Danger: Biden's Presidency akin to the Weimar Republic redux?
I was disturbed by an article I had recently read. The main theme emphasizing similarities between the current administration and the period during the 1920's after WWI and before the deluge of Hitler's ascendency in Germany.
Yes, the article is from Salon but its content is still food for thought. Biden's administration may well constitute democracy's last gasp in America. The rise of Trump and the anti-democratic idea of Trumpism that will take over if Biden fails will insure that the Right will lock down tyranny and despotism well into the future.
https://www.salon.com/2021/06/06/joe-bi … k-lessons/
Under these dire circumstances, Biden must resist morphing into a pussie. We are beyond the "carrot" with the application of the "stick" being long overdue for the DINO senators of Arizona and West Virginia. They are in reality Republican double agents.
Joe Manchin can not be so stupid to believe that any compromise presented from him on the John Lewis Voting Rights Act to Republicans outside of shelving it in its entirety will have any effect.
I say both these recalcitrant SenAtors be forced fed hemlock and made vulnerable, politically. Let the acerbic voice of VP Harris be given full reign, as Biden realizes that he needs to take the leash from his figurative attack dog.
The stakes are too high to have these two hold up the administration's agenda, that was agreed to by the majority of the electorate.
To keep the coming GOP despotism away like a bad cold, Biden needs to hit the ball out of the park. Anything in the way should be eliminated with extreme prejudice.Not sure if you realize when push comes to shove, there are about ten Dems in congress that will not get rid of the filibuster. Biden's Bills will never see the light of day without being trimmed down to make both sides happy. The writing was on the wall all along, the Republicans are apt to filibuster all of Biden's bills. Joe knew this when he made all his get the vote pandering promises. Knowing he can just say --- I did my best it was the Republicans, they caused gridlock.
I am yet to understand why you feel the Republicans are ready to ravish democracy. You need to consider which party is pushing to reorganize our Government into something we won't recognize in the end. a government that would be all-controlling.
Republicans are pushing back to save our democracy. This is America, and my faith is solidly on those that hope to keep it clear of socialism. I am so pleased to see the newfound guts the Republicans have finally discovered. They have some fire in their bellies, and it's about time.
Biden is a very simple man, he has been his entire career. Always in the background, on the sidelines.
"Anything in the way should be eliminated with extreme prejudice."
Eliminated... Realy, and you feel the Republicans are enough of a threat that they need to be eliminated?
So, glad I sit on the other side of the fence. This kind of thinking is non-sensical in my view. Biden is going down very quickly, quicker than I thought he would. He does not solve problems he creates them.What we are witnessing is history repeating itself from the medieval period. We don't have parties, we have warring clans, like the Scots had or the English had in the war of the roses that lasted 32 years. They are waring against each other.
We are supposed to have a democracy and a republic. However, Trump is playing the man who would be king. We can't have a democracy and a republic when the rule of law is not followed and enforced properly. The constitution is only as good as those who comply with it. Trump uses freedom of speech for his rallies and for his insurrection.
Trump is acting like a deposed king who will not accept that he has been deposed, but wants to overthrow the existing king so that he will be in power over the land again. He tried with his insurrection on Jan. 6 but it was not successful.
The senate is like the king's court who pay fealty and allegiance to him just like in the medieval period. They go to Mar-a-Logo to kiss his ring.
The senate is in control, even though they are the minority, but both sides have the weapon of choice which is the filibuster and neither side is willing to give it up with fear that it will be used against them.
Trump now believes he will be king sometime in August. I believe he truly believes that and so do his followers. They and his followers in congress admire the power he wields and can't wait for the next insurrection that he will try to mount.
In the mean time, Trump will have his rallies and they will kiss his ring and pay allegiance to him, instead of the current president who abides by the constitution of America, a democratic republic that does not allow a monarch to rule the land.Realistically I believe you are correct in your assumption we don't any longer have parties, we have warring clans. I don't really see a speedy end to the existing division. The "left and the right" have never been so far apart in their ideologies, values, or beliefs It would seem there is not a thread of common ground.
I can't know what other Republican individuals are thinking. I can offer what I think, my view... As a Republican, I feel as you that our democracy is at risk, but due to an administration that IMO trying to usurp our Constitution, totally ripping apart a Government that has done us well for hundreds of years. So, we are on different sides of the fence. I am very satisfied with not giving the Government any further overreach. I hope to see us return to more sensible spending, and worry more about American's problems for a bit. Yes, we need to be good neighbors but we need to be more concerned about our own. As most other countries do.
Trump has played a huge part in the Republican party becoming more unified and becoming a stronger party, less afraid to buck some conservative values. The party does support Trump. This is very apparent.
In my view, we need the filibuster at this point. I hope it will stop the Dems bills that I consider overburdened with earmarks that we can't afford to pay for at this time. I am not insulting all the earmark projects but after a pandemic and the already huge outstanding debt, we should cool the free free free for a while. I don't approve of the handouts, I want a country where people thrive due to citizens that give to tax coffers not take... Americans have the right to work and enjoy the freedom of enjoying the spoils of hard work. We pay taxes, and yes have programs for those that can't or don't work. The filibuster could, and most likely will be the very tool that protects the very values I hold dear.
I consider the Biden administration a danger, a danger that could deprive me of my rights due to government overreach. One only needs to read the current bills Biden hopes to push through. I have tried to take the time and read as much Biden's HR1 bill. This bill as written will take away the rights of the individual states to make their voting laws. The Government would be dictating our voting laws. And it would be the Biden administration that would be composing these laws. This is not expectable to me in any respect or would it be if it were Republicans doing it.
I am not sure where you got the idea Trump feels he will be reinstated as president. I did make an attempt to find a statement from Trump where he said that. This might be some form of a rumor that is being spread by media or social media. I have not even heard Trump was going to run again. I hope we have someone in the party that is young and incorporates some Trumpism in their policies.
I still support Trump's America First agenda and appreciated the job he did while in office. I did not appreciate much of his rhetoric, but at times could see his frustration.
I think the media through propaganda resulted in many hateing this man.
Never reporting anything he accomplished but only his hyperbolic words.
And most of the time changing the context of his words.
I watched this occur and quickly started researching media reports, finding many reports to be shamefully misleading.
I stopped following Network news. I feel very comfortable saying I was not caught up with the brainwashing that occurred. I will also say the media was outstanding in pushing lies and getting a large majority of the population to buy into the hate.
So, yes we have a war, and it will become more and more evident over the next few years. Both sides are dug in and ready for a fight.
Did you ever sit back and consider what Trump did to earn your dislike?
Can you come up with anything, I mean anything that was not about something Trump said --- words?
He said this, and he said that too... Think about it. Did he start a war, or put our economy in the tubes, did he try to change any of our voting laws, or try to spend enormous amounts of taxpayer's money to promote social programs? Did he constantly pander to blacks? Did he walk away from a contract we made with Canada to complete a pipeline, and turn around and lift sanctions on the Russian pipeline that both Obama and Trump sanctioned. All of the above actions are things I find unacceptable. These
What did Trump do other than saying words, you did not want
to hear...Sharlee:
S-Realistically I believe you are correct in your assumption we don't any longer have parties, we have warring clans. I don't really see a speedy end to the existing division. The "left and the right" have never been so far apart in their ideologies, values, or beliefs It would seem there is not a thread of common ground.
M- At least we agree on something.
S-I can't know what other Republican individuals are thinking. I can offer what I think, my view... As a Republican, I feel as you that our democracy is at risk, but due to an administration that IMO trying to usurp our Constitution, totally ripping apart a Government that has done us well for hundreds of years.
M-Please tell specifically how is Biden usurping our Constitution and ripping apart our government that has done well for hundred of years.
S-So, we are on different sides of the fence. I am very satisfied with not giving the Government any further overreach. I hope to see us return to more sensible spending, and worry more about American's problems for a bit. Yes, we need to be good neighbors but we need to be more concerned about our own. As most other countries do.
M- Biden is what I call an inclusive president. Trump is what I call an exclusive president.
Politics and our economies are on a global basis, not on an exclusive America First Basis. As I see it Biden is bringing back our treaties that are necessary for peace. Technology is the force that will bring more interaction between countries, not less. It is the natural order of things whether we like it or not. Trump levied tariffs on China that we as importers have to pay for, not the other way around. Off shore labor is not going away because corporations need the profit margins.
