a country with water and isn't completely on fire - things he was mandated to do from his supporters.  And he's trying to fund those things with realistic policy that makes the wealthy pay their fair share - not with some future fantasy hope that has been disproven to work over the last thirty years.

        So far, so good.

        1. My Esoteric profile image85
          My Esotericposted 3 years agoin reply to this

          That is why I said white Republicans are a plurality.  The difference between them, Blacks, and Hispanics is white Republicans oppose it for political reasons while Blacks and Hispanics are still fearful of it based on a history of abuse.

          1. Sharlee01 profile image85
            Sharlee01posted 3 years agoin reply to this

            Read ---   https://www.reuters.com/world/us/biden- … 021-08-17/

            Data from an Reuters-Ipsos poll showed that Biden's approval rating dropped from 53% on Friday to 46% on Tuesday -- a dip that seems directly tied to the chaos happening in Afghanistan and the President's somewhat slow response to it.

            He is all but gone.IMO. He has made a historic mess, this is very clear. Hopefully, he will be quickly removed. So ashamed of this man words can not express my shame.

            1. My Esoteric profile image85
              My Esotericposted 3 years agoin reply to this

              Hey, they couldn't remove Trump when they had all of the reasons in the world, it won't happen here when there is no reason to do so.

              Is it any surprise to anybody that Biden is going to take a hit in the polls because of Afghanistan.  He is still higher than Trump.

              1. Kathryn L Hill profile image80
                Kathryn L Hillposted 3 years agoin reply to this

                No, he isn't.

                1. My Esoteric profile image85
                  My Esotericposted 3 years agoin reply to this

                  ?

              2. Sharlee01 profile image85
                Sharlee01posted 3 years agoin reply to this

                Not really their polls are relatively the same.

                1. My Esoteric profile image85
                  My Esotericposted 3 years agoin reply to this

                  You have a strange sense of "same".  Biden average Approval 49.9% - Trump approval rating when he left office 41.1%!  That is NOT "relatively the same".

        2. My Esoteric profile image85
          My Esotericposted 3 years agoin reply to this

          Did you know that Trump let the current Taliban leader out of jail?  Why did he do that?

          And then there is this:

          "Biden rightly rounded on ex-President Donald Trump for how he had negotiated the US exit from Afghanistan to begin with, cutting the Kabul government out of the loop and doing almost nothing to offer refuge to Afghans who worked as translators or fixers or fought with US forces. Republicans savaging Biden’s strategy now are effectively condemning him for following a path that Trump set."

          1. Kathryn L Hill profile image80
            Kathryn L Hillposted 3 years agoin reply to this

            To get his cooperation.

            1. My Esoteric profile image85
              My Esotericposted 3 years agoin reply to this

              Well, look how that turned out, lol.

          2. Sharlee01 profile image85
            Sharlee01posted 3 years agoin reply to this

            Trump negotiated a withdrawal agreement! This certainly was the prudent thing to do. Too bad that Biden did not keep to the agreement. Prett simple --- Trump has an exit plan. Biden did not use it and has none of his own.

            You can twist and true these facts, but they are not going away. I can't wait to see what the higher-ups provide Congress as to what they told that fool to do, and the fact he just did not listen. He is a very inept confused man... He can't do the job. That's my view.

            1. My Esoteric profile image85
              My Esotericposted 3 years agoin reply to this

              "This certainly was the prudent thing to do. Too bad that Biden did not keep to the agreement. " - He had no agreement left to "keep to".  I think I provided the link.  I will provide it again.

              https://thehill.com/opinion/national-se … n-collapse

              EXERPTS:

              But the real date that the Taliban’s victory was assured is Feb. 29, 2020, the day the Trump administration signed what it characterized as a “peace” deal with the Taliban. Once this agreement was signed — the tragic collapse we witnessed this weekend was inevitable.

              the Afghan government — was not a signatory. Rather, this was a “withdrawal” agreement between the U.S. and the Taliban that set the terms for the complete departure of American troops from Afghanistan by May 2021.

              What did the United States gain in exchange for this withdrawal, for which the Taliban had been fighting for 20 years? Nothing  So much for the great negotiator.

              The fact that the United States entered into negotiations and then an agreement with the Taliban, without even inviting the Afghan government to the table, undercut the power and legitimacy of the government.

              The agreement also did absolutely nothing to attempt to bring about a peaceful settlement of the war between the Afghan government and the Taliban.[/i

              WORSE YET [i]Trump agreed unconditionally to bring down U.S. troop levels to 8,600 by mid-July 2020 and totally withdraw by May 2021.


              AND ON TOP OF THAT Trump voluntarily cut troop levels down to 4,500, even more quickly than required by the agreement, even though negotiations had not even begun.

              Trump voluntarily cut troop levels down to 4,500, even more quickly than required by the agreement, even though negotiations had not even begun.

              FURTHER, They (the Taliban) balked at starting negotiations until December, and even then, had zero incentive to make any concessions since Trump had already announced that there would be only 2,500 troops in Afghanistan by the time he left office,  AT THIS POINT the so-called peace agreement was null and void because Trump didn't follow it.

              WHY didn't Trump follow his own plan?  Had he stuck with it, there would have been 8,900 troops available, the Afghan gov't would not have been undercut, the moral of the Afghan forces would not have so low.  In short, had Trump been smart (not his forte), what we see today wouldn't be happening.

              1. Credence2 profile image81
                Credence2posted 3 years agoin reply to this

                This is some powerful "stuff" Esoteric, isn't  the War College" the stuff of field grade military officers?

                You  have always had an impressive resume.

                I know you are a "hawk" and recognize our national security issues in the region are paramount and Trump is certainly culpable for what has happened in Kabul as of late.

                Where do you see Ken's concern about China's role in all this?

                Also, yes I have to take issue regarding the bleeding of American treasure and lives in futile efforts. What is the point? You very well laid out the futility of "the agreement" even before the ink had an opportunity to dry.

                We could have softened the blow, including plans for an organized retreat but, what real leverage was there on the Taliban to negotiate at all?  The Afghan president cut and ran. 

                I like the Taliban adage, " you may have the watches, but we have the time".

                In spite of political pressure, politicians should have just continued on a losing enterprise, as with a patient already in hospice? If you think that there was a possible "winning" outcome, could you share that with us?

                1. My Esoteric profile image85
                  My Esotericposted 3 years agoin reply to this

                  Yes, mainly colonels and some up-and-coming Lt Colonels.  They let senior civil servants attend as well.  I was a GS-15 (colonel-equivalent) when I attended, albeit a temporary one.

                  As to the "point".  I guess it comes down to how much you think our presence in Afghanistan had to do with 20 years without a repeat of 9/11 is worth.  Personally, I think our presence there kept America safe and would have continued to do so had we stayed.  I know I don't regret my service in Vietnam for the same reason, and from what I have heard, most Afghan veterans feel the same way.

                  To me, the questions Biden has to answer is WHY didn't the smart people believe the Afghan Army would collapse so fast.  Many after-the-fact articles I have read indicate to me that it should have been easy to predict given the sad state Trump left us in.

                  Was Biden simply naïve in his estimation of the intelligence reports, was he too Pollyanna?  Or was he more calculating and simply didn't care about the consequences in his rush to withdraw?  I tend to lean to toward the former.

                  I like that Taliban adage a lot - it explains why America has no staying power.

                  Do I think there was a "winning" outcome?  In my naïve fantasies, yes - but it would have taken a wholesale cleaning out of Afghan corruption.

                  On the other hand, my pragmatic self says no - the best we could hope for is to pay the price in treasure and, sadly, lives to keep the foreign terrorist off of our shores while we deal with the domestic ones.

                  As to China, we have to get away from the mind set that they respond to, and in the same way, pressures as if they were a Western country - they aren't.  They view the world in an entirely different way and all presidents up to Biden never understood that and allowed China to play us (at least the ones before Trump didn't bankrupt out farmers in the process).

                  The Chinese are like Trump supporters - they are not rational in the way that most of us understand rational.  We have to figure out what works with what we consider irrational people.

                  I don't know yet if Biden will get a clue and respond to China in ways that THEY understand.  It is too soon to tell if he will.

                  1. Ken Burgess profile image69
                    Ken Burgessposted 3 years agoin reply to this

                    We can all dislike the "treaty" that Trump instituted and disagree with it, lets set that aside.

                    Biden is the one who is President now, Biden has had seven months to institute whatever changes he wanted... this EXIT and the resultant actions the Taliban take on people belongs to him, and him alone.

                    If there are 15,000 Americans there, if there are half a million Afghanistan people he wanted to let into America, then Biden should have begun doing so months ago, in earnest, while Afghanistan was still under control.

                    Biden is President... he is making the decisions... this is his Administration, this is his call.



                    Biden has had relations with China for a LONG time.

                    Chinese Banks "invested" 1.5 BILLION dollars into Hunter Biden's Investment firm back when Joe was VP... you don't get much more "understanding" of the CCP than that.

                    Everything Biden has done, from undoing the trade tariffs on Chinese products that Trump had set up to pulling out of Afghanistan after the Taliban and Chinese officials had their agreements in place has been done because Biden "understands" China very well.

                    1. Sharlee01 profile image85
                      Sharlee01posted 3 years agoin reply to this

                      Oh my God, is it not time people wake up and take a look around at what is happing in the Country? Biden is ignoring problems and collecting more problems as he goes. America is in trouble on so many fronts. I love your posts they get to the heart of where we are today, and where we are headed.  You provide a voice of sanity...

                  2. Credence2 profile image81
                    Credence2posted 3 years agoin reply to this

                    I take it from a "War College" grad.

                    Yes, we certainly did not want a repeat of 9/11, but, Esoteric, these people are everywhere through the Middle East with designs there. How long do you think Pakistan can avoid being next?

                    We have had a Pearl Harbor but dealt with the problem with a permanent fix. Americans, at least since WWI, has had little patience for extended states of warfare. How do we avoid the realities of politics and diplomacy? It is politically unpalatable for us to go and stay. It sounds like we must content ourselves with an ever running sore as the price of peace. Is there a correlation between our being in Afghanistan and the prevention of another 9/11 sort of attack plan from the Taliban. How do we guarantee that, do we have our thumb on them everywhere?

                    Biden made a campaign promise to wind down, his predecessors have been saying it, yet conditions on the ground precluded that option.

                    I think that the enemy will always be successful in simply waiting us out, because of our internal politics. Can the Taliban be subdued and controlled like Japan and Germany were? They have no national boundaries and move about freely across international lines, finding more collaborators and safe havens. It is like trying to attack a ghost. If we can't get a handle on it how long before we simply bleed ourselves dry?

                    I simply say that this entity must be liquidated and all hands are on deck, nationally and internationally and those that give comfort and solace to the enemy must share its fate. Why are we forced to do all the dirty work alone?

              2. Sharlee01 profile image85
                Sharlee01posted 3 years agoin reply to this

                I have offered you a link to the government  Agreement documentation a couple of times.  You ignore it.   Here is the agreement in full ----- as well as link   https://www.state.gov/wp-content/upload … .29.20.pdf

                I am not sure why you continue to make state that the Trump administration had no agreement. this is curious... I have offered the actual document. I don't care to read any opinion article that you have offered from media outlets...  The fact is the US has an agreement with the Taliban, Biden chose to ignore it, and we now have people in harm's way. I hope more of here will read this agreement. And become aware of the fact that we did have a good agreement that might have prevented this horrific mess Biden has caused. He has people in danger due to his poor decision-making and is an embarrassment on the world stage.


                Agreement for Bringing Peace to Afghanistan
                between the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan which is not recognized by the United States
                as a state and is known as the Taliban and the United States of America
                February 29, 2020
                which corresponds to Rajab 5, 1441 on the Hijri Lunar calendar
                and Hoot 10, 1398 on the Hijri Solar calendar
                A comprehensive peace agreement is made of four parts

                A comprehensive peace agreement is made of four parts:
                1. Guarantees and enforcement mechanisms that will prevent the use of the soil of Afghanistan by
                any group or individual against the security of the United States and its allies.
                2. Guarantees, enforcement mechanisms, and announcement of a timeline for the withdrawal of all foreign forces from Afghanistan.
                3. After the announcement of guarantees for a complete withdrawal of foreign forces and timeline in the presence of international witnesses, and guarantees and the announcement in the presence of international witnesses that Afghan soil will not be used against the security of the United States and its allies, the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan which is not recognized by the United States as a state and is known as the Taliban will start intra-Afghan negotiations with Afghan sides on March 10, 2020, which corresponds to Rajab 15, 1441 on the Hijri Lunar calendar and Hoot 20, 1398 on the Hijri Solar calendar.
                4. A permanent and comprehensive ceasefire will be an item on the agenda of the intra-Afghan dialogue and negotiations. The participants of intra-Afghan negotiations will discuss the date and modalities of a permanent and comprehensive ceasefire, including joint implementation
                mechanisms, which will be announced along with the completion and agreement over the future political roadmap of Afghanistan.
                The four parts above are interrelated and each will be implemented in accordance with its own agreed
                timeline and agreed terms. Agreement on the first two parts paves the way for the last two parts. Following is the text of the agreement for the implementation of parts one and two of the above. Both sides agree that these two parts are interconnected. The obligations of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan which is not recognized by the United States as a state and is known as the Taliban in this agreement apply in areas under their control until the formation of the new post-settlement Afghan Islamic government as determined by the intra-Afghan dialogue and negotiations.
                PART ONE
                The United States is committed to withdraw from Afghanistan all military forces of the United States, its allies, and Coalition partners, including all non-diplomatic civilian personnel, private security contractors, trainers, advisors, and supporting services personnel within fourteen (14) monthsfollowing
                announcement of this agreement, and will take the following measures in this regard: . II

                A. The United States, its allies, and the Coalition will take the following measures in the first one hundred thirty-five (135) days:
                1) They will reduce the number of U.S. forces in Afghanistan to weigh thousand six hundred (8,600) and proportionally bring reduction in the number of its allies and Coalition forces.
                2) The United States, its allies, and the Coalition will withdraw all their forces from five
                (5) military bases.
                B. With the commitment and action on the obligations of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan which
                is not recognized by the United States as a state and is known as the Taliban in Part Two of this agreement, the United States, its allies, and the Coalition will execute the following:
                1) The United States, its allies, and the Coalition will complete withdrawal of all remaining forces from Afghanistan within the remaining nine and a half (9.5) months.
                2) The United States, its allies, and the Coalition will withdraw all their forces from remaining bases.
                C. The United States is committed to start immediately to work with all relevant sides on a plan
                to expeditiously release combat and political prisoners as a confidence building measure with the coordination and approval of all relevant sides. Up to five thousand (5,000) prisoners of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan which is not recognized by the United States as a state and
                is known as the Taliban and up to one thousand (1,000) prisoners of the other side will be released by March 10, 2020, the first day of intra-Afghan negotiations, which corresponds to Rajab 15, 1441 on the Hijri Lunar calendar and Hoot 20, 1398 on the Hijri Solar calendar. The relevant sides have the goal of releasing all the remaining prisoners over the course of the subsequent three months. The United States commits to completing this goal. The Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan which is not recognized by the United States as a state and is known as the Taliban commits that its released prisoners will be committed to the responsibilities mentioned in this agreement so that they will not pose a threat to the security of the United States and its allies.
                D. With the start of intra-Afghan negotiations, the United States will initiate an administrative review of current U.S. sanctions and the rewards list against members of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan which is not recognized by the United States as a state and is known as the Taliban
                with the goal of removing these sanctions by August 27, 2020, which corresponds to Muharram  8, 1442 on the Hijri Lunar calendar and Saunbola 6, 1399 on the Hijri Solar calendar. 
                E. With the start of intra-Afghan negotiations, the United States will start diplomatic engagement
                with other members of the United Nations Security Council and Afghanistan to remove members of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan which is not recognized by the United States as a state and is known as the Taliban from the sanctions list with the aim of achieving this
                objective by May 29, 2020, which corresponds to Shawwal 6, 1441 on the Hijri Lunar calendar and Jawza 9, 1399 on the Hijri Solar calendar.
                . III
                F. The United States and its allies will refrain from n from the threat or the use of force against the territorial integrity or political independence of Afghanistan or intervening in its domestic affairs.

                PART TWO

                In conjunction with the announcement of this agreement, the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan which is
                not recognized by the United States as a state and is known as the Taliban will take the following steps
                to prevent any group or individual, including al-Qa’ida, from using the soil of Afghanistan to threaten
                the security of the United States and its allies:
                1. The Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan which is not recognized by the United States as a state and is known as the Taliban will not allow any of its members, other individuals or groups, including al-Qa’ida, to use the soil of Afghanistan to threaten the security of the United States and its
                allies.
                2. The Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan which is not recognized by the United States as a state and is known as the Taliban will send a clear message that those who pose a threat to the security of the United States and its allies have no place in Afghanistan, and will instruct members of
                the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan which is not recognized by the United States as a state and is known as the Taliban not to cooperate with groups or individuals threatening the security of the United States and its allies.
                3. The Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan which is not recognized by the United States as a state and is known as the Taliban will prevent any group or individual in Afghanistan from threatening the security of the United States and its allies, and will prevent them from recruiting, training,
                and fundraising and will not host them in accordance with the commitments in this agreement.
                4. The Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan which is not recognized by the United States as a state and is known as the Taliban is committed to deal with those seeking asylum or residence in Afghanistan according to international migration law and the commitments of this agreement,
                so that such persons do not pose a threat to the security of the United States and its allies.
                5. The Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan which is not recognized by the United States as a state and
                is known as the Taliban will not provide visas, passports, travel permits, or other legal documents to those who pose a threat to the security of the United States and its allies to enter Afghanistan.

                PART THREE

                1. The United States will request the recognition and endorsement of the United Nations Security Council for this agreement.
                . IV
                2. The United States and the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan which is not recognized by the United States as a state and is known as the Taliban seek positive relations with each other and expect that the relations between the United States and the new post-settlement Afghan Islamic
                government as determined by the intra-Afghan dialogue and negotiations will be positive.
                3. The United States will seek economic cooperation for reconstruction with the new post-settlement Afghan Islamic government as determined by the intra-Afghan dialogue and negotiations, and will not intervene in its internal affairs. Signed in Doha, Qatar on February 29, 2020, which corresponds to Rajab 5, 1441 on the Hijri Lunar calendar and Hoot 10, 1398 on the Hijri Solar calendar, in duplicate, in Pashto, Dari, and English languages, each text being equally authentic.


                Trump had every right as President to negotiate on behalf of America, he kept to his agreement, the Taliban was somewhat keeping to the agreement.   You are playing a blame game with no real cards to win the game.

                1. My Esoteric profile image85
                  My Esotericposted 3 years agoin reply to this

                  "I have offered you a link to the government  Agreement documentation a couple of times.  You ignore it." - NO, what gets IGNORED is YOU NOT reading my response which said I have read EVERY word of it, and then gone back a couple of times for refresher.  So, I will not read your cutting and pasting again, it is redundant.

                  "Trump had every right as President to negotiate on behalf of America, he kept to his agreement, the Taliban was somewhat keeping to the agreement. " - YES, Trump had every right to strike a very bad deal with our enemy, but the rest of what you say is very false!  Both Trump and the Taliban broke the agreement in several different ways. 

                  Tell me, what parts of the agreement did the Taliban live up to?  Was it the part about negotiating in good faith?

                  Face it, your hero gave away the farm to the Taliban.

