Did Trump Really Try To Implement a Coup?
Mitt Romney, a loyal, lifelong Republican recently said “I will not be voting for former President Trump, I must admit that I find sexual assault to be a line I will not cross in the people I select to be my president.”
Question - is that a line YOU are willing to cross to have Lying Trump as your president?Mitt Romny is not the exception to not to vote for Trump, due to the later sexually assaulting a woman. Many like-minds of Romny are around, and will not vote for Trump like wise. Let them not vote. Some Dems will not again vote Biden.
"Former Trump employee recounts situation where he thinks foreign businessman obtained sensitive information from meeting with Trump"
https://www.cnn.com/videos/politics/202 … nk-vpx.cnnTrump is cleaning house at the RNC and apparently will merge his campaign with the RNC. SICK
https://www.cnn.com/2024/03/11/politics … index.html"Butler [a former Trump employee] said he was helping to move the boxes [containing classified documents] to the airport at the same time Trump was greeting federal investigators at his property in June 2022, two months before the FBI’s search of Mar-a-Lago and a year before Trump was indicted by special counsel Jack Smith over his alleged mishandling of classified documents."
I think this is called obstruction of justice
https://www.cnn.com/2024/03/11/politics … index.html'I did not exonerate' Biden, Hur says
Mueller said basically the same thing but all those Trump supporters said he was exonerated. If they say that about Trump, then they need to say that about Biden.This ad campaign should be much more effective than the Lincoln Project attacks on Trump. These are former Trump voters who, after Jan will NEVER vote for Trump again and are telling America about it.
https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/politics … =shorelineESO, I like the videos, Republicans who oppose having anything to do with a career criminal, Donald Trump.
The DNC needs to use its coffers, flush with cash to do an advertising blitz so that everytime some one turns on a television set our ads will be in their faces. We take advantage of the fact that Trump and his legal issues will empty GOP coffers.They absolutely should. Keep it simple, limit it to four themes:
1, Biden's accomplishments
2. Former Trump voters whose eyes were finally opened
3. The threat to women's rights
4. The threat to IVFI would change 4 to the threat to democracy and Trump's affinity for dictators and authoritarians.
Concerning point #4 and Trump's stance on IVF, he expresses strong support for it, along with advocating for new abortion laws that provide humane options for fetal choice. The video linked further illustrates his perspective. So your view to remove it is a good one.
There's a concern that point #4 might be misconstrued or misrepresented, potentially becoming a tool for misinformation. If the Democratic National Committee (DNC) propagates a false narrative regarding IVF, it could inadvertently play into the hands of Republicans. There's a prevalent perception that the Democratic party engages in dishonest tactics, often twisting facts to fit their agenda. Yet, with Trump being outspoken and consistently keeping his views public, it becomes increasingly difficult to distort his transparent stance. Many observers see such attempts as outdated and desperate strategies, unlikely to gain traction in the face of Trump's clear and publicized viewpoints.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zpUe-jC326s
In my perspective, the portrayal of Trump as a dictator or authoritarian seems largely outdated. Just getting old... From what I gather in his interviews and rallies, he addresses the public on issues that resonate with them, promising diligent efforts to address America's challenges. Additionally, I notice a marked improvement in his demeanor; he communicates his apprehensions and worries with a composed and earnest attitude.From the videos I have watched of Trump's rallies not only listening to him I pay close attention of the panning of the audience to get their reactions through facial gestures.
It's really tough to trust where Trump would actually fall on any issue.
He once stated that a woman who gets an abortion should face some sort of punishment. But he's changed his stance now? He has bragged about the Dobbs decision
He has taken credit for overturning Roe. He, along with the Republican Party own this issue now.
He also advocated for a tik tock band during his administration and now he's against it?
It's also similarly tough to view him has anything but enamored with autocracy. All the fawning over murderous authoritarian leaders and principles while simultaneously trash talking our country. Victor Orban visiting Mar-A-Lago. He touts how Xi rules with an iron fist,
. I'm not interested in being ruled by iron fist. It's not cool with meYour comment presents a very one-sided view of Trump's governance, focusing solely on negative aspects without acknowledging any potential positive actions or perspectives.
In my view, Trump's approach to governance wasn't solely dictatorial. For instance, his administration implemented deregulation measures to boost economic growth, cut taxes, and renegotiated trade deals like the USMCA, which many viewed as beneficial.
Yes, while Trump may have commented on China's Xi ruling with an iron fist, it doesn't necessarily mean he governed in the same manner. Does it? Criticizing or complimenting another leader's approach doesn't equate to implementing the same methods domestically.
Regarding abortion, it is clear Trump's stance has evolved, which is not uncommon for politicians. While I was around when many considered Biden to be a full-blown racist... Should I not consider he may have a different attitude at this time in his life? Views change, and Politicians tweak views to glean votes. While he initially suggested women should face punishment for abortions, he later clarified his position, emphasizing support for pro-life policies without advocating punitive measures against women. His stance has seemed to change.
Trump's views on TikTok may have shifted due to changing circumstances or national security concerns. His administration's initial push for a TikTok ban could have been motivated by concerns over data privacy and Chinese influence, rather than arbitrary authoritarianism.
While Trump has engaged with autocratic leaders like Viktor Orbán and praised their leadership styles, it's essential to recognize that diplomatic engagement doesn't necessarily imply endorsement of every aspect of their governance. Such interactions could be driven by geopolitical considerations or strategic alliances rather than admiration for authoritarianism.
Criticizing Trump's admiration for certain authoritarian leaders doesn't negate his overall commitment to democratic principles. While his rhetoric may have been unconventional or controversial, his administration upheld democratic norms and institutions throughout his presidency."Criticizing Trump's admiration for certain authoritarian leaders doesn't negate his overall commitment to democratic principles.'
Yes, it actually does.
Authoritarianism is a political system characterized by the rejection of democracy. It's that simple. There's absolutely nothing admirable. Many of us out here do not want someone in the White House who admires dictators
Why would anyone living in a democracy accept or desire a leader who speaks positively in any way of authoritarians?
What's admirable to him? What does he want?
John Kelly told Jim Sciutto..
"My theory on why [Trump] likes the dictators so much is that’s who he is.
Every incoming president is shocked that they actually have so little power without going to the Congress, which is a good thing. It’s civics 101, separation of powers, three equal branches of government.