S-Trump has played a huge part in the Republican party becoming more unified and becoming a stronger party, less afraid to buck some conservative values. The party does support Trump. This is very apparent.
M- That’s not the way I see it. They support him, because that is how they are going to re-elected in the mid-terms.
S-In my view, we need the filibuster at this point. I hope it will stop the Dems bills that I consider overburdened with earmarks that we can't afford to pay for at this time. I am not insulting all the earmark projects but after a pandemic and the already huge outstanding debt, we should cool the free free free for a while. I don't approve of the handouts, I want a country where people thrive due to citizens that give to tax coffers not take... Americans have the right to work and enjoy the freedom of enjoying the spoils of hard work. We pay taxes, and yes have programs for those that can't or don't work. The filibuster could, and most likely will be the very tool that protects the very values I hold dear.
M-As I said before both sides use the filibuster as a weapon. As far as debt goes, each president inherits the national debt from the previous president. Trump inherited Obama’s debt and Biden inherited Trump’s debt. The only real income the government has is taxes. They pay for all our expenses that are accrued. I got mine you go get yours is a conservative mentality with a built in fear of social communism. Nothing is further from the truth.
S-I consider the Biden administration a danger, a danger that could deprive me of my rights due to government overreach. One only needs to read the current bills Biden hopes to push through. I have tried to take the time and read as much Biden's HR1 bill. This bill as written will take away the rights of the individual states to make their voting laws. The Government would be dictating our voting laws. And it would be the Biden administration that would be composing these laws. This is not expectable to me in any respect or would it be if it were Republicans doing it.
M-What you are calling voters rights is really bills to restrict voters right based on the fraud of the election being stolen from Trump. They are cranking in restrictions that will ensure that they will win.
Have you ever heard of the American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC)?
https://www.alecexposed.org/wiki/ALEC_Exposed
S-I am not sure where you got the idea Trump feels he will be reinstated as president. I did make an attempt to find a statement from Trump where he said that. This might be some form of a rumor that is being spread by media or social media. I have not even heard Trump was going to run again. I hope we have someone in the party that is young and incorporates some Trumpism in their policies.
M-https://www.nbcnews.com/think/opinion/trump-mike-lindell-why-august-election-conspiracy-should-worry-republicans-ncna1269912
S-I still support Trump's America First agenda and appreciated the job he did while in office. I did not appreciate much of his rhetoric, but at times could see his frustration.
M- Yes but did Trump’s bad outweigh his “good?”. Good is a relative term, what you may think is good, I may think is bad.
S-I think the media through propaganda resulted in many hateing this man.
Never reporting anything he accomplished but only his hyperbolic words.
And most of the time changing the context of his words.
M-If I never saw the media, I would still hate him as person. As I see him as a person, he is immoral, lying, egotistical, narcissistic, self-centered, and even cruel at times. This is just for openers. I could go on and on.
S-I watched this occur and quickly started researching media reports, finding many reports to be shamefully misleading.
M-Trump to me is and always be shamefully misleading. I would like to see your reports.
S-I stopped following Network news. I feel very comfortable saying I was not caught up with the brainwashing that occurred. I will also say the media was outstanding in pushing lies and getting a large majority of the population to buy into the hate.
So, yes we have a war, and it will become more and more evident over the next few years. Both sides are dug in and ready for a fight.
Did you ever sit back and consider what Trump did to earn your dislike?
Can you come up with anything, I mean anything that was not about something Trump said --- words?
He said this, and he said that too... Think about it. Did he start a war, or put our economy in the tubes, did he try to change any of our voting laws, or try to spend enormous amounts of taxpayer's money to promote social programs? Did he constantly pander to blacks? Did he walk away from a contract we made with Canada to complete a pipeline, and turn around and lift sanctions on the Russian pipeline that both Obama and Trump sanctioned. All of the above actions are things I find unacceptable. These
What did Trump do other than saying words, you did not want
to hear...
S-What did Trump do other than saying words, you did not want
to hear...
M-I may have not wanted to hear those words, but his followers did. I told you before, Trump plays to people's fantasies. Words have meaning and power. Trump used words as power as a candidate when he slandered 16 republicans that were his opponents. He lied about Obama being a Muslim from Kenya. That played right into the black hate groups hands. He emboldened them and the results is BLM.
He has lied and misinformed over 10,000 times. He serves as the model and poster boy tor the right. Their thinking is if Trump can lie and cheat so can we. His rallies of words have emboldened those who normally keep their hate below the surface, but he has brought it out in supporting white superiority groups. I could go on and on, but I let this link speak for itself. I actually found 50 things, but I didn't want to bore you.
https://www.pastemagazine.com/politics/ … e-care-act"S-I think the media through propaganda resulted in many hating this man.
Never reporting anything he accomplished but only his hyperbolic words.
And most of the time changing the context of his words."
I noted you did not address how Trump's policies hurt the Country. So, it would appear you have as I said learned to dislike Trump, not due to his job performance, but his words. Word's that much of the time were construed by media to be taken out of context.
The bottom line I prefer a president that solves problems. I could care less about words at this point. I want results, not commissions, I want to see progress, not words that promise progress. I want a president that can handle problems quickly... The country is in a mess, and it is due to an administration that is clearly not equipped to solve problems.
We have a huge border problem and the threat of a new strain of COVID coming in from the UK. We have a president that hoped to spend trillions of dollars on social programs that we just can't afford at this point we are seeing inflation and recession. There is a lack of consumer confidence. https://www.usnews.com/news/economy/art … tion-fears
Biden can hide, but outside his door, we have problems brewing.
I knew he would fail, but I never dreamed he would go down this quickly.Sharlee:
What was so great about Trump's job performance? He issued tariffs on China that we paid for in imports. He issued some sanctions against Russia that have no effect. They are now using cyber attacks against us. He ran the national debt up to 24 trillion. He deregulated things that should be regulated, like the EPA. He played musical chairs with his cabinet members. If they did not support him and pay allegiance to him, they were fired and replaced with incompetent people who kissed his ring. There was no day-to-day certainty to Trump. I like to wake up in the morning with some sense of certainty. With Trump, every day was a drama and scandal of some sort. That may seem exciting to you, but to me it was pure chaos.
This is what you said about Biden:
S-I can't know what other Republican individuals are thinking. I can offer what I think, my view... As a Republican, I feel as you that our democracy is at risk, but due to an administration that IMO trying to usurp our Constitution, totally ripping apart a Government that has done us well for hundreds of years.
M- I can say the same thing about Trump with his conspiracy theory about if he didn't win, then the election is rigged and stolen from him. He is still ripping the country apart with his recounting of the ballots and still looking for fraud within in the ballots.
The Capitol insurrection had a motive behind it. It was to stop the certification of the votes and it involved paramilitary troops who were there for one purpose to kill Pelosi and Pence. He gave those rioters purpose. They were filled with hate for what he has been telling them in his rallies.
And yet he still continues on today with his hate filled rallies, even though he has been banned on twitter and facebook. What is the purpose of scrutinizing the ballots in Arizona? What are they going to do if they find fraud? Who are they going to report it to? And yet Trump praises them for their work. Is he going to use that as his justification to overthrow Biden?...talk about ripping the country apart!!!
https://www.wbur.org/npr/1003282315/sil … mpaign-traI find it frustrating making lists that provide how I come to an assumption or opinion. However, I will offer a few of why I feel the Biden administration will in some respect chip away at our Constitution.
First -- and this to me is deceitful and a very clear ploy of the Democrats to make an attempt to move into a one-party government.
Granting Statehood to Washington, D.C. ---
The movement to grant statehood to Washington, D.C. is very close to becoming a reality. The House of Representatives recently passed H.R. 1, a bill which is a partisan laundry list of voting-related matters, which included a statement of support for D.C.’s statehood effort. (I have read this bill it is available online)
However, there are good reasons why the District should not be made into a state. The Founders settled on placing our nation’s capital as a federal city that would not be unduly influenced by a state government. As James Madison explained in The FederalistNo. 43, “dependence of the members of the general government, on the state comprehending the seat of government, for protection in the exercise of their duty, might bring on the national councils an imputation of awe or influence, equally dishonorable to the government and dissatisfactory to the other members of the confederacy.”