                  1. Sharlee01 profile image85
                    Sharlee01posted 3 years agoin reply to this

                    My bad, I will admit to not reading but only lightly going over your posts.
                    I am not willing to go back and forth with you, --- Sorry

      21. Kathryn L Hill profile image80
        Kathryn L Hillposted 3 years ago

        From my observation, an overall view is taking form. It seems we (our government) is being led by the nose, like a big powerful bull with a ring in its nose. Who is leading the bull?
        Rich, wealthy and powerful people, who are operating in some sort of a coordinated effort with some sort of common goal, who are situated all over the world. We may be at their mercy. What do they have in store for us? Is all we can do, wait and see?

        Meanwhile, I think the people are being tricked into hating each other for all the various reason we do. None of the issues which divide us so bitterly are real and true. Both Trump and Biden are most likely influenced to some extent by those rich powerful people. And so are we, in various ways and means.

        Furthermore, other nations' governments, leaders and people are being affected by those who seek to influence and control them. What can these nations do to stand strong and maintain what is theirs: their land, their people, and their governing bodies?

        One thing we should all do, is to resolve not to let what is ours be taken from us.

        We also need to realize that Money is doing the talking and we do not know what Money is saying or where it is leading us.

        Does Money know?
        or is it playing it by ear?

        1. Credence2 profile image81
          Credence2posted 3 years agoin reply to this

          "Rich, wealthy and powerful people, who are operating in some sort of a coordinated effort with some sort of common goal, who are situated all over the world. We may be at their mercy. What do they have in store for us? Is all we can do, wait and see?"
          ---------
          Yep, just pawns on a geo-political chess board... we talk about exaulting the military, but for the real power interests they are just another tool in the varied tool box.

          I have known this for some time, who has even attempted to arrest this power and influence?

          The wealthy and affluent are more than happy to Deceive with patriotism and right wing talking points when all they were ever concerned with was power and the ever greater accumulation of wealth at the expense of others. The 1 percent has to be clever to deceive people into believing that the middle and working classes could have any similar objectives or goals with them. That was why the late Rush Limbaugh was compensated so well by corporate America.

          1. Kathryn L Hill profile image80
            Kathryn L Hillposted 3 years agoin reply to this

            and ...? why did they?

          2. Ken Burgess profile image69
            Ken Burgessposted 3 years agoin reply to this

            You understand nothing, If you actually think there is a difference between Biden, Pelosi, corrupt Democrats & Republicans in DC.

            Trump was the only outsider, like him or loathe him, he was not part of the corrupt cabal that controls Washington. Biden is their stooge as are all that have been in DC for 30+ years.

            The fact that you think the Democrats are better means you have yet to realize the truth... It hasn't mattered in decades, both sides are controlled by sellouts.  Biden is the biggest shill of them all.

            1. Credence2 profile image81
              Credence2posted 3 years agoin reply to this

              "You understand nothing, If you actually think there is a difference between Biden, Pelosi, corrupt Democrats & Republicans in DC."

              But Trump was no better, Ken.

              Just like Bloomberg, Trump was going to protect the corporate class, because that is from where he derives his wealth and power. Remember how Bloomberg entered the race last year to deliberately derail Sanders and Warren, my preferred candidates? These two are no Kennedys nor Roosevelts, wealthy people with altruistic values toward everyone who were not wealthy.

              Trump is part of that, why kill the goose that lays the golden eggs? His attempting to relate to common people by eating McDonalds or KFC is more of the Huey Long populist stuff, but with him it is 100 percent phony.

              If all politicians are corrupt and that includes Trump who wears that label in virtually everything and anything that he has ever touched, I am going to go with the politicians that can at least be influenced by the Democratic progressive left and that is neither this (maverick) Trump nor the mainstream GOP. Trump is clearly corporate class and the preservation of same is clearly within the framework of GOP ideology, so he could not be anyone that I could ever take seriously.

              So, who am I left with?

              1. Valeant profile image77
                Valeantposted 3 years agoin reply to this

                Saying the guy who had been buying politicians for decades was not part of the cabal that controls Washington seems pretty naive to me.  It was like letting the fox into the henhouse.

                1. Credence2 profile image81
                  Credence2posted 3 years agoin reply to this

                  Most appropo, Valeant....

              2. Ken Burgess profile image69
                Ken Burgessposted 3 years agoin reply to this

                Trump was corporate class, but he was not DC Political Sellout class.

                Trump was not sacrifice America for the interests of the NWO, Agenda 2030, Global Compact on Migration, Paris Accord class.

                Trump was not shut down American production of Oil and Gas... so that we can go back to relying on foreign oil and being at their mercy.

                Trump was not Open Borders let everyone in with open arms.

                So there were differences, Americans were better off with that bombastic blowhard running things than with Biden... and it really has only taken a few months to see this come to fruition.

                What annoyed me the most about Biden however, was his sellout to the Legacy Auto and UAW... the way he and his Administration deliberately shunned Tesla (100% of all vehicles sold in America are made in America by American workers) at their big EV day celebration.  And the way they tried to make sure the new Bill put forth to "support" EVs really only supported the UAW and Legacy Auto.

                Of course, that was before his complete failure with the Afghanistan withdrawal which is far worse, especially the arrogance he has shown when addressing the issue, right up until people started dying because of his utter incompetence.

                And his trying to pass it off onto Trump, is absolutely a scumbag move showing his true nature... absolute worthless self serving human being... he has all the bad characteristics attributed to Trump, but he is a lying politician that hides much of it, worse in everyway for America and Americans than Trump was.

                If this isn't a realization that you eventually come around to as well, then I do feel sorry for you, because you are too jaded or wantonly biased to see what is plainly there.

                "So, who am I left with?"

                You may have been left with no good choice... sometimes that is what you have to accept... I don't think you really feel that way, if you did, you would never waste your time on here defending Biden... not now, not with what he has already done, in under a year.

                On a side note, are you one of the people who support Gavin Newsome over Larry Elder, and if so why?

                1. Credence2 profile image81
                  Credence2posted 3 years agoin reply to this

                  In don't trust corporate plutocrats regardless of how they define themselves.

                  You were better off with blowhard Trump, that does not speak for me.

                  I can find as many disturbing actions from Trump and the Republicans to counter your points regarding Biden....

                  I will have to check on the Tesla story.

                  To say that Trump is not culpable at all for what has happened in Afghanistan is a totally partisan attitude.

                  "My"America
                  and "Your" America are two different things.

                  You indicate that you are of impeccable and infallible judgement? That, too, is a matter of opinion. Yes, Biden bears responsibility for what has happened, but at least her admits error when confronted, cowardly Trump never acknowledge that he was ever in error during his term. So, unlike JFK after the failed Bay of Pigs fiasco.

                  As to my choices, Trump sucks, period and I will vote for anyone over Trump, his syncophants and Republicans, generally.

                  On the side notE, I don't like conservative ideology and policy as defined in the era of Trump, so Larry Elder is out of the question.... I would stay with Newsome and a Democrat controlled California.

                  1. Ken Burgess profile image69
                    Ken Burgessposted 3 years agoin reply to this

                    No it absolutely is not, and as someone who has a wealth of military experience, in dealing with the people who make the decisions and do the planning at the Division level all the way to the Pentagon, I can assure you this is 100% Biden.

                    This is incompetence combined with arrogance combined with a person who really couldn't care less about Afghanistan.

                    That's not saying he wanted anyone to die, that's not saying the doddering fool didn't actually believe it was going OK (hence his complete incompetence)... but it was his decisions and his evaluation of what was going on in Afghanistan that are responsible, and only him.

                    https://www.timesofisrael.com/we-warned … n-pullout/

                    “We warned them for months, for months” that the situation was urgent, said one military official, speaking on condition of anonymity.

                    “I am not angry, I am frustrated,” another officer remarked. “The process could have been handled so differently.”

                    https://www.khaama.com/us-ready-to-pull … 546747443/

                    [In March] The Pentagon said that US commanders are capable to completely withdraw troops from Afghanistan and that this part of the US-Taliban agreement is still on the table despite being reviewed by the Biden administration.

                    John Kirby Pentagon spokesman told reporters that high-ranking US military commanders including General Scott Miller, commander of US and NATO forces in Afghanistan, and General McKenzie are ready to withdraw troops from Afghanistan whenever President Biden asks them to do so.

                  2. Ken Burgess profile image69
                    Ken Burgessposted 3 years agoin reply to this

                    It is that "Party Loyalty above all else" that is so sad, and so empowering to the worst most corrupt elements in politics today.

                    Governor Gavin Newsom, whose family has been intertwined for generations with the families of Nancy Pelosi and former governor Jerry Brown, is the embodiment of "everything that is wrong with politics", he is the poster child for "Do as I say, not as I do" governorship.

                    You should listen to Larry Elder speak, he has an interesting history, and sound ideas, but it is California, I doubt the cronyism can be overcome.

                    1. Credence2 profile image81
                      Credence2posted 3 years agoin reply to this

                      No, it is not about party loyalty, race, color or creed, Ken. It is more about principles and those candidates that are closer to those that I hold dear that is important.

                      Sanders and Warren spoke for me and my views. It is more than just coincidence that they both are Democrats. Which set of politicians adhere more to my viewpoint of things?

                      Republicans support and adhere to a certain set principles that are contrary to my own. So anyone wearing the label is suspect in my eyes.

                  3. My Esoteric profile image85
                    My Esotericposted 3 years agoin reply to this

                    And I don't like conservative ideology as practices in America in any era.  Its legacy is:

                    - Slavery
                    - Lynching
                    - the Civil War
                    - opposition to Black rights
                    - opposition to Woman's rights
                    - opposition to and then reversing voting rights
                    - opposition to and then reversing any civil rights legislation
                    - bad economies
                    - and the list goes on.

                    1. Credence2 profile image81
                      Credence2posted 3 years agoin reply to this

                      I was being unduly gentle, you are right, of course.

                      But there was a time when conservatism was applied to fiscal matters more so, "Rockefeller Republicans". I have no problems with fiscal conservatism in principle, it is just that the GOP no longer represents this either.

                      1. My Esoteric profile image85
                        My Esotericposted 3 years agoin reply to this

                        That is true.  I was a Republican before Clinton because of just that, fiscal conservatism.  By that time, Nixon and Ford and most other mainstream Republicans had bought into Keynesian (liberal) macro economics.  Why?  Because it worked.

                        But with the social conservatives take over of the party, it was clearly time to leave and find more humane pastures.

                2. My Esoteric profile image85
                  My Esotericposted 3 years agoin reply to this

                  "Trump was corporate class, but he was not DC Political Sellout class." - TRUE, Trump proved he couldn't lead a gov't.  But instead, he was the swamp he promised and failed to get rid of - in fact he made it worse.

                  Another example of gaslighting "the way he and his Administration deliberately shunned Tesla (100% of all vehicles sold in America are made in America by American workers) at their big EV day celebration.  " -  why didn't you mention that Tesla was being investigated for its deadly autopilot design????

            2. gmwilliams profile image86
              gmwilliamsposted 3 years agoin reply to this

              +10000000000

      22. emge profile image81
        emgeposted 3 years ago

        Ken, wonderful, hope these will be able to stop the inevitable, the demise of the US as a global power and an economy behind China.

      23. abwilliams profile image72
        abwilliamsposted 3 years ago

        I had to do a double take after seeing the Title, thought it was a joke, but then realized that it has been around for awhile.

        I agree with Ken.
        I have been listening to and following Larry Elder for quite a few years. He is as genuine and as sharp as candidates come. If California chooses him, it will be the smartest decision they've made since electing Ronald Reagan.
        But, are they smart enough? I may bring this question up for discussion.

        1. My Esoteric profile image85
          My Esotericposted 3 years agoin reply to this

          Elder is a misogynist, but then that fits with conservatism

          Elder beats his wifes, not even Trump did that, he just sexually abused them

          Elder points guns at his wifes.

          Yeah, really great guy.  They say Hitler was a mesmerizing speaker and look where that got the world.

          1. Credence2 profile image81
            Credence2posted 3 years agoin reply to this

            Don't forget, Esoteric, Hitler also made the trains run on time.....

      24. Valeant profile image77
        Valeantposted 3 years ago

        'No one man could have done a better job...'

        There is no single statement to define the different realities liberals and conservatives live within than this one in reference to Trump and the pandemic.

        1. Sharlee01 profile image85
          Sharlee01posted 3 years agoin reply to this

          My statement thoroughly does show MY OPINION on the subject of how Trump handled the pandemic. It seems odd to compartmentalize conservatives and liberals.  But, I can agree liberals do much of the tie join in on groupthink.  Conservatives in my view lean more toward a form of individualism.

          1. Credence2 profile image81
            Credence2posted 3 years agoin reply to this

            In your view, 'conservatives show individuality', from my view, not so much.

          2. My Esoteric profile image85
            My Esotericposted 3 years agoin reply to this

            "It seems odd to compartmentalize conservatives and liberals." - WHY?  They are polar opposites on how they view the world.

            Several studies on this (Altemer, et al) clearly show that conservatives are the ones prone to groupthink.  It is one of the defining characteristics of Right-Wing Authoritarian followers.

            For example, here are some questions in the survey to determine where you fall in the RWA ranking.

            1.  Our country needs free thinkers who have the courage to defy traditional ways, even if this upsets many people. - Low scoring RWAs answer Strongly Agree with this while High scoring RWAs answer strongly disagree.

            2. All should have their own lifestyle/religious beliefs/sexual preferences, even if it makes them different from others. - Again Low scoring RWAs with Agree while High Scoring RWAs will Disagree.

            3. A “woman’s place” should be wherever she wants to be. The days when women are submissive to their husbands are over. - Same story, Low scoring RWAs agree while High scoring RWAs disagree.

            4. There is no “ONE right way” to live life; everybody has to create their own way. - Once again, Low = Agree and High = Disagree.

            1. Sharlee01 profile image85
              Sharlee01posted 3 years agoin reply to this

              I am offering my own life experience in regard to my opinion on how conservatives and liberals differ in their mindsets. I have always found it very easy to decipher a liberal from a conservative.

              1. My Esoteric profile image85
                My Esotericposted 3 years agoin reply to this

                And I absolutely agree with that.

      25. Live to Learn profile image60
        Live to Learnposted 3 years ago

        Just ran across this in an article on the ongoing cluster ‘f’ that is the Biden administration’s idea of an orderly pullout.

        Kathy McCollum, the mother of 20-year-old US Marine Rylee McCollum, who died in the bombing, said Friday in a SiriusXM interview that people who voted for Biden “just killed my son - with a dementia-ridden piece of crap who doesn’t even know he’s in the White House.”

        Let that sink in.

        1. Sharlee01 profile image85
          Sharlee01posted 3 years agoin reply to this

          I heard her interview -- she was 100% correct.  In light of how he conducted his plan to pull out of Afghanistan, she had every right to speak her truth. This man needs to be removed, he is dangerous, and can't handle the job. My God one just needs to look and listen to this man to see he is very weak and somewhat confused.

          1. Valeant profile image77
            Valeantposted 3 years agoin reply to this

            If you had Sharlee repeating the words, removed, dangerous, weak, and confused in a post for the 80th time, you win the office pool.

            Just 399,987 more dead Americans and Biden will be as dangerous as our last President.

            1. Sharlee01 profile image85
              Sharlee01posted 3 years agoin reply to this

              This mother had every right to place the blame for her child's death on Biden. As did the two fathers that offered their view of Biden's demeanor at the Transfer Ceremony that took place on Sunday. Both dads were interviewed on Hannity last night, both fathers were squarely offended and disgusted with Biden's demeanor and lack of empathy.

              Fathers of Marines killed in Kabul were outraged over Biden’s behavior at the ‘dignified transfer ceremony.

              Two Gold Star fathers of U.S. Marines killed in an ISIS-K-linked blast in Kabul amid President Joe Biden's Afghanistan withdrawal lambasted the commander in chief for acting selfish in their interactions.

              Mark Schmitz, father of Missouri Marine Jared Schmitz, and Darin Hoover, father of Utah Marine Darin Taylor Hoover Jr. discussed their tragic and terrible losses in an interview with "Hannity" on Monday.

              Schmitz elected to meet with Biden, while Hoover told host Sean Hannity he "didn't want [Biden] anywhere near us."

              Schmitz said their meeting, however, was not pleasant, adding that the president reportedly spoke more about his own deceased son, former Delaware State Attorney General Joseph "Beau" Biden III, than he did Jared.  "Initially, I wasn't going to meet with him," Schmitz said. "But then I felt I owed it to my son to at least have some words with him about how I felt – and it didn't go well."

              "As a father, seeing that and the disrespect, and hearing from his former leaders, one of [Taylor's] master sergeants said … that this was avoidable -- that they left them over there: They had them over there and let them down, and we can't have that. It can't happen ever again," he said.

              Hoover told "Hannity" the reasoning behind his decision not to meet with Biden was manifested at Dover Air Force Base, Del., where the president and first lady were on hand to solemnly greet the caskets of the 13 fallen American heroes over the weekend.

              Biden was photographed checking his watch during the ceremony, which critics said showed a stark lack of empathy toward the grieving families.

              Hoover claimed the president looked down at his watch not once but several times as the caskets were being offloaded:

              "That didn't happen just once. It happened on every single one that came out of that airplane. It happened on every single one of them. They would release the salute, and he would look down at his watch on every last one, all 13, he looked down at his watch," Hoover said.

              Asked about why Hoover and his family declined to meet with Biden, the grieving father explained, "We said absolutely not. We didn't want to deal with him, we didn't want him anywhere near us. We as a family decided that that was the way it was going to be."

              The host then asked Schmitz if he saw Biden checking the time throughout the ceremony:

              "Yes I did," he replied. "I leaned into my son's mother's ear and I said ‘I swear to God if he checks his watch one more time’ -- and that was probably only four times in I couldn't look at him anymore after that."

              "Considering the time and why we were there, I found it to be the most disrespectful thing I'd ever seen." source https://www.foxnews.com/media/gold-star … abul-biden

              And I fully intend to repeat all those very words, because in my view he is all of the above mentioned and more...   He has proved it time and time again.

              We can add to his long list --- left American's behind. I would say this qualifies as putting citizens in great danger.  Biden certainly posed a danger to those he left behind.

              1. lobobrandon profile image78
                lobobrandonposted 3 years agoin reply to this

                True, Biden is being horrible with regards to Afghanistan, but that was not unexpected. If I were a US citizen I would vote for him again if it were him vs Trump because he at least acknowledges the science of the pandemic, climate change, and other things which have global and immediate impacts. Maybe it would benefit the country and the world if the US had some younger blood with less senile old men (in case of Biden) as you put it to choose from.

                Afghanistan will also have global impacts, but if not Afghanistan the powers will find another country to play their games in. It is sad and shameful, nonetheless.

                Just when you think the US had no respect to lose on the global stage after they had Trump for president, you seem to have lost respect on the military front too. Not my words, just something that I have been seeing on the news when it comes to southeastern countries and public opinion there and how they see the US in potential future faceoffs against China.

                P.S: My personal opinion. I do not think there was any president who has damaged the democratic element of the USA as much as Trump has and never before (after the civil war) were people up in arms against the government or establishment. Those are precedents I would expect most Americans would want to avoid.

                1. Sharlee01 profile image85
                  Sharlee01posted 3 years agoin reply to this

                  I read your opinion, although I don't agree with it --- it is well taken.

                  I see you deflected far from the subject of my comment. I was addressing the sorrow of the Gold Star families, and their very sentiments.