But in his case, he was shocked that he didn’t have dictatorial-type powers to send US forces places or to move money around within the budget. And he looked at Putin and Xi [Jinping, of China] and that nutcase in North Korea as people who were like him in terms of being a tough guy.”
He also told Kelly "Well, Hitler did a lot of good things.” and yes, I do believe Kelly is credible.
Notice that he never praises other democracies or our actual allies. I am not at all convinced that if he won the White House he would uphold democratic norms.
In terms of abortion, he has recently talked about a federal abortion ban.
https://x.com/Acyn/status/1763396233400291543?s=20"Authoritarianism is a political system characterized by the rejection of democracy. It's that simple. There's absolutely nothing admirable. Many of us out here do not want someone in the White House who admires dictators"
Certainly, Trump has made remarks about leaders like Putin and Xi Jinping. I don't see it as admiration. I don't see him complimenting, I see him stating his view on their form of mindset, and yes, how they govern. Do you have an example of him complimenting a leader? Other than stating a fact about his view of their intelligence or how they govern? Does he have the right to express his opinions about leaders he's interacted with? And does this kind of transparency concern you?
On a personal level, I find it challenging to participate in discussions on this subject because I perceive it as largely manufactured by the media. I prefer not to indulge in sensationalized narratives, as I believe doing so could reflect negatively on my discernment.
I maintain my belief that Trump was a competent president. I never observed any signs of dictatorship or authoritarianism during his tenure. Despite flaws, he accomplished positive initiatives, and I believed the country was progressing well until the onset of COVID-19. Under his leadership, I felt content, secure, and supported, experiencing a sense of assurance that the president was looking out for my interests."Certainly, Trump has made remarks about leaders like Putin and Xi Jinping. I don't see it as admiration. I don't see him complimenting"
“He’s now president for life. President for life. No, he’s great,” Trump said of Xi at a lunch and fundraiser at his Mar-a-Lago estate, according to CNN, which obtained a recording of the remarks. “And look, he was able to do that. I think it’s great. Maybe we’ll have to give that a shot some day.”
When students poured into Tiananmen Square, Trump told Playboy in 1990, “the Chinese government almost blew it. Then they were vicious, they were horrible, but they put it down with strength. That shows you the power of strength.” Scary considering how he talks about the strength of these dictators. What do you think he has in mind for this country?
Asked why he declined to press Xi to free the 1 million Uighurs in indoctrination camps in the Xinjiang region, Trump indicated, “Well, we were in the middle of a major trade deal.” According to then-national security adviser John Bolton, Trump told Xi to “go ahead with building the camps, which Trump thought was exactly the right thing to do.” yeah seems right?
That's a no for me...
In 2017, when Fox News host Bill O’Reilly reminded Trump that Putin “is a killer,” the then-president replied, “There are a lot of killers. You think our country’s so innocent? … Our country does plenty of killing also.” so Putin's murders are okay then? Obviously because Trump never condemned Putin's murder of Navalny.
And Putin is a “genius” for “taking over a country, "really a vast, vast location, a great piece of land with a lot of people, and just walking in,” Trump declared days after the Russian invasion of Ukraine. No condemnation.
During his cringeworthy courtship of Kim, leader of the world’s most repressive regime who ordered the murder of his half-brother and uncle, Trump praised Kim’s “great and beautiful vision for his country.” When Otto Warmbier died shortly after his release, in a vegetative state, from prison in North Korea on a bogus charge of subversion, Trump said he “did not believe Kim would have allowed” the American college student to be mistreated. Hmm...yeah.
Trump's statement on Kim jong-un in 2018...
"President Trump on Friday complimented Kim Jong Un’s authoritarian rule in North Korea, observing with apparent envy that when the 35-year-old dictator speaks, “his people sit up at attention.”. I suppose if they didn't they would meet an untimely death?
He added
"Kim Jong-un was, he really has been very open and I think very honorable"
A very honorable dictator? Okay.
He has praised Turkish president Erdogan, introducing him in 2017 as “a friend of mine” who is “getting very high marks” for governing “very, very strongly.” At the time of this remark, Turkey was in a state of emergency, including the arrests of over 47,000 Turks, many of them civilians, as part of a government crackdown after the 2016 military coup against him.
On Orban..
"there’s nobody that’s better, smarter or a better leader than [Hungary’s] Viktor Orbán” really? Why??
And claiming he would he would allow Russia to do whatever it wants to NATO member nations that he deems as “delinquent” what kind of message does this send to authoritarian regimes around the world?
In an Iowa speech earlier this year
Trump also spoke favorably of Putin and Orban, praising both of them as some of the “strongest leaders” in the world.
And our allies?
He called Trudeau a “far left lunatic,” and French President Emmanuel Macron, whom he accused of being “very insulting.”
He also called then-British Prime Minister Theresa May “a fool” and then-German Chancellor Angela Merkel “stupid.
His enthusiasm for autocrats is grotesque.
https://thehill.com/opinion/campaign/59 … le-models/
https://www.theatlantic.com/internation … rs/554810/
https://www.deseret.com/2023/11/18/2396 … ams-biden/
https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics … story.html
https://www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddow-sho … sna1093951Guess we know who you are not voting for ---
Yep, she (and me) is not voting for a dictator loving, dictator wanna-be who sexually assaults women and regularly commits fraud and leads insurrections and pathologically lies and changes is mind on a whim and regularly insults/bullies people, including those who support him. That and xenophobia, islamophobia, transphobia, homophobia, as well as being dangerously mentally ill are the perfect recipe for a Republican president.
It is obvious Lying Trump is on all sides of the issue, sometimes moment to moment. How he feels depends on no convictions but only which way the wind is blowing.
Outdated? The dude literally hosted Orban last week. Once he got his daughter-in-law instilled at the RNC, they fired 60 people. He's in court today, literally arguing that he should be above our laws. We get daily reminders of the autocracy he wants the United States to become.
As for an improvement of his demeanor, what I see is a deterioration of his mental abilities. He's slurring words, glitching up and freezing, and confusing multiple fellow politicians.I think there's a good argument that he had a mild stroke at some point and suffers with aphasia as a result.
I've noticed that many of his gaffes occur when reading from the teleprompter. He appears to struggle with transforming a written word to speech. The montages shown during the Hur testimony highlighted some of those. It's well known also that he does not like to use the teleprompter.