You may be asking, how does this involve the Constitution? It would take an amendment to the Constitution to alter the District’s status as a federal city.
Article 1 of the Constitution. This gave states the responsibility of overseeing federal elections. HR1 would usurp this right, and the Federal Government would have all authority to make one universal set of voting laws. (I am very aware the supreme court has provided amendments in regards to voting laws.) But never has an administration hoped to make voting laws a Federal Government right.
These are in my opinion something I don't support. Last I looked I was an American citizen, and still have a voice. I can honestly say I don't agree with any of Biden's agenda but infrastructure. The far-left ideas are non-sensical in my view. I don't appreciate Government overreach in healthcare, education, or voting rights. I don't approve of one party dictating what the Government can print and spend. I don't appreciate a Government that does not solve problems but makes problems due to poor decisions.Sharlee:
S-I find it frustrating making lists that provide how I come to an assumption or opinion. However, I will offer a few of why I feel the Biden administration will in some respect chip away at our Constitution.
M- Of course you find it frustrating because it requires more than generalizations that you like to use. Now he is chipping away at our Constitution. In your other comments, you said he was destroying our Constitution.
S-First -- and this to me is deceitful and a very clear ploy of the Democrats to make an attempt to move into a one-party government.
Granting Statehood to Washington, D.C. ---
M- https://statehood.dc.gov/page/why-statehood-dc
https://www.cnn.com/2020/06/26/politics … index.html
The movement to grant statehood to Washington, D.C. is very close to becoming a reality. The House of Representatives recently passed H.R. 1, a bill which is a partisan laundry list of voting-related matters, which included a statement of support for D.C.’s statehood effort. (I have read this bill it is available online)
However, there are good reasons why the District should not be made into a state. The Founders settled on placing our nation’s capital as a federal city that would not be unduly influenced by a state government. As James Madison explained in The FederalistNo. 43, “dependence of the members of the general government, on the state comprehending the seat of government, for protection in the exercise of their duty, might bring on the national councils an imputation of awe or influence, equally dishonorable to the government and dissatisfactory to the other members of the confederacy.”
You may be asking, how does this involve the Constitution? It would take an amendment to the Constitution to alter the District’s status as a federal city.
S-Article 1 of the Constitution. This gave states the responsibility of overseeing federal elections. HR1 would usurp this right, and the Federal Government would have all authority to make one universal set of voting laws. (I am very aware the supreme court has provided amendments in regards to voting laws.) But never has an administration hoped to make voting laws a Federal Government right.
M- Did you even read about ALEC and how corporations and big moneyed interests are dictating what goes into state bills and legislature for congress? ALEC provides templates of bills that they want passed. It is a case of tail wagging the dog.
Here it is again in case you overlooked it. Make no mistake the battle ground states are making laws to create voter suppression to give the advantage to the GOP in the mid-terms. HR-1 is trying to prevent that from happening. It is trying to level the playing field for all voters. Why do the states have to have new laws? What was wrong with the old ones? It’s all about voter suppression of the Black Vote.
https://www.alecexposed.org/wiki/ALEC_Exposed
These are in my opinion something I don't support. Last I looked I was an American citizen, and still have a voice. I can honestly say I don't agree with any of Biden's agenda but infrastructure. The far-left ideas are non-sensical in my view. I don't appreciate Government overreach in healthcare, education, or voting rights. I don't approve of one party dictating what the Government can print and spend. I don't appreciate a Government that does not solve problems but makes problems due to poor decisions.
M- Yes, they are your opinions, but that does not necessarily make them facts, especially with your gross generalizations on Biden and how he is going to fail. I see it as wishful thinking on your part…just my opinion as an American citizen."I can't know what other Republican individuals are thinking. I can offer what I think, my view... As a Republican, I feel as you that our democracy is at risk, but due to an administration that IMO trying to usurp our Constitution, totally ripping apart a Government that has done us well for hundreds of years."
"I will offer a few of why I feel the Biden administration will in some respect chip away at our Constitution."
I gave you two examples of why I feel Biden is trying to chip at the Constitution. I am not sure I used the words " destroying our Constitution"
Please offer that comment for my viewing.
I read the new voter's law bill that GA passed. I agree with every single adjustment to their voting laws. It will actually make the process of voting easier, for all, and help cut down on fraud that has occurred over many years. If you read a bit of the bill, not a media report you will see there is nothing to become upset about. The bill is simply worded not unusually long, and makes good common sense.
Plus, my main point was that I want the states to continue to have control over making voting laws. You asked for examples of why I felt Biden was chipping away at the Constitution. I gave you two examples that are in his HR1 bill that are unconstitutional.
We disagree about voter suppression. In the last election, the Dems complained about voter suppression. Each complaint when really directed were just not true. Yes, the media did a bang-up job at making an attempt to promote that there was voter suppression... But, none of their reports paned out as far as I am concerned. In one story they claimed citizens were in 90-degree temperature in GA, I checked the weather stats it was 67 degrees.
At any rate, I offered you two examples of where our constitution would be affected HR1 passes. Both very serious changes that would give provide the Government with overreach. And if DC is made a state it COULD as I stated offer us a one-party Government. Both would be unconstitutional.
I can see we will never agree that changing the Constitution will weaken our Democracy.
Yes, These are in my opinion something I don't support. Last I looked I was an American citizen, and still have a voice. I can honestly say I don't agree with any of Biden's agenda but infrastructure. The far-left ideas are non-sensical in my view. I don't appreciate Government overreach in healthcare, education, or voting rights. I don't approve of one party dictating what the Government can print and spend. I don't appreciate a Government that does not solve problems but makes problems due to poor decisions. And no as of yet my rights have not been violated. I do think Biden will fail, that is just an opinion.
He is piling up problems, he has little chance of getting most of his bills passed, and SOME moderate Dems appear to be jumping ship, and won't go down with the far-left fun ship. In my book, he already is failing, and failing fast.
Where do you guys come up with such lunacy?
"Trump believes he will be made King come August!"
It just shows how far a person's sanity can be stretched by propaganda and MSM nonsense.... so glad I tuned out years ago.
If the history of the Weimer Republic repeats it would be because of:
FAILED Economic Policies which collapse the value of the dollar to near worthlessness. Which, at the rate we are going, is highly probable.
FAILED Government leadership. It was due to weak and ineffectual governorship that allowed a small extreme minority to gain control of the entire government... not at all a possibility in today's age of complete and total observation.
Everything a person types on a computer, or on a phone, everything they say where there is a TV, computer or phone. This is not paranoia this is the reality of technology in our times.
Such lack of privacy means there is a lack of ability to conspire and create a revolution or organization of people of any type not backed by the establishment (IE - BLM), each and every person is able to be monitored 24/7.
And as we have seen with Facebook, Twitter, Google and others... they can simply make you a non-person, and they proved that with Trump. They have removed him from all their platforms and he no longer has a voice or any ability to reach large numbers of people.
Therefore, if a Billionaire and former President can be shut down and silenced, it is improbable if not impossible that any such figure could rise and gain control of our government, unless that is exactly what the established-powers in control want.
SO the coming FAILED economic policies will lead us to some hard times, and perhaps to an out of control government that wages war on its population to maintain the ruling elite's control... but it won't be the boogyman Trump, he is gone, and will remain so. Only in the minds of those plugged into the likes of CNN for their information will he still exist.
Sharlee, give Biden enough rope.....he WILL HANG HIMSELF.....
I do see in the news that the Democrats have now started eating their own, relative to those two previously well-respected and praised "SenAtors." I would guess that Democrats prefer mustard and Republicans, (yeah, they did and do it too), prefer ketchup.
Your comment, and those news stories we have both seen, sound like it is simply a matter of party over principle for your Democrats. And, that the Republicans are the same way doesn't make it any less hypocritical and dangerous. Especially attitudes like yours, ("eliminated with extreme prejudice"), that consider any means valid as long as they accomplish your End.
GAThey are not our own but impediments to Biden's agenda. "Extreme prejudice" is not physical violence but everything short of that to rein these two problem senators in.