                  Not really up for a Trump-bashing session...   As a rule, I am always up to debate my thoughts on Trump. Not in this case, I have just witnessed a tragedy. A tragedy that as that Gold Star Mom stated
                  'Was preventable"...  I agree with her, and the two Gold Star dads.

                  1. lobobrandon profile image78
                    lobobrandonposted 3 years agoin reply to this

                    I joined this thread 37 pages in and responded with the title in mind, hence the Biden vs Trump element.

                    I agree that this was preventable and uncalled for. But gold star or not, I also feel for the afghans that are in peril because they risked their lives to help the US knowing they would be supported in addition to those that died in the attack.

                    1. Sharlee01 profile image85
                      Sharlee01posted 3 years agoin reply to this

                      We could not agree more... These are innocent people that trusted the US, and hoped, and fought for a better existence.  None should have been left behind. Reports today say they are being slaughtered.

                      1. lobobrandon profile image78
                        lobobrandonposted 3 years agoin reply to this

                        I typed something out and deleted it when I wrote that statement above. Let me retype it.

                        I read the other day of a gay couple, one who was massacred and I do not want to share the fine details because it is sickening. The disgusting part of it was that this was on Reddit and there were a few conservatives, mostly from the US (since it is Reddit + English) that said there are at least a few things the Taliban does right.

                        This is why I think it is important that no country takes democracy for granted and the huge divide with every single thing being made political is dangerous and it can result in such disgusting people rising to power someday.

                        Also, I should say thanks for the conversation, I will be leaving the thread now, I spend too much time on here once I get to the topical forums.

                2. My Esoteric profile image85
                  My Esotericposted 3 years agoin reply to this

                  Well said.

              2. My Esoteric profile image85
                My Esotericposted 3 years agoin reply to this

                " Both dads were interviewed on Hannity " - AND That says it all, doesn't it.

                So it is "acting selfish" to try to connect with their loss by sharing that he has gone through the same thing?  That is called empathy, something conservatives know little about.

                Those fathers must have watched a different transfer honor than I did, Biden was perfectly respectful.  Once again, they chose to politicize their kids deaths by speaking on Hannity.

                "Hoover claimed the president looked down at his watch not once but several times as the caskets were being offloaded" - Unbelievable that they would focus on such a thing to make a ridiculous point.  And even the right-wing propaganda only mentions the President of the United States wondering what time it is just once - shame on him.

                1. Sharlee01 profile image85
                  Sharlee01posted 3 years agoin reply to this

                  " Both dads were interviewed on Hannity " - AND That says it all, doesn't it."

                  These dads were offered a forum to speak to America and give their thoughts on their experience with the president on a very solum day. The majority of the gold star families that were there that day have shared their stories. All had very derogatory things to say about his demeanor. Last Night one of the mothers of one of the soldiers claimed --- I have not heard anything from the White House or the President...

                  "Once again, they chose to politicize their kids deaths by speaking on Hannity."

                  This is a very cynical statement in my book.  Remember this ?

                  "MANCHESTER, N.H.—Khizr Khan, the Gold Star father who provided some of the sharpest, most personal criticism of Donald Trump all year, helped Hillary Clinton close out her campaign, appearing at one of her final rallies here on Sunday.

                  Mr. Khan spoke movingly from the stage of the Democratic National Convention, telling the story of his son, Capt. Humayun Khan, a Muslim who died saving other troops from a suicide bomber in Iraq. He questioned if Mr. Trump, who had proposed a ban on Muslim immigration to the U.S., understood the U.S. Constitution."  https://www.wsj.com/articles/BL-WB-66480

                  The DNC dragged this man out at every turn... I see your opinion in regard to these many gold star families as hypocritical. At this point, the majority have spoken out, and have shared the same opinion of Biden's demeanor on that day.

                  I prefer to drop the subject, I can see it is making me very disgusted, as well as anger . Not sure how anyone at this point could defend Biden's demeanor on the day in question or how he handled the withdrawal from Afghanistan.  It's clear we do not in any respect agree on this matter. I will admit I don't respect your opinion of all these Gold Star families.

                2. Sharlee01 profile image85
                  Sharlee01posted 3 years agoin reply to this

                  The fathers were present when the coffins of their sons were taken off the plane. You were watching it on TV...   "Choose to politicize the deaths of their sons".  Come on...

                  They had every right to speak and offer their feelings on how Biden acted at the ceremony, as did the majority of the grieving citizens that gave their opinions on how Biden conducted himself in a way that insulted them. In one report a mom claims he rolled his eyes when talking about her son... More of these gold star families are sharing their concerns on how he acted. As I have been saying this man has real mental problems, he is exhibiting them more and more daily. Yesterday in his speech he appeared inappropriately angry and turned red... Time to realize this man has big problems.

                  Biden's continued to look at his watch 13 times... I hate to say this but he was showing true signs of OCD.  This man has mental problems, most likely several mental problems.

                  I must also share, I think your comment calling one of the Mothers of the dead that shared her view of Biden, and his handling of the withdrawal uncalled for. You have the right to view your opinion, but I found it very inappropriate to call her a "Trumpster".   She lost her son, my God... She is very much allowed to share her view of Biden, and his handling of the situation that she feels caused her son's death.   Talk about making something political... What did you just do by calling this woman a Trumpster?  It would seem a perfect case of showing hypocrisy. You claim the dads that shared their opinions of Biden's demeanor politicizing. What did you do by claiming this mom is a Trumpster?  Was it hypocritical?

                  https://hubpages.com/politics/forum/352 … ost4201278
                  Were They All Trumpster's? Were all their loved ones Trumpstres due to finding Biden's plan a poor one or his demeanor inappropriate?  How did you know that mom is a Trumpster? Very curious about how you compartmentalized this woman. Do you think this form of compartmentalizing is really fair, could it truly add to controversy?
                  https://hubstatic.com/15700687_f1024.jpg

                  Before receiving these heroes who had returned home at last, Biden decided to meet with their families.

                  In at least one aspect, though, it blew up in his face, when most members of a Gold Star family walked out on him before they could even exchange a word.
                  Source  https://www.patriotproject.com/bidens-m … bers-walk/

                  Today, many more families are speaking out on how disgusted, angry, and disillusioned they were with Biden in their time of sorrow.

                  1. Kathryn L Hill profile image80
                    Kathryn L Hillposted 3 years agoin reply to this

                    How can Biden go on?
                    He has no conscience.
                    I would have resigned. Let Harris see if she can do any better.

                    If she can't, let Nancy.
                    If she can't ... find someone who can.
                    But let's get to that point quickly, within the next year if possible.

                    At this point, ANYBODY, except Biden.

                    1. Sharlee01 profile image85
                      Sharlee01posted 3 years agoin reply to this

                      I fully agree. I don't think Biden should be representing America any longer. I would surmise the Military no longer respects him, and in my view, he will be seen as a weak mentally failing man by other world leaders. If one believes polls he is in the tank with independents, Republicans and Democrats are jumping ship. It would be impossible to keep him in office for 3 more years. I shudder to think what next.

                      If only more citizens would have really researched Biden before voting for him, they would have realized the man we are seeing is the same man that has been in Washington for 50 years. The man Obama called "uncle Joe' . Maybe some should have just taken a longer look at his past. I very much expected he would go down quickly, but not this quick.

                      Yes, anybody but Biden...

                      1. My Esoteric profile image85
                        My Esotericposted 3 years agoin reply to this

                        And this is another example of what Trump supporters spew here.  Pure, unadulterated gaslighting.

                        https://www.cnn.com/2021/08/31/politics … index.html

                    2. Valeant profile image77
                      Valeantposted 3 years agoin reply to this

                      Easy, he was duly elected. 

                      Afghanistan was destabilized the moment Trump left the Afghan government out of negotiations, drew the troops down to 2,500, released 5,000 Taliban prisoners, and ignored the Taliban violating his agreement with violent attacks.  The violence started long before the thirteen heroes were killed.

                      There are plenty of positives as childhood poverty is dropping, the economy is doing well, Murder rates came down in the second quarter, Americans are getting vaccinated, and the long-promised infrastructure issues are finally being addressed.  Many of those were issues created during the last administration. 

                      Biden made the tough choice to end the war in Afghanistan, with 120,000 Americans and allies evacuated in just 17 days.  A terror attack took the lives of 13 Americans.  Trump literally assassinates a member of another country's military and 109 American soldiers suffer traumatic brain injuries in the reprisal and no conservative even bats an eye.  You'll excuse us if we don't take your outrage seriously.  That's the true embarrassment here.

                      1. Sharlee01 profile image85
                        Sharlee01posted 3 years agoin reply to this

                        Let's keep the facts clear on the injuries... No Deaths occurred.

                        According to the Pentagon's breakdown of the 109 military personnel's status. (Some service members are listed in more than one category.)

                        75 RETURNED to duty after being treated in Iraq
                        1 returned to duty in Iraq after being treated in Germany
                        27 were transported from Iraq to U.S. medical facilities in Germany
                        21 were transported from Germany to the U.S. for treatment
                        7 are currently en route from Iraq to Germany
                        5 are still being evaluated.

                        Here is a very clear nonbias article on the event you mentioned.
                        https://www.npr.org/2020/02/11/80478551 … tagon-says

                      2. wilderness profile image75
                        wildernessposted 3 years agoin reply to this

                        "...the long-promised infrastructure issues are finally being addressed"

                        I hadn't heard that!  Did Pelosi then release her "hold" on debate and the house has taken up debate of the Senate bill?  Has it been passed in the House? 

                        Or is it still languishing in the House as Pelosi holds out for trillions of dollars for her wish list before it will be addressed?  In other words, is it not being addressed at all until the country is too bankrupt from liberal giveaways to do any repairs?

                      3. My Esoteric profile image85
                        My Esotericposted 3 years agoin reply to this

                        It is OK to them that Trump released the very terrorists that ended up killing Americans. 

                        Also, since Trump is responsible for the vast majority of the evacuation, why aren't these Biden-haters not blaming Trump for leaving $83 billion of war material behind for the Taliban to use against ... whom?

                        Yes, where is their empathy for those 109 American soldiers whose injuries Trump is responsible for?  I didn't hear the clamor about that from these commenters.  I guess that was OK with them.

                    3. My Esoteric profile image85
                      My Esotericposted 3 years agoin reply to this

                      Again, you are simply projecting Trump's catastrophic flaws onto Biden.

                      1. gmwilliams profile image86
                        gmwilliamsposted 3 years agoin reply to this

                        Pure bullicocks.

                      2. Sharlee01 profile image85
                        Sharlee01posted 3 years agoin reply to this

                        I notice you when you just don't care for someone else's opinion you pull out the word "project". Seems you use this word frequently.

                  2. My Esoteric profile image85
                    My Esotericposted 3 years agoin reply to this

                    "They had every right to speak and offer their feelings on how Biden acted at the ceremony," - Of course they do, but the way they did it politicized their kids sacrifice.  I find that sad.

                    "Biden's continued to look at his watch 13 times..." - LOL, why do you insist on pushing right-wing lies?

                    "In at least one aspect, though, it blew up in his face, when most members of a Gold Star family walked out on him before they could even exchange a word." - I could find no credible source for that claim.  The article cited the Washington Post, but I couldn't find such a reference.  Just another right-wing lie.

                    "Were They All Trumpster's?" - I don't know, is that what you are claiming?  I only commented on the one mother who parroted the right-wing play book.  All I am saying is that a non-Trumpster would have found a much more respectable, dignified way of voicing her displeasure with Biden.  But she didn't do that did she?  Instead, she used the vile vitriol common among Trump and his supporters.

                    1. Sharlee01 profile image85
                      Sharlee01posted 3 years agoin reply to this

                      OH my gosh talk about projecting... LOL Not worthy of a reply...

                      1. My Esoteric profile image85
                        My Esotericposted 3 years agoin reply to this

                        Please point out where I was projecting?  I did not claim Trump was empathetic.  I did not claim Trump was honest.  I did not claim Trump was fit for office.  I did claim Trump didn't conduct a criminal enterprise in office.  All of those things would be projection of Biden characteristics.

          2. My Esoteric profile image85
            My Esotericposted 3 years agoin reply to this

            Since you didn't want to remove a much, much worse president, I not sure where you get the authority to say Biden should be removed.

        2. Valeant profile image77
          Valeantposted 3 years agoin reply to this

          If that's the case, there are likely 400,000 sons and daughters that will claim that Trump killed their parents by voting for a lying, malignant narcissistic piece of crap who doesn't even know what science is.

          Let that sink in.

          1. My Esoteric profile image85
            My Esotericposted 3 years agoin reply to this

            Oh, good one.

            1. Valeant profile image77
              Valeantposted 3 years agoin reply to this

              What the right is willing to excuse in the name of partisanship should scare everyone.

              https://www.yahoo.com/news/rep-madison- … 02493.html

              1. Valeant profile image77
                Valeantposted 3 years agoin reply to this

                Yesterday, in an event hosted by the Macon County Republican Party, Representative Madison Cawthorn (R-NC) insisted that the January 6 rioters are “political hostages” and said he wanted to “bust them out.” When someone in the audience asked “When are you going to call us to Washington again?” he said, “We are actively working on that one…. We have a few plans in motion that I can’t make public right now.” He called for removing Biden from office under the 25th Amendment and added, “when Kamala Harris inevitably screws up, we will take them down, one at a time.” He concluded by saying: “The Second Amendment was not written so that we can go hunting or we can shoot sporting clays…. The Second Amendment was written so that we can fight against tyranny.”

                Increasingly, right-wing agitators are calling for violent overthrow of the government.

                Today in Pennsylvania, Steve Lynch, a candidate for Northampton County executive, said: “Forget going into these school boards with freaking data. You go into these school boards to remove them. I’m going in with 20 strong men and I’m gonna give them an option—they can leave or they can be removed.”

                At a protest in Santa Monica yesterday before a vote on a mask mandate, a man held a sign with the names and home addresses of each Los Angeles City Council member and said protesters would go to the homes of anyone who voted for the mandate and, if it passed, “Civil War is coming! Get your guns!”

                1. My Esoteric profile image85
                  My Esotericposted 3 years agoin reply to this

                  Boy, Republicans sure love electing sickos.

          2. Live to Learn profile image60
            Live to Learnposted 3 years agoin reply to this

            If we let that sink in, with clear data showing a lower mortality rate in our country than existed in comparable countries, I think it would be safe to say Joe Biden is guilty of a wanton disregard for human life where Trump is guilty of being hated for having a schmuck of a personality.

            I’ll vote for a schmuck over an incompetent senile old man any time the choice presents itself.

            1. Valeant profile image77
              Valeantposted 3 years agoin reply to this

              I would say Trump is guilty of lying to the American people about the dangers of the pandemic.

              I would say Trump is guilty of still allowing hundreds of thousands of people potentially exposed to the virus to still enter the country from China as his 'travel ban' only prevented Chinese citizens from coming abroad and no one else.

              I would say Trump is guilty of ignoring the dangers that the Wuhan Lab posed as far back as 2018 when his own State Department warned him of the threat.

              I would say Trump is guilty of working against contact tracing programs because his administration deemed the virus to be spreading the most in Democratic run cities and they determined that the high rates of spread could help them politically.

              I would say Trump is guilty of working against public health policies pertaining to stopping the spread of the virus, including the wearing of masks and social distancing.

              I would say Trump is guilty of working against the taking of the vaccine, having gotten his in January and telling no one until media reported it two months later.

              That's less about being a schmuck and more about criminal liability in the deaths of over 400,000 Americans.

              1. Live to Learn profile image60
                Live to Learnposted 3 years agoin reply to this

                I would say you are really working hard to stretch as hard as you can to find blame for one guy and wearing a very, very large set of blinders where the other is concerned.

                1. gmwilliams profile image86
                  gmwilliamsposted 3 years agoin reply to this

                  +10000000000

                2. Sharlee01 profile image85
                  Sharlee01posted 3 years agoin reply to this

                  So true. Always defecting to Trump Trump Trump ---

                  1. My Esoteric profile image85
                    My Esotericposted 3 years agoin reply to this

                    Which makes since because Trump and his supporters are a clear and present danger to American democracy!

                    1. Sharlee01 profile image85
                      Sharlee01posted 3 years agoin reply to this

                      No, that would be a man that just left American's behind in a war-torn country at the hands of a terrorist group.  The man that hoped to have the pullout date be Sept 11,... The man that called the president of Afghanistan, and instead of being concerned about the withdrawal he was more concerned about the perception.

                      "In much of the call, Biden focused on what he called the Afghan government’s “perception” problem. “I need not tell you the perception around the world and in parts of Afghanistan, I believe, is that things are not going well in terms of the fight against the Taliban,” Biden said. “And there is a need, whether it is true or not, there is a need to project a different picture.”  https://www.reuters.com/world/exclusive … 021-08-31/

                      This man is a shallow unintelligent human being, that could care less about America or American's in my view.  He is working hard to rip down our democracy, and I truly feel that many American's have taken note of that fact.

                      These polls say it all
                      Wednesday, September 01, 2021

                      The Rasmussen Reports daily Presidential Tracking Poll, for Wednesday shows that 42% of Likely U.S. Voters approve of President Biden’s job performance. Fifty-six percent (56%) disapprove.

                      The latest figures include 24% who Strongly Approve of the job Biden is doing and 47% who Strongly Disapprove. This gives him a Presidential Approval Index rating of -23.

                      Thank God more are waking up to the danger this man brings to America...

                3. Valeant profile image77
                  Valeantposted 3 years agoin reply to this

                  Not a stretch to say any of those things since they all happened.  And I've noted Biden deserves culpability for the loss of life.  I'm not here denying my party's candidate made faults, that would be all of you Trumpers.

            2. My Esoteric profile image85
              My Esotericposted 3 years agoin reply to this

              "with clear data showing a lower mortality rate in our country than existed in comparable countries, " - OH COME on, show me the data.  America was one of the worst in terms of mortality.

              America accounts for 15% of all deaths world-wide, but only accounts for a mere 4% of the world population.  Explain that

              America ranks 21 in mortality rate overall and is #3 of countries of similar size.  Explain that

              Trump is responsible for hundreds of thousands of needless American Covid deaths, schmuck or not.  In addition, Trump is responsible for killing hundreds of Kurdish and hundreds of illegal immigrants.  So don't talk to me about the most empathetic man to hold the presidency having a wanton disregard for human life - that is the definition of gaslighting.

              1. Sharlee01 profile image85
                Sharlee01posted 3 years agoin reply to this

                A worldwide pandemic is responsible for the hundreds of thousands we lost to a virus.  And Obama is responsible for over 500,000 Syrian civilian deaths. He sat by and did nothing -- Zero.

                When Trump pulled out of Syria, no soldiers were killed and no American's were left behind. He had a plan... he is a problem solver.

                His decision could be questioned depending on one's own ideologies. His plan was executed with good results. Trump made it clear he was a president that did not believe in the troops being put in harm's way in endless wars in the middle east. It was no surprise he pulled out of Syria. It was no surprise he wanted out of Afghanistan.

                It seems you forget about Obama's red line, and the horrific problems his not keeping his word caused. Let's not forget his mistake in pulling out of Iraq. Perhaps you need to reevaluate your opinion. President's make hard decisions, and mistakes are made. However, Biden has clearly made huge mistakes when planning the withdrawal of Afghanistan. HE LEFT AMERICAN"s BEHIND...

        3. My Esoteric profile image85
          My Esotericposted 3 years agoin reply to this

          What that tells me is she is a Trumper.