It was also well documented by those around him during his term that he didn't read his daily briefings. He preferred to have them read aloud with charts or video presentations.Based on what I've observed personally and on social media, I'm active on platforms like X and AOL, among others. The idea of him becoming a dictator appears to be losing its impact. While it may have resonated with certain audiences, particularly on left-leaning media, it's not gaining much traction anymore.
I guess we'll just have to agree to disagree on this matter. When I watch his live content, I perceive a different demeanor and see someone who seems to have been coached on what to say and how to say it. I also notice a willingness to take questions and provide articulate answers. Previously, I felt he struggled to stay on topic. It's interesting how differently we perceive his demeanor.
I endeavor to maintain an impartial viewpoint when observing and listening. I anticipate that the upcoming debates will be quite intriguing. It seems evident to me that he's being coached to appeal to a different audience this time around.
I am not thinking as much about Trump on that issue as I am about down ballot races.
If Lying Trump says he thinks IVF is good, then he should have no problem with the original Roe v Wade decision. If fact, he didn't until his base had a problem with it, so he changed his mind - again."There's a prevalent perception that the Democratic party engages in dishonest tactics, often twisting facts to fit their agenda" - I HAVE no doubt that is sometimes true of Democrats, but you have to admit, that is SOP for Republicans - they are well known for, how did you put it "engaging in dishonest tactics, often twisting facts to fit their agenda."
I see that a lot in these forums, as well.
Those are more esoteric arguments, which, while extremely important to me, I am not sure they are as important to Independent voters. Three and four speak to gut issues for women, and in the case of #4, probably men as well.
Should not be difficult. A couple of ads, repeated ad nauseum of Biden's accomplishments (as that's all there were). An in depth look at the lies and techniques used to brainwash trump voters that had "their eyes opened". A discussion on how women will not be able to vote, buy property, hold a job, etc. shouldn't take much money. The threat to IVF can be done with a single ad, again repeated over and over, on the new Alabama law fixing the error that no one had considered.
Easy!Biden has accomplished more in his first term against a very strong headwind than most first term presidents. Certainly an order of magnitude more than Lying Trump.
If your side fires back that they hypocritically support IVF, then that means they don't believe fertilized eggs are human beings any more. Can't have it both ways, either they are children at the point of fertilization or they are not.
I don't understand why all voters, especially women, haven't had their eyes opened like this former Trump voter.
In another video, a Virginia Republican called Beth explained how the Trump-incited U.S. Capitol riot was “like a sucker punch” and made her realize “this is not the party that I thought we had.”
Trump’s 2021 decision to throw his then-Vice President Mike Pence “under the bus, to the wolves and the lions” for not helping him overturn the 2020 election result made Beth “sick to my stomach,” she said.
She’d back any rival if Trump’s “evil” is on the ballot and President Joe Biden’s administration had been “a bit refreshing, she admitted. “I’ll take kind older man any day over the tyrant.”"I'm a little confused about what Sharlee thinks that chart proves. We all know that Biden has been more lenient in terms of allowing unaccompanied minors into the country than Trump was. We also know that more have been coming since Central American countries have seen a sharp rise in crime and poverty since Covid. Logic would then conclude that there would be more instances of these types of complaints because there are more present in our country.
The chart is clearly misleading, especially since it was doctored.
The story was more concerning, however. It seems one unintended consequence is that Biden's policy to reduce the massive overcrowding of holding centers with children, HHS was not overly careful in who or where the children were released to. While tragic, it is also understandable.
What is not understandable, and the timeline on this old story gets cloudy, is the apparent lack of response by HHS and other agencies in fixing the problem. Most of the data seems to be from 2021, a period when most Trump policies were in force and agencies staffed with Trump holdovers. So, at least through June 2021, I lay at the feet of Trump.
After that, however, it would be on Biden's administration through at least late 2022, which would be the extent of available data. And assuming at least part of the story is true, the apparent neglect in 2022 seems reprehensible.
What is missing, of course, is what the current situation is. Did they recover and fix things in 2023 and 2024? Who knows, the story is very dated.Charts are excellent tools for illustrating statistics, whether it's depicting increases or decreases in variables. They provide a clear representation without assigning blame or singling out individuals, presenting relevant data pertaining to a particular issue.
I think the initial conversation and its context might have shed light on my intent. I did not debate or share any of the reasons for the increase in trafficking in the US. i just pointed out the increase and asked a couple of very direct questions of Willow. Two questions that are variables regarding this crisis. Both questions were pretty much psychological and elicited emotions. Maybe not fair, but I pushed the ticket. I note that in some cases many today don't address simple questions, but come back with very long comments that in the end veer away from the posed question.
Would you be up to answering my questions? Just the simple questions... You have already gone into your thoughts on causation. Do you feel sex trafficking has gotten worse in the past 3.5 years or has it improved in regards to stats? Do you find it a growing problem, does it concern you? "
At any rate, your comment was well taken.it doesn't concern me because I trust law enforcement to be doing everything in their power to combat it. You see, I still believe in our government and that law enforcement will act in a way that protects communities.
I haven't concluded it's better or worse than 3.5 years ago - since the ratios might still be the same. Your graph lists totals of incidents, without mentioning the related increase in children that have been placed with sponsors. It doesn't give an accurate picture. If there are three times as many children in the system, and not three as many incidents, then I'd say the problem could be better than 3.5 years ago. I'd like to see all the data before rushing to any conclusions.Indeed, the altered ratio naturally impacts the number of individuals trafficked in various ways. However, does the surge in numbers not signify a crisis? With more individuals susceptible to trafficking and abuse, it raises significant concerns about the severity of the issue.
Charts are invaluable in visualizing the magnitude of a growing issue. They transform numbers into something tangible, reminding us that behind each statistic lies a human face enduring abuse. The NYT story, in particular, personalized the suffering of those affected. Together, the chart and the story serve as a stark reminder of the harsh reality many individuals endure. And that there are just many more numbers suffering in the past few years.I don't consider an additional 30 reports in one category or 100 in the other category a "surge".
"Suffering" is relative. Even working terrible hours as the article says is happening to a few (or maybe even as much as some), they could still be much better off than where they came from; the exposure to violence is certainly less, they are no longer in abject poverty, I suspect.