Republicans intend to do nothing but sit on their hands and your idea that the populace can recognize obstruction by Republicans is unlikely as most folks outside the beltway are interested in results, not excuses. And Mr. Biden is the one they will point to for either credit or blame.
So, it is obvious to you by now that I don't care for Republicans, nor their philosophy and underhanded tactics. I guess you can call that partisan if you wish, I am unapologetically blue, period. The GOP is a source of tyranny and despotism and it irritates me to no end that conservatives try to cajole us all to see otherwise.
But again, that is just my opinion... . and it hasn't changed from your other opinions; any means justify our ends.
You would lambast Republicans for doing crappy political stuff, and then rationalize that `it's okay for Democrats to do it too because they did it.'
I am not trying to convince you of, or cajole you into, anything. I am just commenting on your rationalizations.
GAWhat is crappy about solidarity as a party? Manchin is a Republican in every way except name. I don't want another Republican government just warmed over, I want the change I voted and the majority of the electorate voted for and if it does not work, well we will deal with it then. But, as you say you have no respect for majority rule, particularely if Republicans are not in ultimately control of the process.
You are naive to believe that we are going to gunfight with a pen knife. I am not optimistic about this "sanctity of the process" stuff of yours.According to FiveThirtyEight, Manchin has voted with Biden's position 100% of the time as of May 2021. Since the beginning of the Biden administration.
He ranks 1st among all senators in voting against his party. He appears to be a man that votes on what is good for America. He respects the Constitution. He may just be a man that went to Washington to be the voice of the people that voted for him to go to Washington.Would you say the same about The late Senator McCain, Liz Cheney or Mitt Romney? What did you think about them voting against their party?
Manchin needs to keep voting to support his party' leader and stop being the fly in the ointment. He respects Republican Party politics, that is all.
You say that you have black acquaintances in your town, if you don't believe what I am telling you, what do any of them say about Donald Trump's contributions to their well being and betterment? I would like to hear what they have to say.I would most definitely say the same thing about McCain, Cheney, and Romney. All have my respect, and much of the time I have supported their views.
I disagree with your sentiment in regard to Manchin must vote party, and not his conscience. The idea that one must tow the party line sounds very much like communism. It would seem by his voting record he tends to vote Democrat most of the time. So, not sure he respects the Republican parties policies more so than the Dems policies. I think he is doing his job. And most of my black acquaintances certainly admit there is systemic racism, but more so look at the fact they worked hard and rose above being looked at as different.
To offer a couple of examples from how Trump's policies have helped a few of my Black friends. The first and most important school of choice. My grandson attends private school. under Trump, they participated with the School of choice. The school accepted 5 children. The school has great parent and grandparent participation. Many at first were not happy with the school's decision to partisipate. At this point, these kids are in limbo not knowing what Biden will do with the school of choice. To make this story short --- we that support the school have agreed to pay for these children to continue on at the school. We have become friends with many of the parents of these children, and consider them as their children an asset to this school's community. So, is a school of choice a "biggie", does it really matter or will it help black citizens or systemic racism? In my view yes. Trump truly supported the school of choice programs. Will Biden support it? That is left to be seen, he may...
I have discussed Trump with several of my black friends. Most felt Trump offered black people some benefits that they appreciated --- tax breaks in personal as well as business, they were pleased with the fact more blacks were had entered the workforce.
One of my very good black friends is a Psychologist, and we talked a lot about Trump. She felt the same way I did about his job performance and she liked his policies. She naturally did not like how he communicated.
I will admit the majority of my black friends are very conservative and appreciated the better financial picture and his America First agenda.I saw nothing wrong with Trump at all. Howver Biden is....a FAR, FAR DIFFERENT story........
It would be more than awkward and I would not impose, but the proof is in the pudding, who is that they voted for, Trump or Biden? Do you really think that they would level with you? Trump was supported by only 4 percent of black women, so the odds......
No, no, no, no. The "proof" is not in the pudding. The proof is in the `tasting'.
The saying is; "the proof of the pudding is in the tasting.
Geesh . . .
GA :-oGeez Cred, that's not any better. Emily Post is associated with etiquette, (you know, polite behavior)—not correctness of aphorism usage.
Holy cow. If you are going to use a tool at least make sure you use it right. Be like a good carpenter . . . "Measure once, cut twice."
GA ;-)whooooweeeee.., . somebody stop me.
Just out of curiosity (because I felt 4% was low) I did a quick look.
https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa- … SKBN27J2T9
After reading that article, I do believe the decision to choose Biden paid off for the Democrats.
At least so far as collecting up the "old whites" vote. That being people 65 and older whom were very prone to believing what the MSM "News" told them, that generation has been programmed to believe that the "News" = Facts and Truth.
While those younger view "News" with suspicion at best and as propaganda/falsehoods at the worst.
This is supported by a variety of articles I had read on the subject at one time, the younger the generation, the less they believe/trust any MSM news source. One example:
Beyond partisanship, age has an independent effect on media attitudes. Older Americans are generally more favorable toward the news media than are their younger counterparts. Whereas 43% of Americans aged 65 and older have favorable views of the media, 20% of those under age 30 say the same.
https://news.gallup.com/poll/316574/new … cracy.aspx
It took the collective combination of the Pandemic, Lockdown, MSM Anti-Trump reporting 24/7 to sway America, particularly the older more susceptible generation, to vote for Biden.
I imagine being as old or older than Biden, one could relate to him more, consider him far more polished and presidential, and be far more forgiving of his gaffs and stumbles.
Anyways, it was interesting to note that Trump gained votes across the board with "minority" races. While losing enough old-Whitey support to tilt results in Biden's favor.Reading the articles, I still see that Trump received the vast majority of Anglo votes across all demographics except older voters.The increase in minority voters from 2016 was not enough to compensate for Trump's losses from his own 2016 base. Th article still indicates that Trumps support was considerably less by those adults under 45. So, while the young were more cynical of the impartiality of the press, who did they vote for?
While older voters are more trusting of the media, they also gave Trump his greatest margins of support. So,the so called idea of liberally biased media did not seem to reduce their support for Trump.
Trump disappointed much of his base and I believe he lost that support through perceptions many of his base held about how the pandemic was managed.
I honestly think that Trump would have received a second term were it not for that.
There are plenty of people with the exception of partisan Republicans who relate to Biden. He did well with every group and loss some ground with minorities, but nothing indicating any advantage for Republicans in the future. The only people that stayed wth Trump and increased their support were the old Anglos.
Why are the older generation more "susceptible" when they gave Trump the largest levels of support?This is the point, how did those people gain their perceptions?
They became disappointed because of the unending barrage of negative reporting.
When it comes to voting, who do you believe does more of it... the people in their 20s or the people in their 60s?
Now if the MSM gave unending positive coverage of Trump for five years and had put the blame for the Pandemic, the Lockdowns (which were in Democrat controlled states primarily), on anyone else but Trump, then most likely many more people would not have been so disappointed.
To the point... those older white voters were able to identify with Biden, considered him a "return to normal" most likely, where someone like Tulsi Gabbard probably would not have appealed to them nearly as much.I don't support your assessment. Older people were more affected because they were much more vulnerable to the pandemic. It irritates me that conservatives always "shoot the messenger" rather than evaluate the message and performance of those that would be king. Who outside of FoX, Brietbart, etc would give Trump passing marks? Yes, older people are more involved in the political process, generally. But you are quick to assume that just because many evaluated Trump as a failure in management and control regarding the pandemic, they MUST have been brainwashed by the liberal press. And you know what, I don't buy it.
Trump's performance did not deserve unending positive coverage. Really, unending positive coverage does not reflect the truth.
Give people credit for thinking for themselves and coming to their own conclusions, Ken, you would allow yourself as much.I will not give people such credit, when I see little evidence of them being proven worthy of such.
I did not come up with the term "sheeple" but I can understand how it came to be.
I also understand how the brain, any brain, becomes conditioned and accustomed to routine. Which is why there is such a disparity between the older generations believing the nonsense the MSM produces and the younger generations.
The older generations have been conditioned, over decades prior to the 21st century coming to be, to believe in their "news" sources. They watch with the same conviction what CNN, ABC, etc. tells them as they did 40 years ago.