          1. Sharlee01 profile image85
            Sharlee01posted 3 years agoin reply to this

            I can't understand how you could say that...  This mom lost her child, she has a right to direct the blame as she sees it. She gave a good explanation of why she laid the blame on Biden. Sorry, many in this country today agree with her totally.   And not all are Trump supporters.  The blame for this poorly handled evacuation ultimately lays at Biden's feet. He himself has in some respects (when he was not playing the blame game) taken the responsibility for the poorly planned evacuation.

            This is a grieving mother, I would assume all that lost their child in the bombing feel much the same. Two dads spoke out last night on Hannity. Are they Trumper's too?   source   https://www.foxnews.com/media/gold-star … abul-biden

            https://hubstatic.com/15699311_f1024.jpg

            1. lobobrandon profile image78
              lobobrandonposted 3 years agoin reply to this

              I don't think one has to be a Trumper to see the huge blunder Biden made with Afghanistan.

              1. Sharlee01 profile image85
                Sharlee01posted 3 years agoin reply to this

                But yet one just this morning here on HP ECO called a  Gold Star Mom a Trumper... Sad is it not?   As I said where is society headed in regard to intelligence.?  I guess these dads are also Trumpers, or maybe everyone that has a loved one in the military is a Trumper. Maybe everyone in the military is a Trumper...  And one asks why the divide in the US.  Here is a perfect example.  Does that callous response to a grieving mother not in some respect cause discomfort, should it not be cause to stop in one's tracks, and say how the hell did it get this bad?

                1. lobobrandon profile image78
                  lobobrandonposted 3 years agoin reply to this

                  I don't know the context. If she is just mad at Biden for his actions that does not make her a Trumper. One can despise Trump and still see the fault with this call by Biden.

              2. My Esoteric profile image85
                My Esotericposted 3 years agoin reply to this

                Only Trumper's would say "that people who voted for Biden “just killed my son - with a dementia-ridden piece of crap who doesn’t even know he’s in the White House.”

                I am sorry her son died for a noble cause but she just politicized his memory.  Further, I DID NOT KILL HER SON, and neither did Biden.  Biden is NOT dementia-ridden.  Biden is not a piece of crap.  Biden knows very well where he is at.  Those are ALL BDS myths.  It is Trumpers who don't understand reality and spew that nonsense and make these projections.

                It was Trump who set the stage for ISIS-K to kill her son - his actions allowed the ISIS-K to escape.  While Trump is not "dementia-ridden", he is clearly mentally ill.  It is Trump who is a piece of crap responsible for hundreds of thousands of American deaths.

              3. My Esoteric profile image85
                My Esotericposted 3 years agoin reply to this

                And no, one doesn't have to be a Trumper "to see the huge blunder Biden made with Afghanistan."  Almost everybody recognizes the mistake Biden made in executing the "retrograde", Trumpers and non-Trumpers.  At the same time, almost all people agree with his decision to end the war (I am not one of them).

      26. emge profile image81
        emgeposted 3 years ago

        I have always felt Biden is just unfit to be president and his demeanor and mien just about show he was better of feeding fish in the pond with grand children, President of the United States? no go, he is the president who will be remembered by the world as the one that presided over the demise of US influence and power.

        1. Valeant profile image77
          Valeantposted 3 years agoin reply to this

          You must have slept through the Helsinki summit where Trump literally sided with Putin over his own intelligence services.  That would have been the moment where the demise of US influence and power ceased.

          1. My Esoteric profile image85
            My Esotericposted 3 years agoin reply to this

            And the moment when I concluded Trump was a traitor to America.

        2. My Esoteric profile image85
          My Esotericposted 3 years agoin reply to this

          And you thought Trump was fit?  LOL.

      27. Valeant profile image77
        Valeantposted 3 years ago

        In another piece of positive news about Biden's policies:

        A new study from the Center on Poverty and Social Policy at Columbia University shows that the first child tax credit payment kept 3 million children from falling below the poverty line and that the child poverty rate dropped from 15.8% in June to 11.9% in July.

        1. My Esoteric profile image85
          My Esotericposted 3 years agoin reply to this

          Thanks for sharing that good news.

      28. Live to Learn profile image60
        Live to Learnposted 3 years ago

        https://share.smartnews.com/XHfuC

        Please use the information in this article, about ongoing executions, possibly hurried along by the fact that Biden provided names and locations of Americans and allies, to find a way to blame Trump.

        I always love to listen to the left explain away their culpability since they voted this current bozo into office.

        Blood is on the hands of all who pretend people aren’t dying due to the poor decisions the Biden administration has made.

        1. My Esoteric profile image85
          My Esotericposted 3 years agoin reply to this

          "a senior U.S. source told Fox News" - IS THIS same source you call liars when used by CNN?  Isn't that hypocrisy.  Why do you keep insisting on using Russian propaganda outlets as your source of information.

          And, don't forget to add Trump to your hatred.  Trump let the Taliban win by giving them everything they wanted (probably including some of the men doing the alleged executions) for nothing in return and then stripping the country of most of the American troops.

          The ONLY thing Biden MIGHT be guilty of is a faulty evacuation from which he mostly recovered by an extraordinary NEO.  (I have softened my view after hearing his explanation of why the decisions he made were made - so I will wait for the investigation now although I think it will find his administration made bad decisions.)

          1. Sharlee01 profile image85
            Sharlee01posted 3 years agoin reply to this

            "And, don't forget to add Trump to your hatred.  Trump let the Taliban win by giving them everything they wanted (probably including some of the men doing the alleged executions) for nothing in return and then stripping the country of most of the American troops."

            Really? No Really? Biden leftover 83 billion worth of weaponry for the Taliban to utilize in their terror regime. Seems you have not considered in any depth Biden's master plane to pull out of Afghanistan. A plan that got 13 Americans killed. hundreds of civilians, and a plan that left American's behind. Have you seen the man hanging from one of our helicopters?  Biden is a man that clearly has problems in regard to cognitive skills, he should be removed, he is dangerous at this point. He has proved it with his poor decision-making in many incidents, this one killed people!

            1. My Esoteric profile image85
              My Esotericposted 3 years agoin reply to this

              Sigh, gaslighting.

              1. Sharlee01 profile image85
                Sharlee01posted 3 years agoin reply to this

                Another new word you have picked up, and use frequently...
                gas·light
                /ˈɡaslīt/
                Learn to pronounce
                verb
                gerund or present participle: gaslighting
                manipulate (someone) by psychological means into questioning their own sanity.

                YOUR STATEMENT a perfect example of gaslighting ----
                "And, don't forget to add Trump to your hatred.  Trump let the Taliban win by giving them everything they wanted (probably including some of the men doing the alleged executions) for nothing in return and then stripping the country of most of the American troops."

                None of this is truly true, just your hyperbolic opinion.  As was your statement about the gold star mom... You do realize these opinions are based on zero facts or truth?

                My comment was based on reported information that is factual. I also added my VIEW or OPINION on my feelings in regard to Biden...   

                Are you saying the US did not leave 83 billion worth of various weaponry?  https://www.forbes.com/sites/adamandrze … 33a3e841db

                Are you saying it is not true that 13 soldiers have been killed as well as hundreds of civilians as a result of the Biden failed plan?  https://www.reuters.com/world/us/us-mar … 021-08-27/

                Are you saying that a man was not seen hanging from one of the helicopters the very night the US pulled out of Afghanistan? It clearly shows that helicopter was one of ours... One we left them with a nice big free sign... source keyword BLACKHAWK   ---   last I knew the Taliban did not have Blackhawks until Joe left many to them as part of all the billions of other assorted weapons.
                https://nypost.com/2021/08/31/video-sho … y-taliban/

                Truth is the truth... or is it that Joe claims it to be "we believe in truth, not facts"?

        2. Sharlee01 profile image85
          Sharlee01posted 3 years agoin reply to this

          This is so true, and he has truly broken the hearts of most Americans by leaving Americans, and other Afganies behind. The blood of so many is on his hands. And one can see he does not give a dam...

      29. Kathryn L Hill profile image80
        Kathryn L Hillposted 3 years ago

        America is an embarrassment.

        1. Sharlee01 profile image85
          Sharlee01posted 3 years agoin reply to this

          I agree he has become more of an embarrassment, and IMO he has damaged the trust other nations held for the US.

        2. gmwilliams profile image86
          gmwilliamsposted 3 years agoin reply to this

          Yes, America was/is an embarrassment-first under Obumbler and now under Biddy Biden.

          1. My Esoteric profile image85
            My Esotericposted 3 years agoin reply to this

            And THIS is not an embarrassment?  Your side apparently joining sides with the Taliban?

            https://www.cnn.com/2021/09/01/politics … index.html

            1. gmwilliams profile image86
              gmwilliamsposted 3 years agoin reply to this

              Man, stop smoking whatever you are smoking........It is adversely affecting your thinking mechanism.

      30. Valeant profile image77
        Valeantposted 3 years ago

        Sharlee used the words resign or removed.  If you're counting at home, that would be the 7,534th time since January 20th, 2021.  Quite literally, the definition of spamming the site.  Saying the same opinion over and over and over again.  Someone hit the record player, we have some skipping going on.

      31. Valeant profile image77
        Valeantposted 3 years ago

        I'd like to thank Sharlee on her latest post though for expanding her viewpoint past just the far-right leaning Rasmussen polling to the 538 overview of polls.  It's nice to see you considering views other than just those that mirror your own.

      32. Sharlee01 profile image85
        Sharlee01posted 3 years ago

        The article gives a good timeline. I have used it myself. Although it gives nothing to indicate or what lead up to Biden's plan, how he came to his decisions to pull in a very what seems like upside-down manner.   Several dates stick out and disturb me  --  May 1, 2021, and Aug 15, 2021.

        Biden had control of Kabul until Aug 15, 2021, and most of the four-month period between May 2021  and Aug 15 2021 Biden had a local airport as well as a large airbase ( Bagram) to get out the American's and the civilians, and lastly the troops.  Bidin certainly knew for many months the Taliban was on the move. ---  Hence Blinkins warning on March 7, 2021 — Secretary of State Antony Blinken tells Afghanistan President Ashra Ghani that, despite future U.S. financial assistance, he is “concerned that the security situation will worsen and the Taliban could make rapid territorial gains.”

        May 18, 2021 — The Defense Department IG releases a report for the first three months of 2021 that says the Taliban had increased its attacks against Afghanistan government forces during this period and appears to be preparing with al-Qaeda for “large-scale offensives.”

        1. peoplepower73 profile image86
          peoplepower73posted 3 years agoin reply to this

          Sharlee:  What do any of those comments and dates have to do with your statement.  I'm confused. "
          What seems like an upside-down manner" is just a generalization on your part.

          "Although it gives nothing to indicate or what lead up to Biden's plan, how he came to his decisions to pull in a very what seems like upside-down manner."

          1. Sharlee01 profile image85
            Sharlee01posted 3 years agoin reply to this

            My comment "What seems like an upside-down manner"  PP -- is just a generalization on your part. Yes, it is hence the words "seems like". My context clearly indicates I am giving a view, a simple observation at best.

            I was responding to your comment ---  the article you offered.

            I felt you were deflecting to the Article you offered on the timeline.  I thought you hoped to discuss the link you offered.   I was simply discussing Biden's withdrawal from the timeline you offered and gave my opinion on several dates that stood out. No more no less.  Did you not offer the timeline to advance the conversation in that direction?  I agreed it was a good one, and just pointed out a bit of what I noted.

            Here was the comment I was responding to. The where you posted the Timeline link.
            https://hubpages.com/politics/forum/352 … ost4201908

      33. cmoneyspinner1tf profile image88
        cmoneyspinner1tfposted 3 years ago

        I used to work for the federal government.  I was a loyal patriotic servant for almost 2 decades.  This is what I learned while working under several different administrations:

        (1) Everything was supposed to be due YESTERDAY;
        (2) Nothing gets done QUICK, even when the assignment gets put on the FAST TRACK;
        (3) Sometimes your completed project gets TOTALLY TRASHED because … there's a new sheriff in the town, i.e. a new president was elected so now you're working under a different political agenda.

        Any POTUS that can get anything accomplished FOR THE PEOPLE, within the 4 years (possibly 8 years, if they get reelected), that president is truly a MIRACLE WORKER!!

        All I ask of any president (no matter what political party) is that they DON'T WRECK THE WHOLE COUNTRY!!

        Having lived through and worked under several presidents, I honestly thought it was not possible for a president to do that much damage to US, until I saw the January 6 CAPITOL RIOT!

      34. abwilliams profile image72
        abwilliamsposted 3 years ago

        Sharlee, I admire your gumption.
        The only way you get through to those that actually believe Joe Biden is "doing great things" is to find something/ anything negative about Donald Trump and share it here. Can't find anything....make it up!
        That's how you bring this pathetic topic to a close once and for all ---exactly where it needs to be!

        1. Sharlee01 profile image85
          Sharlee01posted 3 years agoin reply to this

          I find it amazing that with all the ridiculous accusations the left has bombarded Trump with, and the fact that all have been nullified, they still hold onto them. They constantly continue to repeat them and seem to have the capability to ignore the fact that they were delt up nothing but lies, propaganda. It would seem they just hold onto uncontrollable hate for a man that was trying to make America a better place. Go figure.

          1. peoplepower73 profile image86
            peoplepower73posted 3 years agoin reply to this

            Sharlee:  It's all about certainty and uncertainty.  With Trump in power, I used to wake up every morning and not know what the boy king was going to do, whether he was going to fire somebody and replace them with someone unqualified to do the job or whatever of his 10,000 documented lies he was going to add to. To me, he was and still is uncivil and disrespectful as a person. To me, Trump is all about Trump first and he will do and say anything to feed his ego.

            With Biden, I wake up every morning and know that there is a stable and civil person in the office and is working in the traditional manner of what I expect a president to be. 

            You find Trump exciting, I find him unpredictable and creating chaos with his unfounded conspiracies and constant boasting about how great everything he does and touches is beyond anyone else in the world.

            Watching his rallies literally turns my stomach. His recounting of the ballots and inciting the riot at the Capitol is beyond what any normal president would do. You are right, his actions and behavior have been nullified, not because he is innocent, but because he has the money, power. and cunning to not get caught. Who watches the watcher? He and McConnel worked  the supreme court in his favor and had his AG's feared him.

            I'm sure you long for the day Biden is out of office and Trump is elected again. I fear Trump now because he hasn't gone away and will even fear him more if he becomes president again. You dislike Biden as much as I dislike Trump and there you have the two Americas that we live in.

            1. Sharlee01 profile image85
              Sharlee01posted 3 years agoin reply to this

              You admit to waking up every morning worried about --- not know what the boy king was going to do, whether he was going to fire somebody and replace them with someone unqualified to do the job or whatever of his 10,000 documented lies he was going to add to. To me, he was and still is uncivil and disrespectful as a person. To me, Trump is all about Trump first and he will do and say anything to feed his ego.

              The context of that statement tells me you were more worried about what Trump said, instead of what he accomplished. Can't say I agree I like and appreciated the direction the country was headed. I trusted he had our backs. Your statement clearly needs to be referenced in regard to liberal thinking and conservative way of thinking. Words versus deeds...  And perhaps you have not noted Biden lies just about every time he speaks to the public.

              With Biden, I wake up every morning and know that there is a stable and civil person in the office and is working in the traditional manner of what I expect a president to be. "

              Stable? Not sure how you have come to your opinion, you give no real thoughts to how you have come to that conclusion.  It also appears once again you could care less what is truly going on in the country, but you feel Biden gives an appearance of stability and projects a tradirional manner. Curious in my view he seems confused much of the time that he goes off-script. And his lack of addressing the countries problems shocks me to the core. He hides and ignores problems. When did a president ever continually admit he was told not to take questions, or I will get in trouble if I answer questions. I have no confidence in him or trust his judgment. Not due to what he says, but his very deeds.

              "You find Trump exciting, I find him unpredictable and creating chaos with his unfounded conspiracies and constant boasting about how great everything he does and touches is beyond anyone else in the world."

              I see you think you can predict my thoughts... I do not look for excitement in a leader, I look for strength. Trump exuded strength.  I found a home as a problem solver, I learned over his time in office I could trust his decisions due to the outcomes when he made decisions. He had a character that showed he was opinionated, but he put his opinions
              aside from when it came to problem-solving. he had innate common sence when to listen to advisers and when not to.

              Unfounded conspiracies --  When he became president the few conspiracies he talked about were set aside. It was the Democrats that offered up multiple conspiracies to cause his time in office to be marked, and keep those that bought into them in a constant spin... Causing many to mistrust him, and feel was causing many problems...The sad part problems that were created by them.  More level-headed Americans that don't get caught up with media propaganda were totally appreciating all he was getting done.

              While watching Trump's allies turned your stomach, he had many thousand show up, and enjoy his rallies.

              I will admit I want Biden out of office. I see the country in trouble on many accounts. Presidents come and go.  I could overlook Biden's words, even his demeanor (yet that scares me) I can't accept his job performance. IMO he just is not suited to be president. I actually just watched him live on TV. He read every word in a monotone. It reminded me of the  Dick and  Jane " books, hearing a first grader read the words --- so unsure of what they meant, so unsure of how the teacher thought they were doing... He was absolutely listless. head bowed most of the time. I find that hard to watch as you found Trump's rallies hard to watch.
              I will leave it there.

              1. peoplepower73 profile image86
                peoplepower73posted 3 years agoin reply to this

                Sharlee:  You are absolutely right. Conservative values and beliefs are different than Liberal values and beliefs and never the two shall meet.  I can apply just about everything you said about Biden to Trump, especially when it comes to addressing the public. But it we would get into a battle with no winners.

                You say Biden sounds like a first grade reader. That was one of the things I didn't like about Trump is his manner of speaking.  He used run-on sentences that just confused me to no end. As far as his teleprompter speeches, he sounded just like a 3rd grader. reading from Dick and Jane.

                When he went off script he rambled, like a used car salesman selling you a car he knows was defective, but forcing you to buy by it repeating words that he knew people would hang on to.

                His press conferences were terrible, especially with the Covid.  He didn't trust anybody to speak about it and he acted as if he was the expert, but he knew nothing about it.  He went through so many press secretaries because he didn't trust what any of them were saying about him. He was extremely rude in his press conferences, especially when it came to calling on what he called the "Fake New" which isn't fake at all.

                From day one he discredit the real news and is still running Fox News.  He used Sean Hannity, a former bar tender, as his senior advisor. All the B.S. about the deep state, Biden and the Ukraine and, Obama spying on him, and on, and on.

                You focus on his performance and think he did a good job.  I focus on his performance and think he was a terrible president, not only with his performance, but also as representing the morality of the office of president. I believe moral character is a function of performance, not performance is the only thing that matters in a president. Maybe that is true for a dictator, but not a president of the United States.

                So for you Biden has very poor performance and his moral character is not important to you. On the other hand, you love Trump because of his outstanding performance and moral character be dammed. And that is the  difference between a liberal and a conservative.

                1. Sharlee01 profile image85
                  Sharlee01posted 3 years agoin reply to this

                  "So for you Biden has very poor performance and his moral character is not important to you. On the other hand, you love Trump because of his outstanding performance and moral character be dammed. And that is the  difference between a liberal and a conservative."

                  Before Biden was elected I researched his history in Washington and his personal life. I found both very discouraging. He had no accomplishments in the Senate, and his reputation has been poor from the time he walked into Washington.  Not sure how you could feel his character suitable. It leads me to feel you did not do your homework, or just ignored his past.