Now, should HHS and other agencies be turning a blind eye to their plight like they have prior to 2023? Of course not. They should be moving heaven and earth to rectify the situation. Maybe in the two years since the information that article was based on, they have cleaned up their act. I hope so.
Maybe Biden has solved, or at least reduced the problem you are highlighting.
BTW, the reason I jumped in the first place is because the doctored chart you used put the blame squarely on Harris and then Biden. Those balloons were a huge red flag to me and needed to be addressed.
Do you feel sex trafficking has gotten worse in the past 3.5 years or has it improved in regards to stats?
The chart was either misleading or lacking in context for me. I was unable to read the accompanying article due to the paywall.
My understanding of the chart is that it illustrates that calls pertaining to abuse, neglect and trafficking have risen over the past three and a half years. I also see that it is a fact that the numbers of unaccompanied minors crossing the border have also risen. So it seems that would account for the increase number of calls?
I think it is probably a little too narrow to only look at Biden's years in office but to look further back to understand the trend.
As numbers of unaccompanied minors crossing the border increases, so will abuses . Yes, it is a concern. We know there are a multitude of factors driving these surges. The policies that guide our handling of these minors are the Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization Act of 2008 and the 1996 settlement agreement in Flores v. Meese. Both are quite complex. Are they adequate or do they require Congressional change? That is certainly debatable.
We also have to consider data from U.S. Border Patrol which shows a detailed portrait of the enormous growth in children encountered by BP officers at the US-Mexico border over the past fifteen years. Since FY 2008 there has been a seventeen-fold rise in the numbers of BP apprehensions who are unaccompanied children.
This is not a 3.5 year phenomenon. More unaccompanied minors crossing the border will likely increase abuses.
Unfortunately, a lot of media ignore the historical trends of this issue as well as the factors that drive these children to our border. Never really much in the way of solution either. At a certain point, this country needs to act on such issues rather than just trotting them out for political fodder, to pin the blame on someone. I feel the chart took a very complex issue with a lot of moving parts and wrongly simplified it into a misleading presentation. It left me with the feeling that you were to look at it and come away with the impression that Biden had done something (or not ) to cause abuses of unaccompanied minors to increase. But that's really not true is it?
"I didn't request an analysis of causation whatsoever."
I don't understand this whatsoever. How can you look at an issue and not consider causation? This seems to imply that I should look at a chart see an increased value and automatically and without further investigation apply blame.
https://trac.syr.edu/immigration/reports/687/Good chart, I remember the problems Obama faced and then solved only to have them grow by an order of magnitude under Trump which came down because of Covid. Then it appears to have begun growing again in Trump's last year continuing on into Biden's term, but not quite as much for total apprehensions, while the unaccompanied apprehensions are higher, probably because of 1) the lingering effects of Covid and 2) the propaganda campaign by the Right lying about our open border program.
BTW, this is a good example of when absolute numbers on a graph actually mean something as there is a long time period covered and there is no other metric to compare it to other than time. In the doctored NYT chart, it means little because the timeframe is too short, the scale is deceiving, but mostly because the quantity is not divided by some appropriate total as you and Valeant have been pointing out.Once more, I posed straightforward questions with clear context. There was no blame assigned, nor any inquiry into causation. I simply sought a straightforward response. Your chart focuses on the apprehension of unaccompanied children, while mine presents statistics gathered by HHS regarding reports of abused, neglected migrant children, and victims of trafficking. This comparison is akin to comparing apples to oranges.
I inquired about your perception regarding the issue of trafficking over the past 3.5 years—whether you believe it has worsened, improved based on statistics, or remains a growing concern. I also asked if this issue personally concerns you. My intention was not to prompt you to take a side but rather to understand your recognition of the problem and your level of concern.
Thank you for your thorough research efforts, though I wasn't seeking cautionary details. One could delve into extensive explanations regarding the intricacies of this issue. My aim was straightforward: to understand your perception of whether you believe trafficking is becoming a more prevalent issue and if it personally concerns you.Why wouldn't abuse and neglect go up as the number of unaccompanied minors goes up? Over the last few decades the number of unaccompanied minors crossing the border has increased, for a multitude of reasons, none of which should be ignored. It seems to make sense that abuse, neglect and trafficking would increase also, simply due to the numbers. What am I missing here?
Can you elaborate on your thinking as to the relationship between the increasing number of apprehended unaccompanied children and reports of abuse, neglect and trafficking? Is there a correlation?
If we see the rate of unaccompanied minors going up for decades, wouldn't the rates of reported neglect or abuse go up at the same time?When I inquire about the impact of the rise in human trafficking, I receive responses that delve into causation and excuses. What I'm truly seeking is a genuine expression of concern about this form of abuse, rather than lengthy explanations of all the whys of it. It's disheartening that some people are reluctant to share whether trafficking even concerns them or acknowledge if they perceive it as a growing problem. This observation prompts me to reflect on human nature.
Then why didn't you simply ask for "a genuine expression of concern" without the misleading question and data?
We have both answered you several times that we are both concerned about human trafficking, who wouldn't be (except the traffickers). To me, at least, it is a non-sensical question - of course we are concerned, duh
As to the leading "rise in the last 3.5 years" part, I will suggest the rate has possibly gone down based on a combination of the REAL NYT's chart and Willow's chart.
If Sharlee had divided her chart by your chart, then you would have some statistics you could analyze.
"I inquired about your perception regarding the issue of trafficking over the past 3.5 years—whether you believe it has worsened, improved based on statistics, or remains a growing concern. " - The straightforward answer, again, is you can't tell from the data provided
Also, you took a side by the way you ask your question. This may appear straightforward to you but to us it seems to be a leading question with the answer already built in. Especially given the doctored chart you provided which placed blame squarely on Harris in one bubble and Biden in the other.It appears you might feel there is a discrepancy in the numbers provided by HHS regarding reports of abuse, neglect, and trafficking among migrant children. I trust the NYTs vetted the article. My questions were posed to highlight the troubling increase in these issues and seek personal perspectives on the matter, rather than attributing blame or dissecting the causes. For instance, my own view is that this problem is evidently worsening, which is deeply concerning and disheartening. I'm troubled by the plight of these individuals slipping through the cracks with little hope of escape.