MOST in that generation do not understand the transition that has occurred over that time, that "News" is no longer factual, truthful, or unbiased... it is political, corporate, and propagandized. Much like our Universities have become.
Perhaps the reason you do not want to accept this is because you are part of that percentage that still believes the news actually reports unbiased, fair, impartial and factual truth. It does not, not even close. It is in fact no less biased than what you would find in a country like Russia.
The younger generation is far more immune to this, because they do not pay any attention to those media sources (which is why there has been such an effort to lock down Youtube, Facebook, Twitter these past few years) it is only the older generations that do.Are you not troubled to believe that you are more astute and smarter than everyone else?
Conservatives are always complaining about higher education as being pinko or something. It is not so impartial as it is rightwing.
Where are your sources by which you are convicted and why are they any better than that of the older folks?
Ken, regardless of how the young view the mainstream media, it certainly did not translate into votes for Trump, now did it?
All sources have some bias, the rightwing media certainly is not innocent in this regard. Why should any of us listen to them, as an alternative?
It comes down to your fair, impartial, factual truth is different from my own and others.Truth is objective and universal and cannot be defined as more or less fair,
impartial, factual ...
or different from others' truths.
Or why have the word, TRUTH?
- oops ... I think we need another word for subjective truth:
https://www.yext.com/blog/2020/07/is-tr … as-to-say/Interesting thoughts. Great article, thanks. I think with discussions of\about truth we must consider first that it is an abstract noun. Then we get into definite and indefinite article rules. And, other nouns like "absolute", objective, and subjective to describe it. Truth is as raw as love is, which, too, is an abstract noun.
Thanks for weighin in with such an intelligent inquiry. A few years back, we had this optical illusion as to whether a dress was yellow or blue. People looking at the same dress saw either one color or the other.
The only really objective truths are mathematical and scientific, 2 plus 2 is 4 or the acceleration of gravity on the Earth is 32ft/sec squared. But even science can be revised as many physical laws established by Issac Newton were replaced in the face of new information by Albert Einstein.
Outside of math and science all other truths are relative. I argue with Rightwingers in Texas regarding their "truth" that slavery was not the primarily reason for the Civil War.
Since, I was not there to personally observe nor speak with prominent men of the period, I have to go with the preponderance of academic opinion by those individuals that have scholarship in the study of this period. Their viewpoint contradict those of the rightwing revisionists. Truth cannot be subverted or revised due to political convenience. This is the manner in which I sort out the legitimacy of climate change for example.
Regardless, outside of the hard sciences and mathematics, "truth" will always have a degree of subjectivity associated with it. Can anyone really assess what the truth is even as a direct observer of events?Here is my answer to that one (tough picking just one):
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_H-2bifUctY
As a well travelled and learned individual yourself, you know as well as I do that a great many Americans have barely ever traveled beyond the Local area they were born in... and of those many never ran a business, or never had a family, etc. etc.
It is the wealth of experiences that enhances one's perspectives to form well founded thoughts and astute insights.
It is because you yourself have had a wealth of experiences that you can articulate your positions so well and counter with equal conviction my opinions and points.
There are many smart people out there, but without the wisdom and experience to go with it... well, then you just don't know what you don't know, which makes one susceptible, if not gullible.
History is written by the victors, and then revised as deemed prudent to meet the political winds of current times.
To the point of history on this matter however, slavery was the key component but not the only one. The war was fought because the Southern States seceded from the Republic and created the Confederacy and Lincoln refused to allow it.
The Secessionist States claimed that according to the Constitution every State had the right to leave the Union. Lincoln claimed that they did not have that right. He opposed their efforts stating Secession was unlawful.
He felt secession would destroy the world's only existing democracy, and prove for all time, to future Americans and to the world, that a government of the people could not survive. (Woodrow Wilson made sure it didn't but that is another argument from another day).
The debate over slavery had been raging since before the United States officially existed, but it had grown as the North becsme more industrial (and wealthier) rather than agricultural. Attempts to preserve a balance of power between slave states and free states, such as the Missouri Compromise of 1820 and the Compromise of 1850, show it was a long contested issue.As always, Ken, it is great to have our little chats.
Among the earliest things that I learned in life is not to underestimate anyone. I go with the Will Rogers adage "that we are all ignorant, just in different subjects".
There are many differing forms of wisdom, and you find that out right when you think you know it all.
I never had a real business or family, yet regardless, advancing years has allowed me to acquire certain levels of experience, knowledge and wisdom in other areas that compensate for that.
I don't need to know everything to know "enough".
It would arrogant of me to presume that all of these older people gathering experience and wisdom over their years are to be considered "naive".
Let's take your points about the Civil War.
History is written by the victors? Would you say that there is pro allies bias in how the history of the Second World War was presented?
I never said that Slavery was the only reason behind the Civil War, just its most prominent one. We have had nullification crises' through the first half of the 19th Century. As you say the balance between Slave States and Free were to be maintained. But, the foremost reason for the dichotomy between the South and North was slavery. What else was behind the politics between the states prior to 1860?
And from what I read, I doubt that there was any issue outside slavery that could have brought these states to the point of secession, since everyone managed to keep the peace in the years prior to 1860. Beyond slavery, what were the "States Rights" issues?
Once Balkanization starts, where does it stop? It would have to end the concept of nationhood as we know it, and Lincoln did not want to preside over such an outcome.
Slavery defined a way of life, with millions of dollars of property value and the accumulation of wealth in property and commerce in the balance. That was what the real issue was about. I am sure that the South was aware of the superior stand of the Northern states in population, military and industrial might, and was not prepared to take such a confrontation lightly. So, watering those facts down does not give it any less credibility.
This is nothing outside of the view of most historians.
And you are right about secession, as the Constitution and the right to self determination that was a national principle for the Revolution would have to apply here as well. But, we reached all these extremes only because of slavery and the desire of the cotton producing South to maintain it at any cost.I beg to differ.
I know full well this is not true, because I know the impacts those experiences made in me, not to mention what was observed in the changes of others, when they too have such impactful experiences.
You cannot know what it is like to be in a combat situation, where people are being killed, until you are in such a situation, over and over.
You cannot know what it is like to have a family, until you have children of your own, raise them, care for them, provide for them, etc.
You cannot know what it is like to lose those closest to you, until you lose them and deal with the soul crushing agony that comes with that loss.
You cannot know what it is like to own a business, that provides not just for yourself, but those other partners and employees that depend on it as well, until you have taken on that leadership responsibility.
You don't know about the South Korean culture & country until you have lived there (not just visiting on vacation for a couple weeks). And you can replace South Korea with any other nation, Iceland, Panama, Cuba, etc.
You don't know how those people live, what they are experiencing, what cultural expectations have been placed on them, until you've been in their world.
And without an open mind and honest effort to learn, even if you are in a foreign country, you would still learn very little.
So no... I don't agree, one cannot know, without the experience.
I will never know what it is like to carry another life inside me and give birth... no matter how wise or experienced I become...
What I do know, is without that wealth of experience, a person, no matter how intellectually gifted, is not better situated to make more sound decisions than I am. In fact, sometimes highly intelligent or specialized individuals without the wisdom and experiences to temper their decisions, make the worst decisions, worst teachers, etc.
Nothing worse that a University Professor that has spent his life secluded from reality, never practiced his trade in the real world, and never had a family teaching others... they can often be the most biased and twisted minds you will come across.-----
"Nothing worse that a University Professor that has spent his life secluded from reality, never practiced his trade in the real world, and never had a family teaching others... they can often be the most biased and twisted minds you will come across."
--------
Well, Ken, whether you like it or not, to certain extent that basic premise is true of us all. Draft dodger, Donald Trump is given credit for understanding the needs of the military, where was his real life experience? Where was Barack Obama's, for that matter? Trump claimed to know more about immunology than the experts, what was his life experience to support his claim? You simply cannot be an expert on everything in life or even have experience in everything. I am going to trust seniors who generally vote conservatively to have been wise enough to know what their interests were and vote accordingly in regards to management of the pandemic in 2020.