                  The last election was just like the 2016 election, it gave two candidates with various faults. IIn 2016 I voted for someone that could blow up the traditional BS of the Washington elites. Trump did that in spades, and in his spare time, he accomplishes so much and made it all look so easy.

                  Biden IMO has failed so quickly, and it does not surprise me --- he is the same guy he always was, the guy I got to know when I did my research. He did nothing in 50 years. And know he is creating one problem after another. It's hard to even keep up with all the problems his administration is causing.

                  You are absolutely right. Conservative values and beliefs are different than Liberal values and beliefs and never the two shall meet.

                  And hopefully never will.

                  1. peoplepower73 profile image86
                    peoplepower73posted 3 years agoin reply to this

                    Sharlee:  I did the research on Trump going back to his childhood and read several books about him including his book The Art of The Deal and his interviews by Tony Schwartz, the author.  I also read his nieces book, Too Much and Never Enough.

                    What I found out is that he had a miserable childhood because of the authoritarian ways of his father and his mother was very sickly. He was a troublemaker, so they sent him to military school where he learned how to divide and conquer to manipulate people and things.  I think that is why he craves attention now, because he never received it as a child.

                    In the art of the deal, he states that he leaned how to play to people's fantasies. In his adult life, he was a failure as a businessman and his father always had to bail him out with millions of dollars spent on him. 

                    He filed for bankruptcy six times and has been sued many times, always settling out of court because he has the bucks to be able to hire the best lawyers. His mentor Roy Cohn, taught him, you neve admit to guilt, no matter how deep in the mud you get. Roy Cohn defended Joe McCarthy during the Witch Hunt Trials, Red Scare of the 50's

                    That is only part of his resume.  Could it be that the research you have done on Biden and the research I have done on Trump has influenced our thinking on both of these people?

                    But in any case, I believe Biden is not immoral and Trump is.  It should be noted, that Trump even influenced the Evangelical Christians to ignore his immorality just like you do as well.

                    I think he is a master at playing to people's fantasies. In his book, he describes how he was going to be funded by investor for a site that was not even started.  He hired a bunch of people to bring in earth moving equipment to make it look like they were working on the site.  One of the funders asked him why is one guy digging a hole and the other one is filling the same hole, He never answered and it was never brought up again and he got his funding. 

                    He and his father learned from Norman Vincent Peal, The Power of Positive thinking to always present the positive side to everything. However, he and his father took it one step further, it's O.K. to lie when presenting the positive side to things.  I think that is why he lied about the virus in January and said it was going away.  He said he was being the cheerleader for the nation and it proved him wrong in March.

                    I guess it just depends where and what you look at when doing research on Biden.

                    https://www.congress.gov/member/joseph- … amp;page=3

                    1. My Esoteric profile image85
                      My Esotericposted 3 years agoin reply to this

                      I certainly don't know what she looked at for research but I stopped counting at 42 bills which Biden {b]Sponsored[/b].  It seems he has sponsored more bills while in the Senate than any other Senator or close to it.

                      So much for "He had no accomplishments in the Senate, ".  Methinks that she has been lied to.

                  2. My Esoteric profile image85
                    My Esotericposted 3 years agoin reply to this

                    "Before Biden was elected I researched his history in Washington and his personal life. I found both very discouraging. He had no accomplishments in the Senate, and his reputation" - I know this is just your opinion, but it is not based on reality.  I can imagine what you looked at for your research, but the actual record does not match your opinion.

                    "Trump did that in spades," - Sadly, you are so right.  He blew up American democracy, American institutions, American values, American integrity, trust in America, the rule of law, and finally, on Jan 6, the Constitution.

                    1. Ken Burgess profile image69
                      Ken Burgessposted 3 years agoin reply to this

                      When Biden does something that has concrete, solid, seeable, positive results... I promise I will commend him for it.

                      There are some things I do not agree with here:
                      https://www.democrats.senate.gov/imo/me … lution.pdf

                      But there are some good things as well, lets see what Biden puts his support behind to see it through, and what gets cut out and left on the floor.

                      America can get stiffed with some garbage that makes Insurance and pharmaceutical companies even wealthier like the ACA did at Middle America's expense... or some garbage like the ARRA that had most of that money flowing to anyone other than those in need.

                      Or we can get something that can have a major impact for all Americans for the next century while also seriously addressing Climate Change.

                      We need updated electric grids across the nation.

                      https://www.nolabels.org/five-facts-on- … tric-grid/

                      https://www.energy.gov/oe/activities/te … smart-grid

                      This is one of the most critical issues facing the nation... we have seen what can happen (Texas this winter, Cali last year) when any grid fails, if we are going to move forward to a ZERO EMISSIONS existence or anything close to it more than is being proposed must be done.

                      We have a company in America that has created a whole home system, solar roof, power wall, software allowing the excess power to flow into the grid to support other homes, battery storage for wind and solar farms so that dependency on oil or gas can be reduced or eliminated.

                      Lets see if Biden puts his support behind it, or if he does Big Oils' dirty work and puts the screws to that company.

                      Nuclear energy is so advanced today (compared to what was being produced in the 60s and 70s) that there is almost no risk and no waste a full years worth of waste wont fill a 50 gallon drum.  Why not put some support into developing a few?  France is 98% Nuclear.

                      Lets see what this Green New Deal https://www.gp.org/green_new_deal
                      really brings to America.

                      Maybe I'll be surprised.

      35. MG Singh profile image62
        MG Singhposted 3 years ago

        There is really no discussion because Joe Biden by his chaotic retreat is now moving around with a bloody nose. I wonder what the Americans are going to do now as four  known terrorists who we're imprisoned by the Americans for 9/11 and released in a prisoner swap are no cabinet ministers in the Taliban government. One could take it as a joke if it was not so serious. One of the Americans senators has said Americans will have to go back to Afghanistan to complete the unfinished task. in any case Mr. Joe Biden is better off feeding fish in the pond with his grandchildren then being the president of the United states.

        1. Valeant profile image77
          Valeantposted 3 years agoin reply to this

          Seems that we accomplished the goal of ending our involvement in Afghanistan.  If they attack us in the future, we will respond in kind.  In any case, taking advice from a Trump supporter from the UAE about American foreign policy will not be high on the priority list for any American.

        2. My Esoteric profile image85
          My Esotericposted 3 years agoin reply to this

          You forget, MG, virtually ALL of the chaotic retreating was done by Trump.  You know you are talking about the Trump prisoner swap.

          I suspect the Senator is right if the Taliban allow al Qaeda back.  What I think is more certain is we are going to have a lot more drone strikes - which I hope some target those prisoners Trump released you mention. 

          BTW, are you saying it was the Taliban that planned 9/11 and not al Qaeda?

        3. Ken Burgess profile image69
          Ken Burgessposted 3 years agoin reply to this

          They have decided to have their inauguration day on 9/11.

          They have invited Russia, China, and Iran to their inauguration.

          As you may know, there are strong bonds between Russia, China and Iran.

          Afghanistan is at a crossroads between them.

          Afghanistan also has a wealth of raw materials, several which are critical for battery manufacture, which is in high demand as the world converts to EVs and Battery Storage, that China will access.

          This was set in motion prior to America's withdrawal and was one of the key reasons why the exodus had to be completed by the end of the month, China had come to terms with the Taliban.

          https://www.pri.org/stories/2021-07-29/ … ks-taliban

          https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/ch … ar-AAMFaxc

          https://www.nationthailand.com/international/40005901

          Afghanistan will now become a satellite state of sorts to China.

          China could care less about women's rights or humanitarian abuse, which means they will partner well with the Taliban,  China's concern is access to the resources, and the ability to move goods and pipelines through the region.  What the Taliban does to its people they won't care one bit about.

      36. emge profile image81
        emgeposted 3 years ago

        My.Esoteric, you are right the prisoner exchange was by Trump and he negotiated the swap but Biden was the man at the helm when the withdrawal began. What do you think would be his plan, once the terrorists are inducted as cabinet ministers. I understand the swearing is going to be on 11.  How will the administration of Joe Biden react? I will be glad to read your comments. In my view ( I visited Afghanistan twice in 2018) both Taliban and Al Qaeda are seamless organizations and that is why these men are being inducted in the cabinet.

        1. Valeant profile image77
          Valeantposted 3 years agoin reply to this

          Didn't we start the withdrawal with the drawdown of troops to 2,500?  That wasn't Biden.

          1. Ken Burgess profile image69
            Ken Burgessposted 3 years agoin reply to this

            It isn't that we left, its the succession of lies or the failures of statements given by Biden, it was the optics for two months, it was the lack of information and communication to allied nations that had their own nationals within Afghanistan.

            You keep harping back to Trump, but this has nothing to do with Trump, or Obama, or Bush.

            It was Biden that pulled the remaining air support and abandoned control of key airfields.

            It was Biden that scoffed in July that the Taliban would never take over, that there were 300,000 Afghani troops to the Taliban's 75,000, etc.

            It was Biden that said no American would be left behind in August, that any American that wanted to get out would get out.

            If things had gone smoothly, if all non-military Americans had been evacuated and all Afghani asylum seekers had been evacuated... if people hadn't been filmed falling from planes taking off from the airfield, if 13 military personnel hadn't been killed and another 18 injured in the last days of chaos.

            These things didn't happen because Biden didn't have a firm grasp on the reality of the situation in Afghanistan.  He made terrible decisions, he made terrible statements, he ignored his allies.

            1. Valeant profile image77
              Valeantposted 3 years agoin reply to this

              Can't argue with the faults Biden made, have been saying he deserves culpability.  But whitewashing how the country became destabilized in the first place is to deny that some culpability definitely goes to the previous administration as well. 

              I've asked you before, as an admitted military man, and you dodged it - Does it make any sense to draw down the troops before you evacuate American citizens?

              1. Sharlee01 profile image85
                Sharlee01posted 3 years agoin reply to this

                June 25th, 2021 --Blinken what he knew when about Taliban aggression and speedy takeover.   - 
                https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-paci … 2021-06-25
                https://www.msn.com/en-xl/asia/afghanis … ar-AALsOvr

                June 2021 ---  Taliban was already on the move ---https://www.nytimes.com/2021/06/20/world/asia/afghanistan-kunduz-taliban.html

                July 7 ---   the troops at this point were 600 in Afghanistan --- https://www.politico.com/news/2021/07/0 … tan-498671

                After the troops were withdrawn it well appears the Taliban swiftly moved to take over Afghanistan.

                July 9  ---  https://www.nytimes.com/2021/02/15/worl … istan.html

                July 7 ---  https://www.nytimes.com/2021/06/20/worl … liban.html

                Aug 14 -- Biden committed to sending in 5,000 troops
                "Over the past several days, I have been in close contact with my national security team to give them direction on how to protect our interests and values as we end our military mission in Afghanistan.

                First, based on the recommendations of our diplomatic, military, and intelligence teams, I have authorized the deployment of approximately 5,000 U.S. troops to make sure we can have an orderly and safe drawdown of U.S. personnel and other allied personnel, and an orderly and safe evacuation of Afghans who helped our troops during our mission and those at special risk from the Taliban advance"

                https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-roo … ghanistan/

                The timeline indicates that the Biden Ad, decided to draw down the troops to 600  even though they knew that the Taliban was moving swiftly to take over Afghanistan. It seems obvious the mistake was acknowledged, and 5,000 troops were sent in to try to control the evacuation.

                Any thoughts?

                1. Valeant profile image77
                  Valeantposted 3 years agoin reply to this

                  You left out the part where the Afghan forces crumbled like cookies much sooner than anyone anticipated and the 5,000 troops were a response to that.

                  1. Sharlee01 profile image85
                    Sharlee01posted 3 years agoin reply to this

                    It is clear due to Trump's agreement resulted in 5,000 prisoners being released the first were released in Mar 2020 and in Sept 2020 the final 400 were released.  The Taliban although continuing to have skirmishes with the Afgan army did not appear to get on the move until after the May 1st deadline was kept.  It is almost certain that the majority that were released rejoined the Taliba fighters, as did the 5,000 that were ultimately released after Bagan fell. We have no way of knowing what would have occurred if Biden kept to the May 1 deadline. 

                    I am of the same mind as Ken, the Biden Administration had ample time to create their plan, they ultimately are responsible for the outcome.

                2. My Esoteric profile image85
                  My Esotericposted 3 years agoin reply to this

                  Some of my thoughts are contained in responses to Emge and Don.

                  I'll give a synopsis here.  The die was cast when 1) Trump surrendered to the Taliban in February 2020, 2) Trump totally undercut the Afghan gov't and military by excluding them from the "negotiations" leading to the rapid collapse of that gov't, 3) Trump drew down the forces from 10,000 to 2,500, instead of the promised 8,500 which allowed the Taliban to quickly conquer territory, 4) Trump didn't cancel the surrender and increase optempo when the "peace talks" failed, 5) Biden didn't cancel the surrender agreement and beef the forces back up to levels higher than before Trump started his retreat. and 6) Biden not waiting until things were militarily stabilized before deciding when and how to withdraw.

                  Had any one of those things been different, we wouldn't be where we are today.

              2. Ken Burgess profile image69
                Ken Burgessposted 3 years agoin reply to this

                The key to your question is TIME.

                Biden's Administration had plenty of time to change course, to choose how to execute the withdrawal, to increase or decrease military presence, and because of this I essentially "white wash" all that happened prior to his Administration taking control.

                Its not that America withdrew, its the disastrous way it was done.

                And the only person ultimately that could have controlled or changed how it was done is the President.

                1. My Esoteric profile image85
                  My Esotericposted 3 years agoin reply to this

                  And you still didn't answer the question.

                  But it seems you agree with me that Biden needed to reverse the damage Trump did and increase out presence by about double what Trump removed.  That way he could have stabilized the country, taken back the territory Trump lost with his surrender plan to the Taliban.

                  While we and the Afghans went on the offensive again, Biden could have started an orderly evacuation of Americans and Afghan allies who wanted to leave.  At the same time, Biden should have torn up Trump's surrender document and reengaged the Afghan gov't in the process. 

                  Once we were well on our way to getting all non-combatants out along with our Afghan allies, Biden could have ordered an orderly retreat having our forces fall back onto Bagram air base.  As we turned over territory to the Afghan military, we would provide them all of the air support we can.

                  Once all of our troops have departed Bagram, I think we should have continued to provide heavy air cover so long as the Afghan forces remained viable.

                  That is what I would have counselled.

                  But given both Trump and Biden wanted to turn tail and run away, what happened was inevitable.

            2. My Esoteric profile image85
              My Esotericposted 3 years agoin reply to this

              "It isn't that we left, its the succession of lies or the failures of statements given by Biden," - [i]WHAT lies?  He was perfectly clear about what he was going to do, get out at all costs.  The only "lie" I remember him telling is that he would get ALL Americans out before our troops left. 

              He should have know that was impossible and therefore shouldn't have said even though saying "I am going to TRY to get all Americans out before our troops left".  Much more honest but is something all sides would have condemned him for.  So with one should he go with, probably the one that gets him less blowback and buoys up hopes.

              I am understanding more, as I think about it, why it was impossible for him to stay past the 31st (once he set that ball in motion).  Had he not, there would have been a lot more than 13 dead soldiers - and he still probably couldn't have gotten all of the Americans out because the Taliban would now make them hostages.

              In my opinion "These things DID HAVE TO happen because Biden didn't have a firm grasp on the reality of the situation in Afghanistan."  Had he listened to those that told him (and I have to believe there were a few who did) that the Afghans won't be able to hang until we leave, then he would have been forced to make different and better decisions.

              Given the terrible state Trump's surrender left Afghanistan in, I am not sure there COULD have been any other outcome unless Biden put back in all of those troops Trump removed.  And Biden, unfortunately, wasn't willing to do that.

              1. Ken Burgess profile image69
                Ken Burgessposted 3 years agoin reply to this

                Biden was President, he had 8 months to do whatever it is he felt was best to do... this is what it resulted in, that's it, there is no valid excuse, no 'yeah buts'.

                So if you are OK with what occurred, or if you hate what occurred, Biden is responsible either way.  That's where the buck stops, the Commander-in-Chief.

                Now if you want to look at the extraneous issues involved in this, look to China's meetings with the Taliban leadership weeks/months before America's withdrawal and how China is now working to support the Taliban and in the future will be "helping with" infrastructure, pipelines, and mining.

                1. My Esoteric profile image85
                  My Esotericposted 3 years agoin reply to this

                  Actually, Biden had TWO months (February and March), not your exaggerated eight, to do whatever it is ..." and he made his decision in April based on, among other things, what Trump left him with.

                  As to where the "buck stops", Biden, UNLIKE TRUMP, knows it stops with him.  Nevertheless, he can only make decisions based on the information available at the time and the hand his predecessor left him.  Bottom line, Trump made is such that Biden had to fail like he did or reverse course and undo Trump's damage and increase the war effort.  And renewing the war effort guaranteed the outcome we saw.

                  Not sure what you are trying to imply with your China reference.

                  1. Ken Burgess profile image69
                    Ken Burgessposted 3 years agoin reply to this

                    Please, you say you work in the Pentagon, so don't play dumb.

                    The Chinese military is currently conducting preparations for sending workers, soldiers and other staff related to its foreign economic investment program and in support of the new Taliban regime to, among other places, Bagram Airfield.

                    Eventually the Chinese will own Afghanistan, the important parts of it anyway, airbases, ports, mineral rights, and so forth, as they do with Iran.

                    China will send in its troops to prevent any security situation from overflowing into its South Western province of Xinjiang and to protect its investments in the Belt and Road Initiative; and as they did in Iran, they will carve out their areas of interest while supporting the ruling regime.

                    1. My Esoteric profile image85
                      My Esotericposted 3 years agoin reply to this

                      "Please, you say you work in the Pentagon, so don't play dumb." - I am not playing dumb.  I just don't know what that has to do with the discussion.

                      1. Ken Burgess profile image69
                        Ken Burgessposted 3 years agoin reply to this

                        The discussion is about the withdrawal from Afghanistan, why it was so poorly done by the Biden Administration, etc.

                        Nothing of this nature is done without regard to who is stepping in to fill the vacuum, who benefits.

                        https://americanmilitarynews.com/2021/0 … ghanistan/

                        At the end of August, Biden highlighted his priorities in a speech about the U.S. departure from Afghanistan.

                        "We're engaged in a serious competition with China. We're dealing with the challenges on multiple fronts with Russia. We're confronted with cyberattacks and nuclear proliferation," he said.

                        "And there's nothing China or Russia would rather have, would want more in this competition than the United States to be bogged down another decade in Afghanistan."

                        In reality, in truth, China wanted America out of Afghanistan, out of the way of the Belt and Road Initiative, out of the way of China gaining access to critical rare resources within Afghanistan.

                        The last thing China, Russia, or Iran wanted is America's continued presence in their collective "backyard".

        2. My Esoteric profile image85
          My Esotericposted 3 years agoin reply to this

          I am sorry, you still have your facts very wrong.  The truth is Trump was at the helm when he surrendered to the Taliban.  Trump was at the helm when HE withdrew 80% of our remaining forces.  Trump was at the helm when the Taliban started gaining all of that territory because his "deal" totally undercut the Afghan army's will to fight and the Afghan gov'ts will to govern.

          What Trump turned over to Biden was a country already crumbling and destined to fail - because of Trump.