It seems that expressing emotions about this issue has only led to confusion among users. Rather than delving into the whys and hows, my focus was on whether others shared the concern about the worsening problem. I've found it challenging to convey this point, as users often divert towards discussing causation. This tendency, I believe, reflects a desire to make the problem more digestible by veering away from its stark reality. The causes are very much evident, there is no need to debate that subject or place blame. Those variables make for interesting conversation but don't hit the mark concerning the posed questions.
So, stepping away at this point. Just not up for the crazy spinning-in-circles dance.We keep spinning in circles because it appears you are conflating two things. One is whether people are "... troubled by the plight of these individuals slipping through the cracks with little hope of escape.. The answer to that is obvious and non-controvertible, yes we are all troubled by it.
It is the second part that is being challenged is where you say "My questions were posed to highlight the troubling increase in these issues". You say that as if it were true, but you haven't proved it to be true. That is what we find misleading. It might be true OR it might not be true. The point is, you can't tell that from the doctored NYT's graph.
And, so long as you keep offering misleading data, I am forced to push back and present the truth.
It is obvious to me you want the show the rate of human trafficking has increased under Biden (which is why you picked 3.5 years). Unfortunately, you offered the wrong data.
This is a new low for the Republican Party that Lying Trump is responsible for.
"GOP nominee to run North Carolina public schools called for violence against Democrats, including executing Obama and Biden"
https://www.cnn.com/2024/03/14/politics … index.htmlHere is the link that gives context to the conversation.
https://hubpages.com/politics/forum/352 … ost4324372
"Do you feel sex trafficking has gotten worse in the past 3.5 years or has it improved in regards to stats? Do you find it a growing problem, does it concern you? "
As one can see - I straightforwardly posed a couple of direct questions to Willow, providing an HHS chart easily accessible on various online platforms such as X, Facebook, and the NYT. This chart served as a reminder of the escalating issue of migrant trafficking in the years that Biden has been in office. I openly posed a couple of very straightforward questions to Willow, leaving it entirely up to her whether to respond or not. My aim was solely to elicit simple answers, hence the straightforward nature of my questions. I didn't seek excuses or delve into the complexities; I simply sought direct responses.
In response to concerns raised by some here, I'd like to clarify that my intention was simply to engage Willow with straightforward inquiries, while also offering the chart as a potential source for discussion and supplementing it with an NYT article for additional context. I did not offer any other article in regard to other websites that used the chart. Clearly, some sites used the chart in their articles, and added captions, to the chart. I did make the mistake of using a photo with the captions very much by accident. I should have used the photo from NYT because this was my source that initiated the two direct questions to Willow. Hopefully, this clears up any misconceptions in my original post.
https://www.nytimes.com/2023/04/17/us/p … ;smtyp=curTo answer your question is it is hard to tell. I go along with Valeant that Covid drove more to the border so we are catching more and therefore more are being released. The real question is if the rate has increased and your data does not answer that question.
I didn't request an analysis of causation whatsoever. It's perplexing why some find it challenging to respond directly. The context of my inquiries is evident, yet there's a lack of engagement. While there are undoubtedly causal factors, delving into every possibility wasn't the focus here. These were straightforward queries about sharing insights of one's thoughts on a crisis impacting numerous children.
"Do you feel sex trafficking has gotten worse in the past 3.5 years or has it improved in regards to stats? Do you find it a growing problem, does it concern you? "
I can easily answer the questions. The chart shows the problem has gotten worse due to stats over the past 3.5 years.
Yes, I find this a problem.
Yes, it concerns me that we have several types of human trafficking in America.
I had hoped to simply gather thoughts on personal feelings, without delving into causation or assigning blame—a raw reaction to trafficking in America. I posed the same question in another chat, yet encountered similar responses, with few willing to engage. It appears that many shy away from confronting the issue or acknowledging its existence. I find this intriguing. Perhaps we prefer to focus on selective issues and avoid tackling the truly grim ones. Most discussions veered towards causation, deflecting from the core questions at hand.And as Valeant and I said, you can't tell without rates.
Even foreign leaders know that Lying Trump is a pathological liar and that a large section of Americans (MAGA) WANT one as their president.
https://www.cnn.com/2024/03/16/politics … index.htmlWhat do these former officials know about Trump that Trump voters don't?:
Mike Pence - VP
Bill Barr - AG
John Bolton - National Security Advisor
Gen McMaster - National Security Advisor
Mark Esper - SecDef
Gen Mattis - SecDef
Gen Kelly - Chief of Staff
Mick Mulvaney - Chief of Staff
Gen Milley - Chief, Joint Chiefs of Staff
None of these are so-called Never Trumpers and were once HAND-PICKED by Lying Trump to be in his administration.
Shouldn't their opinions give you pause before voting for a man so obviously unfit to hold the job?
https://www.cnn.com/videos/politics/202 … nn-vpx.cnn
https://www.cnn.com/2024/03/15/politics … index.htmlYou'd think, wouldn't you? Who was on his staff and now endorses him? Who would know better what they are talking about?
And now, Pence. Will it make a dent?I doubt it because as I have explained before (and provided links), and now written a series of articles about it, MAGA is brainwashed, as are many non-MAGA Trump voters; their brains have been physically rewired by the persistent Putin-style propaganda that Lying Trump and his Right-wing enablers put out on an hourly basis.
It has been shown now that with repetition of this BS, a lot of which we see on these forums, the pathways between hearing/seeing this stuff and the Emotional area of the brain are enhanced while the pathways between hearing/seeing and the Thinking and Processing parts of the brain are suppressed.
Lying Trump calls for a Bloodbath when he loses in 2024. It is the same tactic he used to call the insurrectionists together on Jan 6, 2021.
https://www.rawstory.com/trump-2667530593/Okay, here is it. Whether Trump slurs, or strugglig with words, it does't make sense, even to an outside. He has block his way to victory. He may may not really mean the Proud Boys are on a marching Order agaist the United Stateps. That's uatainable. The standing USA Army can put down the revolt in less than a day. And what if Trump really lies? He has spoil all the credit he build up to the USA Supreme Court.
We just don't want that type of reprobate as president. He certainly has the right to be all those deplorable things, but if he takes these into the presidency we will have a disaster and order or two magnitudes worse than his first time around.
Lying Trump is having problems at his rallies.