But as far as democracy is concerned, the opinion of every citizen that is over 18 and eligible to vote has to be just as good and valid as the next one. Otherwise we breach ideas of some being more equal than others, which is the basis of minority rule and in turn is the very foundation of despotism and tyranny. I mean, really, are you so eminently qualified to speak favorably about Trump's performance during the pandemic in the face of overwhelming opinion from a myriad of sources that say otherwise? You, like many conservatives believe that their views are the only truly objective and accurate ones, I beg to differ. Conservatives like to believe we are all misled, if others cannot view the world thru their prism. That is not kosher. Who is to say that it is not conservatives that are actually the ones, misled?
----
"What I do know, is without that wealth of experience, a person, no matter how intellectually gifted, is not better situated to make more sound decisions than I am"
------
Yes, but that statement has to apply to everyone. Your wealth of experience is obviously different from my wealth of experience, and is either experience truly devoid of ideological or partisan bias?
Yet conservatives are the ones that discount the "rights of women" in regards to childbirth and carrying a fetus to term etc. but that does not stop them from making policy in that regard.
I lived in Panama for 6 months and know more than most, but would that knowledge and experience amount to the be all and end all? I doubt it. My points of view color my experience, as they do yours. You may well come away with a differing set of experience than I would.
I have conservatives whites telling me that they know more about African American aspirations and what "we need" in the US more than I and the vast majority of us say is the case. What am I to make of that?
Life is basically full of us all having to make decisions without the benefit of direct experience, who doesn't?One thing is always clear in your responses, you feel the need to label, to pigeon hole a person, especially when hit with a substantive reply, it really limits your message.
How did Trump come up in this conversation? It was two years ago (roughly) that I was more than hopeful to see what the Democratic ticket would offer.
I had no problem with Trump having been elected, he was a better option than the alternative... I felt that in 2016... I feel that now... Clinton would have been worse for this country IMO.
My hope that he would have instigated real change in the Democrat Party, real change in DC, was not only not realized, the reality of DC and our country has been made worse... we now have the likes of Biden, Pelosi, and their controllers in firm control.
The chances of someone with a soul, with relatable experience and true concern for the people... a person like Tulsi Gabbard becoming President has been lost.
Instead we have a President who is obviously in the serious stages of mental decline, and a VP that is clueless as we have seen since Dan Quayle. Both fully establishment puppets like none who have come before.I thought that I had provided a substantive reply. I used Trump and Obama as examples to illustrate my point.
Yeah, so I wanted Liz Warren, and may have well supported Gabbard as the nominee. So you presume that someone so young has the "correct" experience? Why is that to be considered more than just your opinion?
What changes you are looking for and mine may meet at certain points, yet the methods to attain to those changes are seen from differing perspectives.
Your opinion about Biden and Harris are yours and that of many others but it obviously was not accepted by the majority of the electorate and ultimately that is what counts.The issue is and always has been Credence, that you feel you have accomplished change by seeing Pelosi and Biden thrust into power in DC.
I realize that is just more of the same as what we had 10, 20, 30 years ago... I realize their holding control of DC politics is a sign that the worst cronyism and corporate corruption has locked down control.
True change would have come with a leader that had new ideas and had not been compromised by decades in DC. Gabbard represented this for me, her service and experience with combat and her strong stance on positions she believed in made her my choice.
Instead we got someone who needed to remain retired and out of the public eye thrust into the Presidency because he was a puppet they knew they could control completely.
I can see you have a good conversation going with GA, and Ken. I will address your comment directed to me.
Being they aremy friends, I can only hope they would level with me." Birds of a feather..". As I said, I feel the friends I used as examples appreciated Trump's job performance. They realized he provides some positive accomplishments for Blacks. I would think they were truthful in regards to sharing they voted for Trump. I actually would think none so unintelligent to cut off their nose to spite their face.
You are aware Trump did pick up more black voters in 2020 than he had in 2016?
I would guess in the end my black friends would be in the minority when it comes to their beliefs or mindsets. However, they are enjoying their lives on this earth. No, they are not fighting the battle you are fighting, they fought another kind of battle, using different tools, different weapons --- and in my book -- they won. Something to think about... Can one rise above with only promises from politicians? --- Words are just words. Or can an individual rise above by putting sheer effort into a goal, overcome the most definite obstacles.
The "crappy" part is demanding party solidarity as the #1 priority—more important than principles or personal choice. Both parties do it and both parties are wrong to do so.
I do have respect for the concept of majority rule—as designed in our Constitution, I just don't accept that the majority is automatically right simply because it is a majority choice.
GA"I just don't accept that the majority is automatically right simply because it is a majority choice."
It is just in an Democracy the "being right" through the majority is the only acceptable interpretation of what being right is.How about this:
"It is just in an Democracy the "being right" through the majority is the only acceptable interpretation of what being right is."
"Five wolves and three sheep sit down to decide what's for dinner. Grazing grass and clover salads received three votes. Lambchops received five votes.
Oh well, shrugged the wolves. Democracy rules."
Don't laugh at this seemingly silly illustration until you can point to the line where "...the majority is the only acceptable interpretation of what being right is" becomes different from the wolf's acceptable majority interpretation.
GAI am not laughing, I am like you, I respect the concept of majority rule as provided in the Constitution (Bill of Rights) providing protections for minority and dissent. But its concept of the "majority" as provided for in the Constitution may not be deviated from by either the Right or left.
Majority rule is inviolate within the restraints provided for in the Constitution, of course.I agree with you and I knew that's how you thought. I was just looking for someone to poke and the way you used that statement was surely pokable.
GA
One has to consider where the perspective comes from.
MSNBC analyst Eugene Robinson and New York Times columnist Nikole Hannah-Jones discussed how they would be able to “deprogram” Trump supporters after Biden is sworn in.
“There are millions of Americans, almost all white, almost all Republicans, who somehow need to be deprogrammed,” Robinson said. “It’s as if they are members of a cult, the Trumpist cult, and have to be deprogrammed.”
Hannah-Jones added that there must be “consequences” for Trump supporters.
“I know we can look to history,” Hannah-Jones said. “What ultimately breaks that power structure in the South is enforcement, right? There has to be consequences.”
Project Veritas actually captured PBS’ principal lawyer Michael Beller admitting that the left wanted to take away the children of Trump supporters to be “re-educated” when Biden becomes president.
“We go for all the Republican voters and Homeland Security will take their children away…we’ll put them into the re-education camps.”
“No seriously…how *do* you deprogram 75 million people? Where do you start? Fox? Facebook?” asked David Atkins, a regional director for California Democrats. “We have to start thinking in terms of post-WWII Germany or Japan. Or the failures of Reconstruction in the South,” he added.
I am sure you can recall some such quotes from the likes of AOC and Nancy Pelosi and Maxine Waters as well.
This is the narrative people who tune in to the likes of CNN and MSNBC received for four years, it is no wonder some Left leaning people say what they do... they are convinced there is little to no difference between Republican and Nazi.
Many who have had open ears and open minds to the MSM deluge these past few years are not simply going to change their mindsets just because Trump is no longer in office... they have been marshalled to fight against an enemy that they believe is the SUM of all their fears.
And this is how the corrupt, the corporate powers, the central government keeps control.
Is there anyone saying right now we have a corrupt and out of control government?
No, instead people are focused on Trump, or Republicans, or Socialists, or Biden... not the broken system...
A system people say they want to change... yet Biden has been in DC for over 45 years, Pelosi for over 35 years, these are the people that are going to bring about NEW and positive change to the people?
In no way am I disturbed. I predicted this. Biden will be such a fiasco as president & people will be so tired of his ineptitude that a Republican president will take reign. This Republican president will be unapologetic. This president will grant no quarter. This president will be a law and order president who will brook no nonsense. Let me say I TOLD YOU SO, I TOLD YOU SO.
Then we will have something in place that make the Third Reich look like a folk dance. And it is people like you that are making it all possible.
And if you think we on the left will just sit idly by while this transpires, you have another thing coming.....In my view, Republicans are hell-bent on keeping our Democracy strong, our freedoms, and our Constitution strong. The Democrats are most certainly trying to move our Government into a one-party power. A power that will dictate our healthcare, education, and make our voting laws. They hope to silence anyone that does not agree with their agenda. An agenda that is simply socialist/communism.