          Biden was preprogrammed to get us out of a "forever" war.  Biden had two options, continue Trump's debacle or build our forces back up to do it properly.  What Biden needs to be criticize for is doing what most of America wanted - to just pull out, damn the consequences.

          I don't know how Biden will react.  As long as we have Americans and Afghan allies still there, I imagine he will play nice.  When we get them all out, I hope he sends a few well placed missiles up their asses.

      37. emge profile image81
        emgeposted 3 years ago

        This is a topic one can discuss forever and still not come to a solution but we have to look at the facts as they appear.  It does not matter if it was Trump or Biden because they are two sides of the same coin and accepted defeat and retreat. This is the important point - acceptance of defeat, which turned into the chaotic retreat has damaged American image on the global stage. People had forgotten about Vietnam but now they are adding 2 + 2 and they say that America cannot be trusted to fight any war. Afghanistan per ce is not the important  but the effect- a feeling in Southeast Asian even Eastern Europe that America cannot or will not be able to defend them. In a way it is true the Americans are keeping 30,000 troops in Korea and another 50,000 in Europe and that somebody has to ask what they are doing there, when the Americans couldn't keep even 3000 troops in Afghanistan. Those massive troops and divisions in Korea and Europe are  just to enjoy and eat free food and be a burden to the American taxpayer? what is their utility? we must understand that Russia is no longer the Soviet Union and does not have the same  power. The real power is  now with China and sadly I have to say,  the top American executive Joe Biden is compromised as far as China is concerned. Hard times are going to come on the American people because he has thrown the ideals of Roosevelt in the dustbin.

        1. My Esoteric profile image85
          My Esotericposted 3 years agoin reply to this

          Agree and disagree.

          "because they are two sides of the same coin and accepted defeat and retreat." - Trump and Biden are opposite sides of the same coin, as a rule, not the same.  You pick almost any metric and they are diametrically opposed - except your second phrase "... and accepted defeat and retreat", clearly they are same in this regard.

          "People had forgotten about Vietnam but now they are adding 2 + 2 and they say that America cannot be trusted to fight any war." - I was on the second to the last plane out of Vietnam in 1972, and it was an very orderly withdrawal.  It wasn't until a three years later that we had that embarrassing withdrawal of our embassy.  But what you conclude with is SO true.  There is no reason after Bush in Iraq, Trump, generally, and Biden's clumsy Afghanistan withdrawal for others to trust America's will to stay until the job is finished.

          "and that somebody has to ask what they are doing there, " - The enemy is different in Europe and Korea and so is the type of war that will be fought.  America has kept its promises in these cases, it is the political wars that we seem to fail at.  With that said, Trump did jeopardize the trust the world had in America even in this space by wanting to withdraw from both fronts.  Biden will probably build that back up.

          "the top American executive Joe Biden is compromised as far as China is concerned." - Simply not true, you are listening to right-wing fake news

      38. Valeant profile image77
        Valeantposted 3 years ago

        The supply chains caused by the pandemic are still an issue, hence inflation issues.

        https://www.yahoo.com/finance/news/zipp … 33269.html

        1. wilderness profile image75
          wildernessposted 3 years agoin reply to this

          I doubt the supply chains have that big an effect, although it will have some.

          The much larger cause for inflation is the huge artificial rise in wages - when wages rise, so do prices.  No company is going to simply eat a 50+% in what is usually the second largest (after materials) cost.

          1. Valeant profile image77
            Valeantposted 3 years agoin reply to this

            In this case, both of us can be right.  Wages are rising with inflation, for sure.

          2. Sharlee01 profile image85
            Sharlee01posted 3 years agoin reply to this

            Deleted

            1. Valeant profile image77
              Valeantposted 3 years agoin reply to this

              Deleted

              1. Sharlee01 profile image85
                Sharlee01posted 3 years agoin reply to this

                The Biden Administration has already put a hold on some late-2020 trucking proposals’ by Trump’s DOT. That trucker's found less stringent.

                https://www.fleetowner.com/news/regulat … ch-in-2021

                1. Valeant profile image77
                  Valeantposted 3 years agoin reply to this

                  I read five in the slideshow.  In the first, they set aside one Trump rule...I only got through the next four because of the amount of clickbait that showed up, but all four were guesses about what Biden might do based on what Obama tried to do.  That wasn't much proof of your claim, that was speculation.  And your claim that trucker's 'found less stringent' is your own unproven opinion - which is just more of your fabricated Biden spam.

                  1. My Esoteric profile image85
                    My Esotericposted 3 years agoin reply to this

                    I almost quit as well, until I found the next arrow on the picture itself and was able to skip past the click bait.  The other five were either confusing or showed Biden in a good light as being thoughtful and thorough, which Trump as clearly not.

          3. My Esoteric profile image85
            My Esotericposted 3 years agoin reply to this

            Nope, got to disagree.  The fundamental definition of inflation is that it is the rate of price increases over time.  Nothing more, nothing less.

            Some inflation is necessarily in a healthy economy.  When it becomes dangerous is when the expectation of inflation leads to more inflation.  Other wise it is just a part of the price of a growing economy.

            What causes inflation?

            - Decreased Supply
            - Increased Demand
            - Increase in costs of labor, material, and transportation

            So, to Valeant's point, supply chain disruptions ultimately increase the cost of transportation which is past on to the consumer in higher prices.

            To your point, higher wages are past on to consumers in the form of higher prices.

            Both are inflationary.  But, is it livable?

            I am not sure where you are getting the idea of "HUGE ARTIFICAL" rises in wages.  Except at the upper income levels, wages have been suppressed for decades, keeping inflation "artificially" low.  So of course when wages rise to a reasonable level, that will cause some temporary inflation, but that will pass.

            So will the inflation due to supply chain disruptions, that to will pass.

            What we aren't seeing right now, which makes the Republicans doing the Chicken Little The Sky is Falling dance seem very silly, is there is absolutely no indication in ANY of the data to show inflation is starting to feed on itself.

            That is why I though all of this hyperventilating by the Right over inflation was basically BS.

            1. Sharlee01 profile image85
              Sharlee01posted 3 years agoin reply to this

              It appears more than just the "right" is hyperventilating over Biden's economy.  It is clear the Republicans certainly are the most concerned. But it is obvious at this time independents have become more concerned a well as Democrats are losing faith In Biden's ability to do his job.

              Democrats' approval of how Joe Biden is handling his job as President dropped to a low point for his presidency.

              Democrats dropped nine points to 77% from 86% last week.
              35% independents
              39% Adults
              https://today.yougov.com/topics/politic … biden-poll

              I would say more "American's" are concerned about Biden's job performance, even Democrats at this point.

              Americans are nearly three times as likely to say the economy is getting worse as getting better

              Democrats remain somewhat positive about the economy: 33% say the economy is getting better while 22% think it is getting worse—but two-thirds of Republicans (66%) and nearly half of Independents (48%) think the economy is getting worse. The growing concern about inflation, not unemployment, may be exacerbating this. While those who think the economy is getting better — or not changing – are as likely to assign responsibility to Trump (37%) as to Biden (39%), nearly two-thirds of those who say it is getting worse (62%) place the blame on Biden.

              1. My Esoteric profile image85
                My Esotericposted 3 years agoin reply to this

                Interesting, when Trump had consistently much worse numbers, you thought he was doing Great!  Why the change of heart?  Could it be BDS?

                1. Sharlee01 profile image85
                  Sharlee01posted 3 years agoin reply to this

                  Well, bottom line, I may have thought, and frequently shared my view that I felt Trump was doing a great job, But did he win a second term? No... It would appear all the screaming many did that the polls were not to be trusted, was in the end not proven not to be valid.

                  I have been following several polling outlets, and what is somewhat different with this president's polls, most polling outlets are very similar across the board.

                  Hey, we all know polls change with public opinion, and public opinion is very fickled.

                  1. My Esoteric profile image85
                    My Esotericposted 3 years agoin reply to this

                    While the polls did get it right for Biden, they totally blew it when it came to down ballot.

                    The Generic Congressional Poll, normally a good bellwether of how one Party or the other will do in the House heavily favored the Democrats.  Well, we all know how that turned out.

                    There seems to three reasons this happened:

                    1.  Democrats focused too much on the national election ignoring the minorities.
                    2.  The trend of voters not splitting their ballots came to a halt for 2020 and many people who couldn't stomach Trump anymore, still wanted Republican representatives.
                    3.  For the second time, pollsters missed the Republican turn-out and didn't account for that in their polling.

                    1. Sharlee01 profile image85
                      Sharlee01posted 3 years agoin reply to this

                      Makes good sense...

      39. Valeant profile image77
        Valeantposted 3 years ago

        Think Sharlee might have a point here that people are doubting Biden a bit more.  She's using a pretty neutral poll to make her point.  But comparatively, MyEso does have a point as well.  That even though Biden's numbers have slipped, his bottom is still just as good as Trump's top approval ratings.

        1. Ken Burgess profile image69
          Ken Burgessposted 3 years agoin reply to this

          It shouldn't be about Biden being better than Trump in the polls.

          It should be about Biden getting things done for Americans, and the American people believing in what he is doing.

          1. Valeant profile image77
            Valeantposted 3 years agoin reply to this

            It's not me who raises polling every week.  I could care less about polling.

            But the polls are a reflection of how many Americans believe in what he is doing.  People dinged him for the loss of life pulling out of Afghanistan.  But he finished the job of getting us out of Afghanistan, something most of America favored.  He's doing infrastructure.  He's attempting to fight climate change.  He's trying to create blue collar jobs.  He's trying to get the country vaccinated even with the far-right running a disinformation campaign against that effort.  He's bringing down the murder rates, he's lowering the child poverty rates.  He supports police while also listening to the plight of minorities.  All of that is better than Trump, regardless of the polls.

            1. Sharlee01 profile image85
              Sharlee01posted 3 years agoin reply to this

              A whole lot of "he's doing...  True that many supported pulling out of Afghanistan, but I need not show the polls on what Americans feel about his plan, his poor decision making. I note you did not mention the border encounters for Aug --- In our past conversations you compared Trump's border stats to Biden. Once again Biden wins the trophy --  208,000 up 233% Aug 2019. The flow of illegal migrants did not slow all summer, which is normal for previous years.  Biden continues to ignore this horrendous problem. He is trying to pursue an infrastructure bill, (So did Trump, he worked with the Democrats to try to get a good bill, but it was never passed).  So, hopefully, an infrastructure bill is passed, but it has not been this far. In my view, I think he will get one, both parties need a win... And I think this will be the one accomplishment Biden will end up in the win column.  All he is doing in regard to climate is lip service and a handful of reversing Trump's EO. He has not in any respect brought down the murder rate ."Last year, the US saw the biggest increase in the murder rate in decades. The estimated total number of homicides rose to levels not seen since the late 1990s, even as the overall crime rate declined. So far, the spike has continued into 2021: Murders are up nearly 15 percent so far this year compared to the same period last year, based on data from US cities collected by crime analyst Jeff Asher."  https://www.vox.com/22578430/murder-cri … 9-pandemic   
              https://www.vox.com/22578430/murder-cri … 9-pandemic

              He is failing to get people vaccinated thus far. Child poverty --- he tossed money at the problem, which really solves very little in the long run but causes more people to depend on Federal Government child support for their off-springs. In regard to food stamp dependency. "Aug 15, 2021 — Biden Administration Prompts LARGEST Permanent Increase in Food Stamps ... The jump in benefits, the biggest in the program's history"
              (Once again another historic record)
              https://www.nytimes.com/2021/08/15/us/p … tamps.html

              "Listening" plight of minorities --- please...  What has he done to help minorities? food stamp, a bit of free money.  Is this the kind of help minorities need or is this just what they have been getting to keep them POOR, and dependent? 

              None of what you offered up is better than what Trump provided Americans. IMO,  In reality, Biden has done nothing but talk... And when he talks some of us cringe at his state of confusion, and mistruths.

              He needs to put up or just shut up.  He is an embarrassment and has put the country in a very weak position on the world stage. Can't imagine what's next. I would think he will be pushed to the wall by North Korea, and China very soon.

              1. peoplepower73 profile image86
                peoplepower73posted 3 years agoin reply to this

                Sharlee:

                "I would think he will be pushed to the wall by North Korea, and China very soon."

                No, you expect him to be pushed to the wall.  You want him to fail at every  move he takes.  You simply don't like the man.  Just like I don't like Trump and I hope he fails as well.  Why is it if you like someone, you look at the glass half full and if you don't like them, you look at the glass half empty?  That's what these forums are all about.

                1. Sharlee01 profile image85
                  Sharlee01posted 3 years agoin reply to this

                  " No, you expect him to be pushed to the wall"  (That's why I used the words
                  "I think".)

                  "You want him to fail at every  move he takes.  You simply don't like the man"
                  ( Due to his poor job performance this statement has become true. I certainly have no wish for the country to "fail" suffer in any respect. I am not one that hopes to cut off my nose to spite my face.)

                  Biden has quickly shown himself to be a spiteful, and illogical man. He in my opinion is dangerous to the country. How much more does one need to witness, to realize this man can't do the job of a president?

                  1. My Esoteric profile image85
                    My Esotericposted 3 years agoin reply to this

                    "Biden has quickly shown himself to be a spiteful, and illogical man." - [i]I just can't understand why you keep projecting Trump's faults onto Biden who is, in fact, a very decent, competent, patriotic, American - unlike your hero Trump.

              2. Valeant profile image77
                Valeantposted 3 years agoin reply to this

                Where to begin...

                I guess the easiest is to, again...for the millionth time...get you to acknowledge the UNIQUE INDIVIDUAL statistics to understand that the encounter numbers are inflated because of Trump's Title 42 policy.  The retry rate is double the historical rate, hence the inflated encounter numbers.  Try giving the whole story when you fake your outrage in any response to me.

                And another blatant lie that Biden ignores the issue.  In the CBP report, it notes many policy changes regarding immigration.  Try and let those sink in when you read it...not that I think you actually did read the official government report since your links are all opinion pieces.

                Trump never worked with democrats on infrastructure.  That's another huge lie.  He called a meeting, threw a hissy fit because he was impeached, and the issue was never spoken of again.

                Again, with regards to the murder rates, you fail to look closely at the data.  In the first quarter, as Biden was getting his people into place, the rate rose 23%.  In the second quarter, it was down to 10%.  That's what's called an improvement.  Please go deeper into the data so you can actually realize what is happening in this country.

                Yes, he tossed money at child poverty.  Having had money tossed at me, I can tell you how much that helps a person stabilize their life by getting out of debt, or investing in something to build wealth.

                As for vaccinations, I wouldn't call the far-right's resistance to getting vaccination a failing.  I would call it a success as there will be less of them around in the 2022 and 2024 elections.  He has been a great success among the smart people of the nation with 88% of Democrats being vaccinated against just 55% of the GOP as of August 24.

                Listening is not going out and denying that systemic racism even exists.  And you know what population is on the most food stamps?  Go do some research before making your racist claims in thinking it's minorities.

                It doesn't surprise me that your BDS prevents you from acknowledging that creating blue collar jobs, fighting against climate change, aiming to end wealth inequality and poverty, while following the science during the pandemic are not better for the country.

                The embarrassment was a twice impeached reality star that got laughed at when he went abroad.  Who convinced his cult to believe the same lies to undermine democracy and attack their own Capitols.  In essence, he is the leader of a Domestic terror cult against the United States.

                1. Sharlee01 profile image85
                  Sharlee01posted 3 years agoin reply to this

                  The US Department Of Homeland Security. as well as Aug unaccompanied children
                  Unaccompanied Children
                  Encounters of unaccompanied children decreased 1 percent, with 18,847 encounters in August compared with 18,958 in July. In August, the average number of unaccompanied children in CBP custody was 1,435 per day, compared with an average of 1,353 per day in July.
                  PLEASE NOTE THE STATS FOR AUG 2021 have now been added...
                  US Department of Homeland Security
                  U.S. Customs and Border Protection
                  https://www.cbp.gov/newsroom/stats/sout … encounters

                  "Trump never worked with democrats on infrastructure.  That's another huge lie.  He called a meeting, threw a hissy fit because he was impeached, and the issue was never spoken of again."

                  Your incorrect ---   April 30, 2019  "Democratic congressional leaders say President Trump has agreed to a $2 trillion infrastructure plan. But — and it's a big but — there was no agreement on how to pay for such a wide-ranging and expensive proposal.

                  "Trump's push for major infrastructure bill faces GOP opposition"
                  "President Trump’s election-year push for a $1 trillion infrastructure spending bill to boost the struggling economy faces strong opposition from Senate Republicans.

                  GOP senators are warning that Trump’s expected proposal is too “rich” and would be a “heavy lift” in Congress, especially considering significant policy differences between Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) and Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.)."    https://thehill.com/homenews/senate/503 … opposition

                  The leaders say they're waiting for Trump to outline his ideas for that in three weeks.

                  Emerging from a White House meeting that lasted some 90 minutes, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., said they were "very excited about the conversation that we had." Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., called it "very constructive," adding that it is clear that Democratic leaders and the president "want to get something done on infrastructure in a big and bold way." 
                  https://www.npr.org/2019/04/30/71867723 … how-to-pay

                  Trump certainly worked to make every attempt to get an
                  infrastructure bill.

                  "Listening is not going out and denying that systemic racism even exists.  And you know what population is on the most food stamps?  Go do some research before making your racist claims in thinking it's minorities."

                  I certainly never claimed we don't have a systemic race problem. I have said the Democrats have promoted the problem and promised "free money", and that IMO free money does not solve the problem. I feel the Dems have kept poverty alive and very well... 

                  "It doesn't surprise me that your BDS prevents you from acknowledging that creating blue collar jobs, fighting against climate change, aiming to end wealth inequality and poverty, while following the science during the pandemic are not better for the country."

                  Biden is all spin, nothing but lots of words.  Words do not impress me.

                  " The embarrassment was a twice impeached reality star that got laughed at when he went abroad"

                  Let's talk about how American's feel about Biden ---   Have you been watching college football --- I guess I need not repeat the chant directed at Biden.  And by the way, they did make jokes about old Joe at the G7--- and are still laughing.  Maybe you need to watch a bit of Sky news...
                  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gsIxP-c83ok&t=29s
                  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_SzYTjyWUiU

                  And then it seems he can't go anywhere  without hecklers
                  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9EH_cKkLhhY
                  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CQpmr7ZGVVs

                  The links I offered clearly proved the murder rate is astronomic at this point and has been since Biden became president.

                  It would seem Biden's job approval is once again slipping this week --- The latest figures include 25% who Strongly Approve of the job Biden is doing and 46% who Strongly Disapprove. This gives him a Presidential Approval Index rating of -21.

              3. My Esoteric profile image85
                My Esotericposted 3 years agoin reply to this

                You keep saying that "Biden continues to ignore this horrendous problem. " but you never explain what is so "horrendous" about it.

                It doesn't impact Covid in the US hardly at all, Republicans, Latinos, and Republican governors are responsible for all of the sick and dying people from Delta.

                We need the immigration for a healthy economy.

                They are LESS likely to commit serious crimes.

                They DON'T take American jobs (they do the ones you would never consider doing yourself.)

                They generally try to be better citizens than the people born here are.

                So again, where is this "horrendous" problem you keep talking about?