* While he mentions the guy who killed Laken Riley, he didn't bother to mention the thousand of young people killed by native born Americans. WHY?
* Telling the story about The Snake he said ""You've bit me but why?!" Trump shouted. "You know your boyght is poisonous." Is he going senile or something? Just asking.
* Blaming the teleprompter for some of his many gaffes he said "Don't pay the teleprompter company," he said after bragging he didn't need the device."
* "In another bewildering move, Trump actually says that "Joe Biden won against Barack Obama." He really does have problems telling the difference between Obama, Biden, Haley, Pelosi, as well as putting heads of state with the wrong countries. Are these signs of Dementia? Just Asking.
https://www.rawstory.com/trump-boyt-gli … hio-rally/Trump continuing to use violent rhetoric in his speeches...
https://www.yahoo.com/news/trump-says-c … 15044.htmlThanks for the link. Intriguing. His rhetoric trend for language usage is somewhat alarming in my mind. I have noticed it even with a once in awhile glance at a YouTube of a rally.
From the article what caught my attention is, "Former Vice President Mike Pence broke with Trump on Friday, announcing that he would not endorse him in 2024." (Reference date is Sat Mar 16th, 2024 for article publish date)
I have not checked elsewhere to verify that, however it gives pause to me.
Lying Trump continues to make FOOLS of those who will vote for him. This time he fabricated some embellishments to previous lies about the "tape" of the 2019 call with Zelenskii where he pressured Zelenskii to 1) investigate the Ukraine (it was really the Russians) meddling into our 2016 election and 2) investigate the son of his 2020 opponent, Joe Biden. (He was impeached over that illegal activity.)
Trump LIED to an Ohio crowd on Saturday that "he let Democrats make “wilder and wilder” claims about what he said to Zelensky, “and then we released the tape.” Trump proceeded to claim that when Democratic Rep. Nancy Pelosi of California, who was then the speaker of the House, “heard” this tape, she was angry that she had been deceived by her allies’ previous “false” descriptions of the call; he claimed that Pelosi said to “her people”: “What the hell did you get me into? You hear this call? He didn’t do any of this stuff!”
Trump claimed that Pelosi was told, “Let’s just pretend he did and keep going forward.” He continued, “After they made up the story and then after that they heard the tape, they died. They didn’t know that phone call was taped. That was one good case of a phone call being taped. And they were taped and they got caught.”
That is a TOTAL FABRICATION!!! and he expects his true believers on this forum to believe the lie. Why is it a TOTAL FABRICATION? Because There was no TAPE!!
In spite of this, they will try to make this sexual deviant their president. How SAD is that?
https://edition.cnn.com/2024/03/17/poli … index.htmlI recalled when Trump was first impeached years ago, under the Democrate, with Ms Pelosi, as House Leader. Pelosi? This lady impressed me as Governor of California. And looking keenly into my crystal ball, I see she should become Speaker, when she left office as governor. I even tip her as the next USA President. Seriously, she mendle too much with the bad guys in the Democrate Party. Consequently, she was against all thimgs Trump. The first and second impeachmemts were not a success. So I had doubts in the link fictious stories. 'real' Donald Trump is now become a politician? Good for him. Let him speak with both sides of the mouth.
Sorry, Pelosi was never California's governor.
The "bad guys" in the Democratic Party (I will admit there is a small handful) had nothing to do with how she felt about Trump. Trump is the reason she feels he is a worthless POS.
Lying Trump has always spoken from both sides of his mouth.
His suit against ABC will probably add to Lying Trump's money woes as he might be forced to pay for ABC's legal fees when he loses.
https://edition.cnn.com/2024/03/19/medi … index.htmlTell me now if the system isn't rigged in Trump's favor!!! It is unfair that he is never held accountable for his illegal activity
https://thehill.com/regulation/court-ba … raud-case/In what amounts to a significant victory for the former president, a panel of FIVE appellate court judges gave Trump 10 days to come up with $175 million
New York Times https://www.nytimes.com/2024/02/16/nyre … uling.html
"Trump Fraud Trial Penalty Will Exceed $450 Million
The ruling in Donald J. Trump’s civil fraud case could cost him all his available cash. The judge said that the former president’s “complete lack of contrition” bordered on pathological.
Donald Trump, wearing a blue suit and blue tie, sits at the defendant’s table in a courtroom. The civil trial tested Donald J. Trump’s claims of wealth and a judge found them fraudulent. The former president is expected to appeal. Credit...Maansi Srivastava/The New York Times
By Jonah E. Bromwich and Ben Protess
Feb. 16, 2024
A New York judge on Friday handed Donald J. Trump a crushing defeat in his civil fraud case, finding the former president liable for conspiring to manipulate his net worth and ordering him to pay a penalty of nearly $355 million plus interest that could wipe out his entire stockpile of cash.
The decision by Justice Arthur F. Engoron caps a chaotic, yearslong case in which New York’s attorney general put Mr. Trump’s fantastical claims of wealth on trial. With no jury, the power was in Justice Engoron’s hands alone, and he came down hard: The judge delivered a sweeping array of punishments that threatens the former president’s business empire as he simultaneously contends with four criminal prosecutions and seeks to regain the White House.
Justice Engoron barred Mr. Trump for three years from serving in top roles at any New York company, including portions of his own Trump Organization. He also imposed a two-year ban on the former president’s adult sons and ordered that they pay more than $4 million each. One of them, Eric Trump, is the company’s de facto chief executive, and the ruling throws into doubt whether any member of the family can run the business in the near term.
The judge also ordered that they pay substantial interest, pushing the penalty for the former president to $450 million, according to the attorney general, Letitia James."
Trump has yet to succeed in overturning Justice Arthur F. Engoron's decision through an appeal. It's important to recognize that like any American citizen, Trump has the right to request an appeal, as this is a fundamental aspect of the legal process. Despite any perceptions otherwise, Trump is undergoing the established procedures within the New York legal system. It's entirely within his rights to pursue this matter to the Supreme Court if he chooses to do so. Should he ultimately lose, he will be subject to the same accountability as any other citizen, obliged to fulfill the judgment against him according to the legal standards upheld by the courts.
It seems that Trump received fair treatment this morning regarding the reduction of his bond, allowing him to proceed with his appeal. He has agreed to pay the reduced bond and expresses determination to press forward. This marks a victory for him, propelling him towards the next stage: the Court of Appeals, and possibly the Supreme Court.