I would return your sentiment if you think true American's will sit idly by and usher socialism in you have another thing coming. When push comes to shove, I have faith in American's and have no fear this administration policy or his agendas will ever come to fruition. The Biden administration is already fizzling.
It would seem the Demacrats are actually attempting promoting and usher in a new order.There is that term again, Sharlee, "True Americans". It is now seen as some sort of "code word". Who are the "true Americans"?
So, I and WE are automatically disqualified under that definition, so who remains?
I served in the armed forces and pay taxes, what does that make me?
To each, his or her own, we shall see.A true American is someone that values the freedoms we have lived by and enjoyed in America... So simple --- "Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness" is a well-known phrase in the United States Declaration of Independence. The phrase gives three examples of the unalienable rights which the Declaration says have been given to all humans by their creator, and which governments are created to protect.
Not alter or control... That form of government would be called socialism or communism.
Who would be disqualified to be called a true American? I would guess any American that chooses to give up life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness for a government system that removes the freedoms that are required to pursue life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.
Now, I am not unwilling to give up even one of my freedoms.Life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness, we all have different ideas as to what that constitutes.
I fear that the Republicans in their despotism will certainly take what is left of those ideals.The Republicans are striving to keep our freedoms and respect our Constitution. It's not Republicans that hope to chip at the Constitution. That would be the Democrats.
Take for instance the Dems hoping to Grant Statehood to Washington, D.C. ---
The movement to grant statehood to Washington, D.C. is very close to becoming a reality. The House of Representatives recently passed H.R. 1, a bill which is a partisan laundry list of voting-related matters, which included a statement of support for D.C.’s statehood effort.
However, there are good reasons why the District should not be made into a state. The Founders settled on placing our nation’s capital as a federal city that would not be unduly influenced by a state government. As James Madison explained in The FederalistNo. 43, “dependence of the members of the general government, on the state comprehending the seat of government, for protection in the exercise of their duty, might bring on the national councils an imputation of awe or influence, equally dishonorable to the government and dissatisfactory to the other members of the confederacy.”
You may be asking, how does this involve the Constitution? It would take an amendment to the Constitution to alter the District’s status as a federal city.
Article 1 of the Constitution. This gave states the responsibility of overseeing federal elections. HR1 would usurp this right, and the Federal Government would have all authority to make one universal set of voting laws. (I am very aware the supreme court has provided amendments in regards to voting laws.) But never has an administration hoped to make voting laws a Federal Government right.
The far-left ideas are non-sensical in my view. I don't appreciate Government overreach in healthcare, education, or voting rights. All take away my right to choose... I don't approve of one party dictating my voting laws. I don't appreciate a Government that does not solve problems but makes problems due to poor decision-making.
Sharlee: That's why you have Mitch McConnell. He openly said his mission was to do everything in his power to make Obama a one term president. He became a two term president in spite of McConnell.
Sharlee:
Now as minority leader, he is saying that he will block everything that Biden is doing 100%. What's wrong with this picture when the minority leader in the senate has more power than the majority leader? It's because of the filibuster and the super majority vote required by the democrats to get any bills passed. And you say that the democrats are striving for a one party system. I think it's the other way around. Where is the bipartisanship?
Oh no, the left is opening the door to a totally unapologetic Republican. IT WILL HAPPEN, MARK MY WORD. The left will create this unapologetic Republican president who won't take any BS. People are getting sick of the left and what the left is doing to America. Someone has to stop the madness of the left.
I have to give you props... and revive this thread so all can enjoy the re-read.
Your posts (so far) have been so spot on, we might have to rename you Nostradamus.
And hey, look at mine... I was wrong... Trump is back. They didn't give him much choice... hard to fade away when every day they are bringing you up on a new fabricated charge or having you appear in court.I am currently reading a book called BEFORE THE DELUGE. It is about the Weimar Republic. America is going that way with its liberal extremism, bordering on utter insanity. Mark my words, plenty of people will become sick of the delusional & aberrant liberalism which is present in America. Many people will elect strongpeople in mayoral & presidential offices. They will be looking for strong law & order mayors like Giuliani & Rizzo who will brook no nonsense. They will also look for strong presidents like Trump who will return this country to values, ethics, law & order, & commonsense. Right-minded people are sick of this utter mayhem.
I prefer Jackson Brown's interpretation of 'Before the Deluge'.
A YouTube of the song (6:20 min)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7SX-HFcSIoU
The Lyrics
https://www.google.com/search?client=fi … uge+lyricsI have read and/or watched a bit about that lately.
The similarities stem from the "Pillars of Society" all being captured by "liberal extremism" and a groundswell of "communism/socialism support".
Then, once that is in place, have a failing economy and desperation grip the nation... which is also very comparable to our own situation, as banks are failing and soon even the biggest will fall (the is when CBDC is supposed to come in... but that might be hard to do if Western Civilization across the globe is being torn down to the ground).
What I do feel strongly about, is that this IS the "big one"... the election that matters like never before... because who is sitting in the White House will have to deal with Economic Collapse... WWIII scenarios... the Fate of the Nation type stuff.
Recognizing that Biden has already gotten us into WWIII... and if his Administration is allowed to continue... it will doom us all.
The US empire, with military bases around the world and its main ally, Israel planted in the heart of the Arab and Muslim world and protected by the US... is fighting a multi-front war, or trying to, without informing Americans that it is doing so... despite it being right there for them to see.
Iran is the antagonist regional power in the Middle East which commands proxy forces in countries including Syria, Iraq, Lebanon, Palestine and Yemen. In a true show of traitorous and insane decision making, the Biden Administration has ensured Iran was able to receive hundreds of billions of dollars to fund their terrorist friends and build up their military might.
At the same time it was doing this, it was alienating the UAE and Saudia Arabia so that they now trade Oil in anything BUT the American Dollar.
F$%^... I could go on with how many, many, many traitorous or evil or idiotic things this Administration has done... but it literally would take me a day to type it all.
Your first mistake and your final mistake was to take a Salon article seriously and attempt to use it as food for thought. Their is plenty of doo available to pick up and eat but eating doo can lead to unpleasant results. Whether you chew on it or just swallow it whole, the results will be the same. The bizarre break from reality represented by the thoughts that led to the start of this thread being an example.
I’ve decided that I have to have faith in the reality I observe. Anyone with a keyboard and a far left ideology can find an outlet to share any drivel the outlet might think will make good click bait fodder.And what do you take "seriously", Fox News or Brietbart?
Lol. You do understand what “the reality i see” means? I get so tired of people insisting their perception of what others think trumps what others think or do. My neighbors, my neighborhood, the nearby cities and the people I interact with in those cities don’t spew the ignorance one has to wade through online. Which leads me to believe the crap we hear about and these ignorant online outlets are just pushing doo for the sake of trying to evangelize their sick religion. I guess we all have different tastebuds. Some things aren’t worth washing the taste out of my mouth anymore.
You can climb down from Mt. Olympus now, L to L, you do the same thing, it just comes from a different angle. We all have perceptions and preconceived attitudes, yours just leans rightward. You have opinions, and since you are not an eyewitness, what is your source of information?
Not an eye witness of what? The things I see? Am I supposed to not take into account the things I hear?
I prefer not to be someone who reads a crap article online in order to confirm my bias.
I suppose everyone I interact with could be lying but that would beggar belief. Even the people I know who lean left don’t accept the drivel from that article.
How many things that you say that comes from absolutely nowhere that are we all expected to "take seriously"? Your ideological and political bias wears on you like the "Emperors New Clothes".
Your faith in the reality of simply, what you observe is hardly irrefutable and irreparably red-tainted. But, what ever it is that floats your boat, that is ok. But as some universal truth and foundation of the reason of "Everyman", probably not.
Cred,
What a completely bogus article! It's poorly written, not researched and definitely not properly referenced. It is a pile of excrement.
When I look at an article referring to historical events, and it has NO sources listed at the end, it is a VERY poorly written article.
It's filled with nothing but opinion and misinterpretation of historical facts...it doesn't even provide source material to see what they are referring to in the article.
The person who wrote this need to take a few more history classes.What exactly do you mean?
I am sure the MSM news is telling nothing to America about how Biden is REALLY doing at the Summit, but they say a picture tells a thousand words.