                1. Sharlee01 profile image85
                  Sharlee01posted 3 years agoin reply to this

                  I have no problem filling jobs that people come in legally to fill. Merit is the optimal way to fill jobs. I am sure you are aware at this point we have accumulated unaccompanied children in Bidens for 8 months in office. Children that we are now responsible for. Encounters of unaccompanied children with 18,847 encounters in August compared to closely compare with the 18,958 in July. In August, the average number of unaccompanied children in CBP custody was 1,435 per day, compared with an average of 1,353 per day in July.

                  Illegal immigrants cause an enormous drain on state and federal funds. Accommodating the needs of endless numbers of poor people, unskilled illegal migrants undermine the quality of education, healthcare, and other services for Americans -- Due to overcrowding, language barriers.   American workers are left to compete against job-desperate illegal immigrants,  as a rule unfairly depressing the wages and working conditions offered to legal residents.  Illegal immigration overwhelms communities by crowding classrooms, consuming already limited affordable housing, and increasing the strain on precious natural resources. Open borders can compromises our nation’s security, allowing potential terrorists to hide in plain sight. 

                  You have a right to your opinion, and it's clear you do not find the border situation a problem. I find it a big problem and hope the Biden administration will make an attempt to solve the problem.

                  1. My Esoteric profile image85
                    My Esotericposted 3 years agoin reply to this

                    "I have no problem filling jobs that people come in legally " - Except that Trump and your side effectively turned off that spigot as well.

                    You keep SAYING that the border is a big problem, yet the reasons you give are bogus.

                    "Illegal immigrants cause an enormous drain on state and federal funds." - NO they DON'T -

                    MYTH #1: Immigrants take more from the U.S. government than they contribute

                    FACT: Immigrants contribute more in tax revenue than they take in government benefits


                    "Due to overcrowding, language barriers.   American workers are left to compete against job-desperate illegal immigrants,  as a rule unfairly depressing the wages and working conditions offered to legal residents.  " - THAT is NOT TRUE either -
                    MYTH #2: Immigrants take American jobs

                    FACT: Immigrants workers often take jobs that boost other parts of the economy


                    https://www.pbs.org/newshour/economy/ma … -s-economy


                    "Illegal immigration overwhelms communities by crowding classrooms, consuming already limited affordable housing, and increasing the strain on precious natural resources. " - ONCE AGAIN, this seems to be not true according to the Brookings Institute investigation.

                    https://www.brookings.edu/blog/brown-ce … resources/

                    So, I am still waiting for REAL problems.

              4. My Esoteric profile image85
                My Esotericposted 3 years agoin reply to this

                Why weren't you all over Trump's butt for doing nothing but causing problems the first year of his presidency?  While it took Trump until the end of 2017 to get his problematic Tax Scam passed, Biden has done several things - not the least of which is to reverse a bunch of devastating EOs Trump enacted.

                So, in seven months:

                - Then there is getting out of Afghanistan, which most Americans wanted.  Even though its implementation sucked, he still did it (unfortunately)
                - Getting a bi-partisan infrastructure bill almost across the finish line, which most American wanted
                - He rolled out vaccinations far beyond anybody's expectations or what was planned by the Trump administration.  He made huge gains until Republicans ground it to a mere trickle.  And don't go blaming Biden for that UNLESS you agree he should have forced it down every American's throat.
                - He rejoined the WHO
                - He rejoined the Paris Climate Agreement and took charge of saving the world from a climate disaster where Trump gave up our authority and actually tried to make things worse.
                - He sped up getting the J & J vaccine on-line.
                - Got the Covid-19 Hate Crimes Act passed
                - he passed the $1.9 trillion Covid relief bill,

                All of this and more in less time than it took Trump to do one thing.  But yet you complain - can you spell BDS?

                1. Sharlee01 profile image85
                  Sharlee01posted 3 years agoin reply to this

                  Hirono Introduced the Covid-19 Hate Crimes Act.  Biden had nothing to do with that law. Besides signing it.

                  I was very disappointed with the US rejoining the PCA and WHO...  I think both do almost nothing constructive but talk and collect funds.
                  The bottom line is he can't get many to take the vaccine. he's the President this failure is on him.

                  And the Stimulus was a gimmie.

                  It is downright scary to think about what China and North Korea are up to, after witnessing the disastrous Afghanistan withdrawal.  His entire cabinet seems unequipped to do their jobs. 

                  I would think you would toss in the towel in regard to defending Biden.  Even I did not imagine this bad of a  train wreck.

                  1. My Esoteric profile image85
                    My Esotericposted 3 years agoin reply to this

                    "Hirono Introduced the Covid-19 Hate Crimes Act.  Biden had nothing to do with that law. Besides signing it." - Isn't that true for virtually EVERY bill that Trump signed?  Why do you criticize Biden for this but give a pass to Trump.  Isn't that being very unfair?

                    1. Sharlee01 profile image85
                      Sharlee01posted 3 years agoin reply to this

                      It is my understanding, anyone can write a bill, but only members of Congress can introduce legislation. Our tradition shows traditionally a president can request a bill, such as the annual federal budget or tax legislation, social programs. So, no I am not ready to give credit to any president for bills unless that president requested the given bill -- such as 'Build Back Better"... That would be "Biden's baby" or his infrastructure bill.

                      Hirono wrote the bill, I have read nothing that would lead me to think the bill was sponsored by Biden.   

                      So, it is your prerogative to give Biden credit for the  Covid-19 Hate Crimes Act. I give the credit to Hirono...  It's our Congress that ultimately hash over bills, and must ultimately agree and pass bills.

                      1. My Esoteric profile image85
                        My Esotericposted 3 years agoin reply to this

                        Of course your understanding is correct.  But if you aren't going to give credit to Biden for something he pushed Congress to pass, then you need to take back all of the credit for the few laws he signed.

                        https://www.cnbc.com/2021/03/19/biden-u … icans.html

          2. My Esoteric profile image85
            My Esotericposted 3 years agoin reply to this

            That is only because you don't want to be reminded of what a terrible job Trump did.  You know as well as I that if Trump had ever had high poll numbers, you would be touting them to high heavens.

      40. Valeant profile image77
        Valeantposted 3 years ago

        In a focus group of swing-state voters that went from Trump in 2016 to Biden in 2020, only 1 in 10 thought Trump would have done any better on the Afghanistan withdrawal.  All of them noted the pandemic response would be a bigger issue than Afghanistan heading into the midterms.

        1. My Esoteric profile image85
          My Esotericposted 3 years agoin reply to this

          It may be temporary, but Biden's average job performance has started to improve.

          The things that will help Democrats in 2022:

          - The ability to focus (we hope) on down ballot competitions
          - Trump fatigue
          - Improving economy
          - Covid fading into the background
          - Republicans embracing the Big Lie
          - Republican response to Jan 6
          - Republican assault on voting rights
          - Republican assault on women's rights
          - The impact of at least the bi-partisan infrastructure deal
          - Hopefully the impact of the rest of the infrastructure deal (I think it will get through at about $2.5 trillion)
          - Afghanistan will be in the rear view mirror
          - The general understanding the Democrats are much better for America than the Trump Party

          1. Sharlee01 profile image85
            Sharlee01posted 3 years agoin reply to this

            Really, I watch the polls daily, and what I see is they are declining daily, weekly.

            Friday, September 17, 2021

            The Rasmussen Reports daily Presidential Tracking Poll, sponsored by The ANTIFA by Jack Posobiec, for Friday shows that 43% of Likely U.S. Voters approve of President Biden’s job performance. Fifty-five percent (55%) disapprove.

            The latest figures include 25% who Strongly Approve of the job Biden is doing and 46% who Strongly Disapprove. This gives him a Presidential Approval Index rating of -21. (see trends)

            1. My Esoteric profile image85
              My Esotericposted 3 years agoin reply to this

              You should look at the RealClearPolitcs averages.  I just took a look and it reflects a very tiny downturn, which is the Rasmussen daily poll.  But you expect that poll to show Biden down.

              The reason I don't pay attention to your PAI is that it is solely based on Rasmussen polling.  Were it an average of a bunch of polls, then it would have some meaning.

      41. Sharlee01 profile image85
        Sharlee01posted 3 years ago

        You do realize President Trump and Frist Lady Melania both had COVID and had natural immunity? This man time after time made claims that the vaccine would be the very thing that would get rid of the virus. 

        The First Family's Christmas greeting to the Nation--- Trump called the vaccine "a miracle"... He plays up the vaccines, how the vaccine would save millions and millions of people... he has promoted the vaccines frequently for many months. I can offer youtube after youtube, in all of his recent rallies in the past couple of months where he tells people to get vaccinated.
        https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y9IoUm5v9OQ
        https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i46co3L5gPM
        Sept 19 2020 --   https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Uu8JgYdhXcY

        (CNN)Former President Donald Trump and former first lady Melania Trump received the Covid-19 vaccine at the White House in January, a Trump adviser told CNN on Monday.

        It was not immediately clear which vaccine or how many doses each had received. The revelation comes after the former President urged his followers to get vaccinated for the virus during his speech at the Conservative Political Action Conference in Orlando, Florida, on Sunday, telling the audience, "How unpainful that vaccine shot is, so everybody go get your shot."

        The CPAC was on Feb 25, 2021.

      42. Valeant profile image77
        Valeantposted 3 years ago

        Stock markets have corrections.  Seems the two best presidents for market stability have been Clinton in his first term and Obama in his second.


        https://hubstatic.com/15722134_f1024.jpg

      43. Valeant profile image77
        Valeantposted 3 years ago

        3-9-20:  Dow falls 2,013 points
        3-12-20:  Dow falls 2,352 points
        3-16-20:  Dow falls 2,997 points

        Dow falls 700 points since Thursday and it's a crisis!

        1. Ken Burgess profile image69
          Ken Burgessposted 3 years agoin reply to this

          " a bevy of concerns out of China and in Washington spurred a steep selloff across risk assets. Traders also turned their attention to the start of the Federal Reserve's latest two-day monetary policy-setting meeting.

          Contracts on the S&P 500 added to losses after the blue-chip index logged its worst day since May by the end of Monday's session. Dow and Nasdaq futures traded little changed. Earlier, the Dow recovered losses of more than 900 points, or 2.8%, to close lower by about 1.8%. The Nasdaq shed more than 2%.

          Fears of a financial contagion that could ensue if China's largest real estate developer China Evergrande defaults under its massive debt burden served as one major point of concern for investors, triggering a global equity rout that put the S&P 500 on track for its third straight weekly decline. This built on worries from earlier this month as Wall Street pundits revised down economic and profit growth expectations for the remaining months of the year.

          And investors are facing additional uncertainty over debates in Washington to raise the U.S. debt ceiling to prevent a government shutdown and U.S. government defaults on federal payments, and avoid what Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen said would become "widespread economic catastrophe.""

          It broke below the 200 on Friday, it continued its downward trend today.

          As I mentioned, the Big Boys may decide to pull their profits while they can, before the barn catches fire, and in doing so they will help facilitate the crash.

          Monday would have gone green if this were not likely to happen.

          I track 50 stocks in a variety of sectors.... each one is in the red today.

          That is a very rare thing.

          1. My Esoteric profile image85
            My Esotericposted 3 years agoin reply to this

            What I read is that 1) the main fear is a Lehman Bros event happening in China and 2) unlike the real Lehman Bros, the market was not in a panic.  It might be if China doesn't bail out their stock market, which, given they are a dictatorship, they are likely to do.

            I don't think the debt ceiling is influencing the market - YET.  Give it 7 or 8 days.

            1. Ken Burgess profile image69
              Ken Burgessposted 3 years agoin reply to this

              I agree, its not a definitive "crash" yet, but it is looking like it will head that way any day now.

              1. My Esoteric profile image85
                My Esotericposted 3 years agoin reply to this

                When I looked earlier, it was up a bit, but I just saw that it closed down 50 more points.

                I don't see a classic Head and Shoulder formation yet.  If, in the not too distant future, it makes a strong push back to almost 35,000 on high volume and then falls off one more time, you might have your crash.

                Or, of course, it could just keep heading down for awhile.  But it can still get as low as 31,950 and still not be in a real "correction" territory.

                1. My Esoteric profile image85
                  My Esotericposted 3 years agoin reply to this

                  Well, at the opening bell, the market has recovered about a 1/3 of its previous loss.  The question is, will it hold throughout the day?

                  1. Valeant profile image77
                    Valeantposted 3 years agoin reply to this

                    I forget who is doom, and who is gloom here at this site.  Must be rough living in all that paranoia that the country is going to end at any moment.

                    1. Sharlee01 profile image85
                      Sharlee01posted 3 years agoin reply to this

                      The polls indicate I am not alone... Joe's job approval is at 37% with independents. 43% with General population.  And job approval 31% in Iowa.  Looks like many have some of the same fears I have.

                      1. My Esoteric profile image85
                        My Esotericposted 3 years agoin reply to this

                        Make that singular "poll", probably Rasmussen.  The RCP average has Biden at 46 approve and 50 disapprove.  That is up from a low of 45 approve and 49.9 disapprove.

                      2. Valeant profile image77
                        Valeantposted 3 years agoin reply to this

                        When you say 'polls,' you don't mean polls.  You mean one far-right poll - Rasmussen.  Aside from a few instances last week, you have only ever quoted that one poll that is made up of people like yourself.

                        Back here on planet Earth we take into consideration Rasmussen as well as many other polling for an aggregate.  And yes, Biden is down considerably from election day.  But plenty of America still believes he is an improvement from the previous administration, as noted by the comparative numbers.

                  2. My Esoteric profile image85
                    My Esotericposted 3 years agoin reply to this

                    And it ended up recovering about 1/2 of the loss.

              2. My Esoteric profile image85
                My Esotericposted 3 years agoin reply to this

                Well, the Dow is up over 400 points this morning and has, so far, recovered all of its losses from a few days before.  It still needs to grow a bit more to get out of the Head-and-Shoulder formation.

              3. My Esoteric profile image85
                My Esotericposted 3 years agoin reply to this

                How far do you think the market fall today when the Republicans vote against raising or delaying the debt ceiling?  Will America's credit rating be lowered based on that Republican refusal or will they wait until they force America into actual default?

                1. Sharlee01 profile image85
                  Sharlee01posted 3 years agoin reply to this

                  Correct me if I am wrong but the Democrats can pass this bill all by themselves.

                  Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell discusses a process Congressional Democrats can use to pass a budget and raise the debt ceiling without Republican votes.
                  https://www.realclearpolitics.com/video … r_own.html

                  Democrats, control 50 seats in the Senate and have made it clear they plan to use the budget tool known as reconciliation to pass the spending plan without any Republican votes.   AS you know Reconciliation allows for certain tax and spending-related bills to pass without the 60 votes required for most legislation.   McConnell wants Democrats to use the same tools to address the debt limit.

                  At this point, the Democrats are insisting that the debt limit should not be a partisan issue.

                  It is clear, the Republicans will not be responsible for sinking the country into insurmountable debt.   I pray they hold their ground.

                  IMO the Democrats are at this point becoming a very dangerous party and it is clear they are being unrealistic not only on their debt limit demands,  but the ridiculous Build Back Better Bill. Their agenda is un-American and unrealistic.  Biden + Democrat Congress = ruin.

                  I don't want to belong to a party that would support the downfall of America. The Republicans had better hold the line...  If any of this mess passes, let the Democrats bear the entire fault.

                  1. Valeant profile image77
                    Valeantposted 3 years agoin reply to this

                    You are the un-American and dangerous one.  You admittedly were convinced to march on your state Capitol, many in that crowd going unmasked and violating CDC guidelines of social distancing while confronting police.  You participated in the trial run for January 6.

                    The Democratic bills raise taxes on the rich and corporations who currently pay way less taxes than at any time in the previous hundred years where they were still prosperous as a means to pay the cost - hence, they are zero-sum.  All while creating blue-collar jobs and fighting against climate change, taking care of seniors, and helping raise children.  If those things are so un-American, then what the heck do you stand for?

                    Yes, the Democrats have enough votes to pass the debt limit and government funding bills necessary to prevent a default.  Is the debt limit not something that could affect the entire country?  So, basically, the Republicans want to be responsible for crashing the country's economy, this after the Democrats set aside partisanship to raise it three times under the Trump presidency where $7.8 trillion in debt was added to the country.

                    1. Sharlee01 profile image85
                      Sharlee01posted 3 years agoin reply to this

                      "You are the un-American and dangerous one.  You admittedly were convinced to march on your state Capitol, many in that crowd going unmasked and violating CDC guidelines of social distancing while confronting police."

                      Where in the world did you get the idea I marched o Michigan Capitol?  I attended with a group of Republicans. We were on the very periphery in a van. The day was cold and wet, and most just stayed n their cars.  I witnessed no violence of any form, I did not see any reports on my local news that there was violence. People did enter the Capitol, and yes were legally carried guns. No one was shot or hurt. Lots of yelling in the police's faces. As at all protest.  I don't need to address masks. People have a perfect right to refuse to wear them. I myself followed all suggested mitigations until they were discontinued. and still, wear a mask when necessary.  I have every right to attend a protest, but this was my first. And the way things are going, it most likely will not be my last.

                      I gave you my opinion in my last comment in regard to the need for social programs. I am totally against the rich paying for the poor. The Biden Tax hikes would be passed on to the poor and middle class in the way of paying more for everything, and making less in their paycheck due to the business owner passing costs onto them and the consumer.

                      And the Democrats will need to own the huge debt ceiling they hope to push through to pay for all their social BS.  Without congressional permission to continue taking out debt —  the buck stops here... Yes, it is necessary to raise the Debt ceiling, because the government spends more money than it takes in via taxes. 

                      The Republicans are not willing to pay the price that Biden has put on his agenda, all the pie in the sky promises he has made. Due to all the recent cash needed to get the country through the pandemic.

                      Democrats in Congress are pleading with Republicans to vote for a rise in the debt ceiling to accommodate their $5 trillion social welfare and green energy spending plans.

                      If Republicans agree to raise the debt ceiling without any concessions from Democrats, they will be aiding and abetting the big-government socialism agenda of the left.

                      Let them ruin the country, perhaps it would be an end to all the far left BS once and for all.

                      1. Valeant profile image77
                        Valeantposted 3 years agoin reply to this

                        I got the idea that you attended the march on your own state Capitol from you.  You admitted being programmed to attend.  And being unmasked, right in the face of police, during a deadly pandemic is putting them in danger.  Many in that group were guilty of that.

                        I would certainly like to see the data supporting your claim that higher tax rates lead to higher prices or less in the paychecks of workers.

                        The necessary rise in the debt ceiling is due to budgetary reasons under the current budget, which belongs to Trump.  That big-government socialism you claim was mostly due to Trump's budget.  Biden and the Democrats have laid out the manner for which they will pay for the infrastructure and climate change plans.

                        And if the country's economy ends up being as stable as it was when Obama left office with a doubling of the stock market and record job growth, then I'll take that kind of ruination every day.  All you have are false claims that democratic policies lead to doom and gloom when all the data always confirms those policies are better for the country.

                        Under Republicans, there is always less job growth, higher deficits, more debt, and a greater increase in wealth inequality.

                  2. gmwilliams profile image86
                    gmwilliamsposted 3 years agoin reply to this

                    +1000000000000000000000,  the Democratic Party is going to cause smart Americans to elect a STRONG PRESIDENT who will take no quarter.  Hopefully this future president will crush stupid social infrastructures and create mandatory work programs-either able bodied parasites work or go to prison.

                    1. Sharlee01 profile image85
                      Sharlee01posted 3 years agoin reply to this

                      Yes, GM, the Democratic party is on its way out. They have shown that the party can't solve problems while creating huge problems. And on top of that hope to pass two huge bills that would cause astronomic problems.