This latest success joins a series of judicial overturns, indicating that he has been able to leverage the full benefits of the judicial system. It appears that in numerous cases, Trump has found success by pursuing appeals in both lower and higher courts.
I was pleased to see -- "An appeals court overturned Engoron's ruling to allow Trump and his sons to continue running the family business as they appeal the decision."Of course, it is rigged in his favor.
There are two kinds of Justice, one for the fat cats like Trump and the other for the rest of us,
After investigating a bit, I realize that Trumps bond requirement is not unprecedented but was quite high for a company of its size.
So, again we are open to endless appeals and stalling by the Trump camp, to avoid facing the music.
I continue to suspect that the entire system is rigged in favor of the wealthy and powerful. Much like the Sci-fi film "They Live" we have to get more people to put on the glasses to actually see the disguised beasts that move freely among us.By the way, ESO, what do,you think about this?
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Ronna McDaniel — former Republican National Committee chairwoman and recent NBC hire — was a major topic of conversation on Sunday.
At the end of the weekend, former “Meet the Press” moderator Chuck Todd attacked his own network for hiring McDaniel as a paid political analyst, saying, “There’s a reason a lot of journalists at NBC News are uncomfortable with this,” going into how she led the charge in “gaslighting” and “character assassination” when dealing with the news media as a pro-Trump election denier.
But, the same day, McDaniel admitted in a pre-recorded interview on NBC News' "Meet the Press" that she does, in fact, believe Biden won. Which is a twist.
He won, he is the legitimate president, fair and square. He won, it's certified, it's done. But I do think it's fair to say there were problems in 2020," she said to host Kristen Welker.
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I have to wonder how many of the election deniers actually believe it, when this one folds up like a lawn chair when she is being offered a job?I am glad she reversed herself publicly, but it nevertheless furthers the notion that you can't believe anything she says - just like Lying Trump who will say ANYTHING if he thinks it will help him.
The system is rigged in the favour of the rich and the white! That's nothing new.
What is new, that even a multi-billionair like Trump could not with all his expensive lawyers proof his innocence. So the evidence must have been water tight.
Now how many cases do we have? I lost count.
Having sex with a hooker while your wife just had a baby.
Grabbing women by the %$·
Tax fraud. Wasn't he the first president who did not want to show his taxes? Now we now why.
And Oh, how is the Mar Largo case with the tons of secret papers going on?
This Donald Trump screaming about fight like hell and promising a bloodbath.
Is this normal behaviour for a person, any person, let alone for someone to to be the face of a country?Those are all perfectly acceptable behaviors that qualify somebody to be the most powerful person in the world - according to his supporters. Go figure.
There is something crazy going on in the world. And I think Social Media has a lot to answer for.
People believe the weirdest things that are promoted by influencers. And lot of influences don't have any morals as the only goal they have is to attract followers and money.
Trump is one of those influences who doesn't give a shit about morals. His goal is to make money, and the presidency is for him a way to make money. He doesn't care about making it a better place.
In the Netherlands where I come from the prime minister is not allowed to earn more than a fixed maximum amount of money. There is a Top Income Standards Act. This law stipulates that top officials in the public and semi-public sector may not earn more than € 233,000 per year in 2024.
I think that's a really good law and avoid a lot of corruption and so called "gifts" from companies... Also It attracts the right kind of people to govern. Not people who see politics as a business.
As I said before. The main difference between Biden and Trump is. Trump belongs to the 1% and governs in name of the 1%. Biden did not grow up with a golden spoon. Trump never ever knew the costs of a brick of milk, Biden did.
Now if you ask me, who would defend your rights. I would never ever say Trump. Trump will defend the laws that will defend the super rich, and that's not in the interests of ordinary people.
His goal is to widen the gap between the 1% and the rest.
It is short sited as it will ruin a country, but that's not his problem.
Trump was a failure. An I think it should be a warning for the US not to vote for a businessman of the 1% ever again. Never vote for a Jeff Bezon or Elon Musk figure.
I was planing to say something about populism and social media too.. But well. Don't want to make it to long...
I heard some predictions that Trump won't win. As he has alienated to many floating voters and traditional Republican voters. He has a hard core fan club. But it is to small to win. No wonder that he is already talking about his defeat. He knows that he is probably going to loose and sets the stage for the battle afterwards. (one reason more why this man is dangerous and a self obsessed megalomaniac.)
I think if someone else than Trump would go for the Republicans as a candidate he/she would win. The Republican Party has killed itself with Trump.Extremely well said, all of it. Thank you.
BTW, my wife and I had a great (and expensive) time in Great Britain when I visited. Unfortunately, I didn't get to ride the zip line you told me about, although I was close to it.
I guess you meant Arthur. I'm the Dutch guy living in Spain. ;-) (Although my wife is English.. to make it a bit more complicated...)
Ooops. sorry for getting you two mixed up.
peterstreep: Wow, it is so nice to draw some fresh opinions into these discussions. As you will find, they tend to be dominated by just a few voices. You sound like you might be in a country other than the US? Seeing things from a unique point of view is always interesting.
The Trump thing...let's see if he can success again at an appeal court, specific the USA Supreme Court.
peterstreep: When the supreme court has the last word they will remove all doubt what they are made of. Here's hoping they still know right from wrong.
With this hate-filled post, Trump not only raised the threat level against Judge Merchan, it also put a target on his daughter's back. Aren't you Trump voters proud of him?
"“Judge Juan Merchan, a very distinguished looking man, is nevertheless a true and certified Trump Hater who suffers from a very serious case of Trump Derangement Syndrome,” Trump wrote on Truth Social. “In other words, he hates me! His daughter is a senior executive at a Super Liberal Democrat firm that works for Adam ‘Shifty’ Schiff, the Democrat National Committee, (Dem)Senate Majority PAC, and even Crooked Joe Biden.”
https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/politics … =shorelineWhat is it that these Conservatives know, that Trump supporters do not?
VOTED TO IMPEACH
1. Rep. Liz Cheney, said this TRUTH - Trump "summoned this mob, assembled the mob, and lit the flame of this attack." She called what Trump did the "greatest betrayal" of a U.S. president ever.