What do you make of this?
Imagine trying that with Trump!It does, and so do Biden's words... He was busted with a list of the press names and an order to take their questions. And his little hissy fit at the press was so fun to watch.
https://nypost.com/2021/06/13/going-to- … s-handled/Yes, so what is the point here?
And I am supposed to take you guys seriously about fairness and objectivity?
Well, Mike it takes on a left leaning opinion, of course you are going to find it objectionable.
What qualifies you to be the judge of the quality of the article? How am I to know that your displeasure is not just more partisan and ideological bias?
I, at least rather than pretending to be impartial and objective and above the fray, am honest about my preferences and explain why I hold them. Anyone can "cherry pick" ideas and preferences just like L to L and say that you are impartial and original thinkers. Sorry, Mike, it is your and her world view through crimson colored glasses. I mean I remember the promise you made us to be unambiguously opposed to everything Biden said and did regardless of the merits, just a few months after his victory. I mean, how objective can I really expect you to be?Cred,
When you are putting together an article, there are certain things required to make it a solid article, regardless of the content. The subject of the article is irrelevant.
Even a basic class in journalism will teach you that when you make historical references in an article you cite your sources. If you want to have a good article, you will include links to the documents you base your opinions on. That is what professionals articles need to contain.
It has NOTHING to do with world view or event the content of the article. An article that doesn't include it's sources or supporting documents is something done by amateurs. So, facts are facts. It is a poorly written article that is unsourced and provides no supporting documents.
It is simply a bizarre piece of writing based on nothing but the writer's imagination. It's a shame people take things like this serious. This is one more black eye for journalists in general. Salon has a history of such poor writing. It's a shame.
Sharlee has explained,
"It seems the Democrats are actually attempting to promote and usher in a new order which will have the power to dictate our healthcare, education, and re-make out voting laws. They hope to silence anyone that does not agree with their agenda. An agenda that is simply socialist/communism.Sharlee:
How are they promoting this new order?
How are they silencing those who do not agree?
What is the new order?
and to what end is the new order being promoted.
Is it the end they say it is,
or are they tricking us into accepting the Green New Deal.
Would they actually implement what they say they will or in all actuality, a big fat "NO."
For instance, I know someone who graduated with a Master's in environmental architecture to help the planet with ecologically friendly urban designs, etc. No one will hire him or is interested in him, although, he would be such an asset to a team involved with all that is the Green New Deal. He has come to the conclusion that the government is not really interested in implementing what they say they are.
wonderingI believe we have mixed forces vying for control in the Democrat Party.
We have Biden who has been in DC for over 45 years, Pelosi for over 35 years, both are part of what America was, these are corrupt stooges for corporate America, DC Establishment.
We have a revolutionary force growing within, but this is a more chaotic group, made up of a loose collection of people with varying interests from wanting the downfall of "white" America, to people who want to mold it to resemble the CCP where control over all citizens 24/7 is possible.
Ultimately, these factions, like the American people themselves, are divided enough that what we end up with is none getting what they want, while the nation sinks further into dysfunction and disrepair.
It is almost ironic that Biden is now our President, as his progressive decline of intellectual functions such as memory, reasoning, concentration, communication... makes him the perfect person to represent where we seem to be as a society and nation today.Hey does everyone remember all that stuff about Trump being a Russian conspirator, a Putin puppet?
Well, what do you make of this?
https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-57180674At the risk of being labeled a hater for pointing out an ugly fact about Biden's poor decision-making, or in my view poor character for selling out America. --- It's my view, someone pulled Biden's puppet strings to shut down the Keystone XL pipeline on his very first day in office. With the stroke of a pen, he put 11,000 American's with high-paying jobs out of work. Most of these jobs were good-paying union jobs. But, he did tell these workers he was going to provide great solve ready jobs... Yeah.
And, It would well appear he could care less about reneging on the Keystone agreement with Canada. Prime Minister Trudeau was very displeased with the USA going back on the agreement. But, it would appear Biden had to let Putin know, "hey I'm your guy".
And what about Joe's green deal? --- 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 up Nord Stream 2, Biden will have combusted 74 percent of the anti-global-warming "benefit" that he created by junking Keystone.
Yes, this president clearly kissed Putin's A-----.
You also said," Who would be disqualified to be called a true American? I would guess any American that chooses to give up life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness for a government system that removes the freedoms that are required to pursue life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.
Now, I am not unwilling to give up even one of my freedoms."
But, how many citizens (even true Americans?) are being tricked into giving up their freedoms through a con-job. A government con-job. Their ignorance may be through no fault of their own.The tactics of totalitarianism:
Eradicating common sense.
Shutting down the truth.
Threatening opponents.
Surveilling the people.
Abusing freedom of speech.
Preventing freedom of speech.
Allowing slander and supporting falsehoods.
Creating illusions.
Government agencies (such a the CIA) controlling the news.
Draining the treasury.
Brainwashing, infiltrating the youth ...
and the people.A+
The Tactics of Totalitarianism:
Eradicating common sense.
Shutting down the truth.
Threatening opponents.
Surveilling the people.
Abusing freedom of speech.
Preventing freedom of speech.
Allowing slander and supporting falsehoods.
Creating illusions.
Government agencies (such a the CIA) controlling the news.
Draining the treasury.
Brainwashing, infiltrating the youth ...
and the people.
How about "Sub-true?"
That so-called fact is a "sub-truth" to me.
For instance, "Eating one umboshi plum a day is good for the body" This advice is considered true for anyone according to macrobiotic principles. However, this is actually sub-truth, because not everyone can/should consume such a salty food everyday.
- so in all fairness, perhaps we should indicate/discuss how and why our sub-truth differs from another's."Outside of math and science
all other truths are relative."
For instance;
Compared to an ant, Human Beings are big.
But, compared to an Alien Being who arrives on the earth and is as tall as the Empire State Building, well, we are not so big.You can take a yardstick and determine that human beings are larger than ants. No need for ambiguity there. The objective truth is that human beings are larger than ants.
I comprehend that I am big. (No measuring device needed.) This comprehension is a universal truth that people generally hold within themselves, I would gather, if they do not live in proximity to elephant herds. But most of us have no comparisons, so to think of oneself as big, is to think what all humans believe to be true.
(maybe I am mixing up common and relative)Your bigness is still relative depending on what you are compared to.
Big or little can be measured objectivity relative to any other life form or object.
But there can be an objective answer as to whether one object is larger than the other.do you believe in things which are common to all?
or not?okay:
sense. common sense. relative to being human, no matter what country or culture ...- what is good, beneficial, positive for the human psyche.
I would say, yes. In fact, child psychologists are discovering that children have been exposed to way too much stress lately and are developing anxiety which is very bad for them, universally.
Stress in childhood is detrimental toward mental health.
a truth.
a common reality.
relative to the age of development.
As we are on politically opposites poles, obviously what is common sense to you may neither be as commonly held by myself or others.
"Relative" is the word I am contemplating. Relativity contributes to subjective truths.
commonality contributes to objective truths ...
?You asked, "Can anyone really assess what the truth is
even as a direct observer of events?"
This question must have an answer. It is yes? or no?
if yes, based on what? If no based on what?
Commonality
1. the state of sharing features or attributes.
"a commonality of interest ensures cooperation"
2. another term for commonalty.
"noble intent lifts you as hero above the commonality"
Origin late Middle English (in commonality (sense 2)): variant of commonalty. commonality (sense 1) dates from the mid 16th century, but was rarely used before the 1950s.While commonality may attribute to commonly shared truths, it is not absolute like those found in math or physics.
I live here in America and I don't share the same values or given truths as my neighbors but we can all agree to what 2 +2 equals.
the key word was "compensate." There is where his argument lies.
Interesting to note that Thomas Jefferson was given credit for having a broad and universal knowledge of the myriad of scientific knowledge in the 18th century, who can make that claim in the 21st?
Compensate may have been the wrong word, but you need to prove that through scholarship and experience that your take on any issue of more authoritative then my own.
Trump surrounded himself with the most knowledgeable minds he could find.
What does any immunology "expert" know having spent years studying from other so-called exerts? A horse may know more than them.
https://listentoyourhorse.com/herbs-and … -will-eat/
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