                      Polls are showing people that voted for Biden are very sorry they did. Biden and his cronies have been making fools of themselves from day one.  It's one failure after another, and a man that they are once again hiding as much as possible.  He is such an embarrassment.

      44. Valeant profile image77
        Valeantposted 3 years ago

        The denial to believe that most Republicans do not still believe the big lie, when the figures consistently note that to be well above 50% is truly amazing.  Not wanting to show up to the Capitol and risk becoming part of another huge crowd that gets arrested does not disprove how many brainwashed Trump supporters are out there.

        2022 is still 2020 to many of us as Trump lets us know which of his sycophants we should let nowhere near elected office.  Until he moves on from the big lie, which he continues to spew, him and those that support that line of thinking remain the greatest threat to Democracy that currently exists.

      45. Valeant profile image77
        Valeantposted 3 years ago

        The party split that exist in both parties will be interesting to see in 2022.  The moderates and progressives on the left and the traditional versus Big Lie Republicans on the right.

        There's a reason that 70% of Democrats said they were looking forward to voting in 2020.  And with January 6, you added motivation to that group.  At first, it was the lies and failings about Covid.  Now, it's so clear that Trumpism is a threat to Democracy itself.

      46. gmwilliams profile image86
        gmwilliamsposted 3 years ago

        Oh yeah, bumbling Biden has done so many wondrous things:

        (1) created more debt due to free handouts of checks
        (2) going to make middle class Americans even poorer by having the IRS snoop into people's personal savings so they can finance parasitic social programs
        (3) letting more unskilled, diseased illegals in my country
        (4) the Afghanistan fiasco
        (5) going to tax Americans into socioeconomic poverty
        (6) making America the laughing stock-weakening America

        1. Valeant profile image77
          Valeantposted 3 years agoin reply to this

          1.)  Same thing that was done twice with Trump, where were you then?
          2.)  IRS is going to hold tax evaders accountable.  Why do you believe some Americans should not have to pay taxes like the rest of us?
          3.)  Your country? 
          4.)  Where were you when this Afghanistan fiasco began with Trump's decision to negotiate with only the Taliban and draw the troops down to so few before we got out all our citizens and allies?
          5.)  Going to tax the wealthiest Americans back at rates they can easily afford, levels still less than half of what they were paying back in the 60's.
          6.)  People have been laughing at America since they elected a reality show host who was clearly a functional illiterate.

        2. Sharlee01 profile image85
          Sharlee01posted 3 years agoin reply to this

          100%, and he is certainly on a roll...

        3. My Esoteric profile image85
          My Esotericposted 3 years agoin reply to this

          (1) Yep, always better to let people suffer, that is the conservative mantra - SOCIAL DARWINISM
          (2) I guess I can chalk that one up to a Republican lie
          (3) a perfectly racist statement
          (4) Yep, he did more or less botch that, not that he had much of a choice other than to surge more troops in.
          (5) I guess I can chalk that one up to a Republican lie as well
          (6) He can't do that, Trump beat him to it.
          ,

      47. wilderness profile image75
        wildernessposted 3 years ago

        According to tonights news he has scattered some e12,000 Haitians through the country with instructions to report to immigration. 

        Anyone want to bet how many do that?  10?  5?

        Next question is how many of the 30,000 remaining in Mexico will also be welcomed into the country.  Best guess - 30,000

        1. Valeant profile image77
          Valeantposted 3 years agoin reply to this

          Go ahead and post your source for that 'news.'

          1. My Esoteric profile image85
            My Esotericposted 3 years agoin reply to this

            It's probably that paragon of fake news, Tucker Carlson or Sean Hannity.

            But I will provide sources he NEVER will (because they disprove his false claims).

            https://trac.syr.edu/immigration/reports/562/ (81% show up)

            https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics … -hearings/ (14% don't show up)

          2. Sharlee01 profile image85
            Sharlee01posted 3 years agoin reply to this

            US clears encampment of Haitian migrants in Texas
            Homeland Security chief says about 12,400 migrants were allowed to seek asylum, and another 2,000 were sent back to Haiti.
            Here is a good article that quotes Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas said Friday, Sept 24, 2021.

            Full article -- https://www.rollcall.com/2021/09/24/us- … -in-texas/

            "Nearly 30,000 migrants have been encountered at the Del Rio sector along the border since Sept. 9, with the highest number of people held at one time reaching roughly 15,000, Mayorkas told reporters during a White House briefing."  “It is unprecedented for us to see that number of people arrive at one discrete point in the border in such a compacted period of time. That is unprecedented,” Mayorkas said.

            "Approximately 12,400 of those individuals have been allowed to pursue immigration cases from WITHIN  the U.S.," Mayorkas said

            "Roughly 8,000 migrants decided to return to Mexico voluntarily, while another approximately 2,000 were sent back to Haiti under a public health directive known as Title 42 that allows border agents to “expel”

            Not sure where the remaining 7,600 are? Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas said Friday, fully a good journalist finds their whereabouts. That is a lot of missing Haitians.

            1. My Esoteric profile image85
              My Esotericposted 3 years agoin reply to this

              How reliable is the starting number and how "rough" is the number that went back to Mexico? 

              Biden now has a second stain on his administration - using Title 42 to deport those Haitians.  It was unconscionable when Trump did it and it hasn't gotten any better now.  (Another few thousand, and he will catch up with Trump)..

              1. Sharlee01 profile image85
                Sharlee01posted 3 years agoin reply to this

                How reliable -- The interview was with Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas s. Are you saying you don't believe him?  I would think the numbers have been skewed with, that the numbers are actually higher
                .
                Today Sept 26 --   "Mayorkas says as many as 12K out of 17K migrants have been released into U.S., and ‘it could be higher’ as DHS  -- "Approximately, I think it's about ten thousand or so, twelve thousand," Mayorkas told "Fox News Sunday" when asked how many have already been released. He then acknowledged that this number could very well go up as the 5,000 other cases are processed."   
                https://www.foxnews.com/politics/mayork … her-as-dhs

                Stain? We are in the middle of a pandemic. The fact is Trump decided to use 42  in March 2020 when COVID was discovered to be spreading rapidly He problem solved. This is what we hire a president to do.

                The program allows the United States Border Patrol and U.S. Customs to prohibit the entry of persons who potentially pose a health risk, and was created in 1946...  Title 42 expulsions are removals by the U.S. government of persons who have recently been in a country where a communicable disease was present.

                Biden should have never lifted 42, and perhaps people from Haiti and another country would have not at this point tried to enter the US due to knowing their trip would be a poor decision while we were using 42 to turn all away.  Biden does not think past deciding what flavor of ice cream he is awarded for the day.

                Use a bit of common sense.  I don't want anymore unvaccinated to deal with at this point --- I don't care where they come from Haiti or the Moon  !

                We need those borders closed at this point until we rid the Country of COVID. Biden's policies an open door type catch and release is an invitation. 

                Stain -- using 42 is about the only thing he has finally done right. Sorry, I see your lodging as very flawed.

          3. wilderness profile image75
            wildernessposted 3 years agoin reply to this

            Channel 2 in southern Idaho.  National news with Nora O'Donnell.

            1. Sharlee01 profile image85
              Sharlee01posted 3 years agoin reply to this

              I posted a good source for all to check out --- quotes from  Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas. Actually, your 12.000 number was very close. 12,400 Haitians were released with their golden ticket to be heard for asylum.

              I guess Val and ECO just did not respect the quotes from security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas. Well, the guy never seems to have his Sh-t together. It took the Biden WH four days to come up with the stats on the Bidenville  Haitians .

              https://hubpages.com/politics/forum/352 … ost4204626

              1. wilderness profile image75
                wildernessposted 3 years agoin reply to this

                I saw that you did - good job.

            2. My Esoteric profile image85
              My Esotericposted 3 years agoin reply to this

              Is THIS the quote you are referring to?

              Del Rio, Texas — More than 12,000 migrants — mostly Haitians — have crossed the Texas border and are waiting at a makeshift camp under the Del Rio International Bridge to be processed by Border Patrol.?

              That is not what you said she said.

              1. peoplepower73 profile image86
                peoplepower73posted 3 years agoin reply to this

                Sharlee: 

                You wrote this:

                "According to Nielsen live-plus-same-day data, Fox News averaged 2.66 million total viewers and 417,000 adults 25-54 in primetime last week. That’s more than CNN and MSNBC combined. It’s also +17% in total viewers and +16% in the demo from what the network averaged the previous week (week of Sept. 6), which started with a low-rated Labor Day"   https://hubpages.com/politics/forum/352 … s-soaring-"

                There in lies the problem.  The real fake news is Fox News and Trump MAGA news.  The fact that there is more viewership with these outlets is the problem in this country.  There are more people getting brainwashed from them than receiving real news from CNN and the MSM. 

                This is apparent by the number of people who still believe the election was stolen from Trump and that Jan. 6 was a peaceful protest. The ballots have been counted every which way from Sunday and Trump is still propagating his big lies and they are believing them, thanks to  Fox and company.   Just because there are more people who believe Trump and Fox propaganda does not make it the truth. It's all about ratings and sponsorship, not the truth.

                And with Trump, he is the face of the GOP and they like it that way, because they will get re-elected by not saying or doing anything about Trump.  Sometimes to do nothing is to do everything.

                The GOP governors are using Trump's lies about the stolen election to change their voting laws so they are in their favor for the next election. That is a mover towards destroying representative democracy.  Why even have elections?  Just let the GOP win everything.  That is what they are trying to do.

                1. GA Anderson profile image84
                  GA Andersonposted 3 years agoin reply to this

                  Real news from CNN? Do you really believe that?

                  I think CNN is as bad as Fox when it comes to spin and misdirection. The only difference, as I see it, is just that they spin in different directions.

                  GA

                  1. Sharlee01 profile image85
                    Sharlee01posted 3 years agoin reply to this

                    Hi GA.

                    I put together a thread on the subject. I have noted over the pasted couple of months that the media network ratings of the left-leaning networks are plummeting. I had hoped to glean a few opinions on why this is occurring at this point.

                    Unfortunately, there has been little interest in the subject.  Myself, I think Fox's ratings are up perhaps due to many American's over the past couple of months who may have come to realize that they are not being offered all the current news. I mean, with so many crises going on presently, does the majority of American's that tune into cable news still want to hear everything COVID?  Are many waking up to realize they are just not aware of much else than COVID?

                    My thread was not to indicate one cable network is "better". Just wanted to envoke thought --- why is one (Fox) showing such a surge in viewers.

                    Could this be a good thing? Perhaps, some walking over the battle lines, due to wanting to hear what the other side is being made aware of, news that they are somewhat deprived of?

                    1. Valeant profile image77
                      Valeantposted 3 years agoin reply to this

                      We don't need to watch as much news because we understand we elected someone capable of solving the issues when they arise.  We're out living our lives, not glued to far-right media sources or spamming this website with seventeen different threads out of the 50 listed on the first page.

                      Instead of watching the news, many of us have decided to try and deprogram the far-right brainwashed followers of Trumpism before they attack our own country again.

                      1. Sharlee01 profile image85
                        Sharlee01posted 3 years agoin reply to this

                        Ok..

                  2. peoplepower73 profile image86
                    peoplepower73posted 3 years agoin reply to this

                    GA: 

                    Welcome to the America of today.  A country where even if you lose an election, you are still the winner. You may think CNN is as bad as Fox.  That is your opinion. I switch between CNN and Fox all the time. I don't believe CNN lies to their viewers as much as Fox does. 

                    Fox appeals to one type of audience who believe no matter what they and Trump and company say or do, they will believe it with blind faith

                    On the other hand, CNN viewers are more likely to question everything not only from CNN, but also Fox news.  Therefore, it is not only what the anchors are saying, but how their audience reacts to what is said.

                2. Sharlee01 profile image85
                  Sharlee01posted 3 years agoin reply to this

                  Not sure why you think Fox is hung up on anything not current. Biden provided ample news, current news. This may be why so many have decided to move over to Fox. They do report all the news, they don't continually drum one bit of news, and make sure not to report
                  all the news.

                  CNN and the MSM. do not report all the news. They report what they want you to hear.  This has never been so evident as in the past two months.

                  Fox provides current news above all. CNN is keeping viewers in a COVID bubble.  Although an important subject, there are so many more pertinent things happening that are very newsworthy.  And they don't involve Trump... We have a new president, a new administration. 

                  The election is well over, move on. If Trump runs in  2024 he will be open game. Right now we have several huge messes going on. Not sure how anyone could stay stuck on Trump.

                  1. Valeant profile image77
                    Valeantposted 3 years agoin reply to this

                    You're not sure?  He is hosting rallies and repeating the same lies that led to the violence on January 6.  Those same repeated lies have led to dozens of bills restricting people's right to vote.  Those lies are costing taxpayers millions of dollars in fruitless audits and equipment in voting machines that need to be replaced.

                    And many of us still want him prosecuted for the many obvious crimes he committed while in office.  Crimes that helped protect a country that attacked our elections, crimes that tried to corrupt a second one.  That he is still considering a run in 2024 makes him more than relevant to current news cycles as he, and his domestic terrorist followers who have left reality behind, are the greatest threat to American democracy currently in this country.

                    1. Sharlee01 profile image85
                      Sharlee01posted 3 years agoin reply to this

                      He has not announced he would be running. I assume he may.

                      What crimes? You are aware more and more is being discovered on the mistruths that the Denacratstried to promote. The Russia BS, and the Taxes BS. Let's; the fact it if Trump committed any crime he would have been charged...  When he is charged with a crime let me know... 

                      How about we concentrate on Biden, his crazy son, and pay for play...
                      Lot's of fun stuff to take about, with lots of emails, videos.  Pretty good evidence that old Joe and his grifter son could be in lots of trouble.

                      However to be fair -- I will leave the investigation up to the FBI. I mean they have like three of Hunter's laptops... LOL

                      1. Valeant profile image77
                        Valeantposted 3 years agoin reply to this

                        Stupid statement - if Trump committed any crime, he would have been charged.  Barr protected him from being charged with any crime.

                        His foundation is already charged with a crime, they have been indicted.  Pretty clear Georgia will be filing charges about Trump's call to Raffensperger.

                        There is definitely some smoke with Hunter Biden's actions.  I read your thread and checked into the claims.  There could be something there and I agree that the FBI should look into it.

                        Homeland Security whistleblower trying to tell you that the administration manipulated the information on Russia, the Border, and White Supremacy to help Trump.
                        https://www.yahoo.com/entertainment/dhs … 09833.html

                        In essence, Trump's team wanted to downplay the Russian assistance, fabricate immigrants as terrorists and downplay the threat of white supremacists.

                      2. My Esoteric profile image85
                        My Esotericposted 3 years agoin reply to this

                        What crimes?  LOL.  Here are ones he is subject to as president.  There is substantial evidence to back each up.

                        1.  Obstruction of Justice: Multiple prosecutors concur Mueller presented enough evidence to get a guilt verdict should it go to trial.

                        2. Something along the line of "inciting to riot" or "insurrection" (which DOJ may be investigating)

                        3. Attempting to rig an election in Georgia (where the Atlanta DA is actively investigating)
                        From Valeant's source:

                        These charges potentially include criminal solicitation to commit election fraud; intentional interference with performance of election duties; conspiracy to commit election fraud; criminal solicitation; and state RICO violations. Our conclusion is based entirely on publicly available reporting and evidence, including the recording of Trump’s call to Raffensperger.

                        4. In the July indictment of yet another Trump confident, Tom Barrack, evidence was submitted that suggests Trump could be facing the following federal offenses (some of which I already mentioned): conspiracy to defraud the United States, obstruction of an official congressional proceeding, inciting an insurrection]/u], [u]seditious conspiracy and other less serious ones.

                        The following article by a federal prosecutor summarizes it this way:

                        I defy a single person with any prosecutorial experience to plausibly argue that there is insufficient evidence to investigate whether a crime "may have occurred." I have confidence that the Justice Department has "adequate predication" that Trump may have committed an election-related crime and is investigating accordingly.

                        https://www.msnbc.com/opinion/doj-offic … n-n1276610

                        Oh yeah, then there all of those state investigations that are on-going.

                  2. My Esoteric profile image85
                    My Esotericposted 3 years agoin reply to this

                    If you look at the viewership of Fox, NewsMax, AON, and the like you will find that the majority are uneducated conservatives.  On the other hand, it is liberals and independents, many educated, who watch one or more of the MSM.

                    According to Pew, here is who watches Fox as opposed to MSM:

                    Fox: 53% are 50+
                    MSM: ~ 40% are 50+

                    Fox: 48% Men (surprising)
                    MSM: ~ 49% Men

                    Fox: 43% HS or less
                    MSM: ~ 30% HS or less

                    Fox: 24% College Degree
                    MSM: ~ 36% College Degree

                    Fox: 23% Rich
                    MSM: ~ 30% Rich

                    Fox: 33% Poor

                    Fox: 60% C; 23% I; 10% L
                    MSN: ~ 27% C; 36% I; 32% L
                    CNN: 32% C, 30% I, 30% L

                    Now I find this VERY interesting.  Pew asked four questions about current events and tallied the number right.  This is how it broke down.

                    3 or 4 Correct: (sorted by % that got 4 correct)
                    Rachal Maddow - 71%
                    NPR - 62%
                    Daily Show - 61%
                    Hardball - 60%
                    Colbert Report - 61%
                    O'Reilly Factor - 59%
                    Sunday Shows - 56%
                    Hannity - 63%
                    MSNBC - 51%
                    CNN - 41%
                    Fox - 45%
                    Network Evening News - 42%
                    Local TV News - 38%
                    Morning News - 38%
                    https://www.pewresearch.org/politics/20 … audiences/

                    "The election is well over, move on." - Sorry, the election is NOT over according to your hero.  He is still trying to overturn.  When will HE Move On?

                    1. Sharlee01 profile image85
                      Sharlee01posted 3 years agoin reply to this

                      "If you look at the viewership of Fox, NewsMax, AON, and the like you will find that the majority are uneducated conservatives"

                      The point I was making in my tread is that for reasons unknown Fox's ratings over the past months have skyrocketed. While the other two especially CNN are doing really poorly.

                      My thread simply asked for thoughts  --- why is this occurring.

                      It is my opinion that the majority of new viewers that decided to tune in to Fox,(that clearly are new viewers just when considering the increase n their rates and the decline in CNN an MSN) may have discovered they just are not getting all the news. I mean we have had some pretty big newsworthy problems that both far-left networks only lightly reported. They remain to push COVID, and although an important problem --- people have become sick of hearing about it.

                      I think many more have realized they are just not getting all the news, only far-left news. Fox does give all the news...  I also think some finally see left media is shielding  Biden... Not cool

                      1. My Esoteric profile image85
                        My Esotericposted 3 years agoin reply to this

                        "The point I was making in my tread is that for reasons unknown Fox's ratings over the past months have skyrocketed. " - Could it be all the viewers they lost to other right-wing propaganda outlets are simply retuning.  In other words, they are not new, just people who were fed up with Fox were even more fed up with where they moved to.

                        "Fox does give all the news..." - As well as some fake news which outlets like CNN, MSNBC don't do.  Further, since I watch a lot of CNN as well as read other sources, I have not seen 1) any instance where those outlets didn't report something important (like Fox didn't show Biden's voter speech) and 2) I see them being just as tough on Biden as they were on Trump