2. Rep. Tom Rice, said "I have backed this President through thick and thin for four years. I campaigned for him and voted for him twice. But, this utter failure is inexcusable."
3. Rep. Dan Newhouse, said "The mob was inflamed by the language and misinformation of the President of the United States. ... A vote against impeachment is a vote to validate unacceptable violence" and "to condone President Trump's inaction."
4. Rep. Adam Kinzinger,. He said Trump "incited this insurrection" and "if these actions — the Article II branch inciting a deadly insurrection against the Article I branch — are not worthy of impeachment, then what is an impeachable offense?"
5. Rep. Anthony Gonzalez, said, Trump "helped organize and incite a mob that attacked the United States Congress in an attempt to prevent us from completing our solemn duties as prescribed by the Constitution."
6. Rep. Fred Upton, He said he would have preferred a bipartisan censure that would not interfere with the business of the next administration, "but," he said, "it is time to say enough is enough." He also cited Trump's efforts "to impede the peaceful transfer of power from one President to the next."
7. Rep. Jaime Herrera Beutler, She said "I'm not choosing sides, I'm choosing truth."
8. Rep. Peter Meijer. He said Trump showed no "courage" and "betrayed millions with claims of a 'stolen election.' and "The one man who could have restored order, prevented the deaths of five Americans including a Capitol police officer, and avoided the desecration of our Capitol, shrank from leadership when our country needed it most."
9. Rep. John Katko. he said of Trump: "It cannot be ignored that President Trump encouraged this insurrection." He also noted that as the riot was happening, Trump "refused to call it off, putting countless lives in danger."
10. Rep. David Valadao, he said: "President Trump was, without question, a driving force in the catastrophic events that took place on January 6." He added, "His inciting rhetoric was un-American, abhorrent, and absolutely an impeachable offense."
VOTED TO CONVICT
11. Sen. Richard Burr, who said "The evidence is compelling that President Trump is guilty of inciting an insurrection against a coequal branch of government and that the charge rises to the level of high Crimes and Misdemeanors."
12. Sen. Bill Cassidy He said "Our Constitution and our country is more important than any one person. I voted to convict President Trump because he is guilty."
13. Sen. Susan Collins said "This impeachment trial is not about any single word uttered by President Trump on Jan. 6, 2021. It is instead about President Trump's failure to obey the oath he swore on January 20, 2017. His actions to interfere with the peaceful transition of power — the hallmark of our Constitution and our American democracy — were an abuse of power and constitute grounds for conviction."
14. Sen. Lisa Murkowski said "The evidence presented at the trial was clear: President Trump was watching events unfold live, just as the entire country was, Even after the violence had started, as protestors chanted 'Hang Mike Pence' inside the Capitol, President Trump, aware of what was happening, tweeted that the Vice President had failed the country."
15. Sen. Mitt Romney pondered "President Trump attempted to corrupt the election by pressuring the Secretary of State of Georgia to falsify the election results in his state. President Trump incited the insurrection against Congress by using the power of his office to summon his supporters to Washington on January 6th and urging them to march on the Capitol during the counting of electoral votes. He did this despite the obvious and well known threats of violence that day. President Trump also violated his oath of office by failing to protect the Capitol, the Vice President, and others in the Capitol. Each and every one of these conclusions compels me to support conviction."
16. Sen. Ben Sasse, posits that "In my first speech here in the Senate in November 2015, I promised to speak out when a president — even of my own party — exceeds his or her powers, I cannot go back on my word, and Congress cannot lower our standards on such a grave matter, simply because it is politically convenient. I must vote to convict."
17. Sen. Pat Toomey summarized his vote by saying Trump "betrayed the confidence millions of us placed in him." As a result of President Trump's actions, for the first time in American history, the transfer of presidential power was not peaceful," and noted further that "A lawless attempt to retain power by a president was one of the founders' greatest fears motivating the inclusion of the impeachment authorities in the U.S. Constitution."
These men and women had the courage to do what was needed to put [b]country over party and themselves, which is what anyone who votes for Trump isn't doing.Hilary was Right says this disaffected Republican voter who is leaving the Party. Presumably he is referring to her "deplorables" remark. This is a growing trend among Republican voters as their eyes are opened to reality. Hopefully, that will happen for the Trump supporters on this forum.
https://edition.cnn.com/videos/politics … cl-vpx.cnnDoubtful. We have a bunch of true believers in here.
This clip was quite brief, and it didn't delve into the individual's thoughts on Hillary's policies. It feels like an incomplete interview lacking sufficient context. If CNN had aired more of the interview, viewers might have gained a better understanding of the man's preferences regarding Hillary. I've noticed a trend in left-leaning media where they often cherry-pick fragments of information, omitting crucial parts. Do you believe this approach effectively communicates trustable context?
This kind of reporting leaves me feeling I don't have a complete thought to decipher the person's entire view.
Regardless, at this juncture, I find the polls to be my main source for understanding American sentiments. As it stands, Trump and Biden seem to be in a tight race if the election were to happen today, indicating a significant portion of the populace favors Trump's return to the White House. However, it's important to note that polls are subject to change. Numerous pressing issues could potentially influence voters' opinions on both sides.What is "significant" to you? 10%? 30%? 60%? Over half?
I'm unsure why my previous comment didn't directly address your question. Clearly, I elaborated on my thoughts regarding polls in general. I discussed how polls offer insights into the sentiment of Americans and provide a rudimentary idea of potential election outcomes. Additionally, I mentioned that various pressing issues could sway voters' opinions on both sides. Regarding the significance of percentages, I believe the tight polls indicate strong support for both candidates, making it appear neck and neck according to current polling data.
"Regardless, at this juncture, I find the polls to be my main source for understanding American sentiments. As it stands, Trump and Biden seem to be in a tight race if the election were to happen today, indicating a significant portion of the populace favors Trump's return to the White House. However, it's important to note that polls are subject to change. Numerous pressing issues could potentially influence voters' opinions on both sides."
You opted not to address the comment I made regarding the clip you shared. From my perspective, the clip seemed inconclusive within its context. What was your point in posting the clip?Because I was asking for a number. You stated a fact that a "significant" number of Americans support Trump, which implies the opposite for Biden. Unless I missed it, your follow-up comment didn't say that Biden has significant support as well.
My comment was to point out they both have almost the same amount of support at the moment. In fact, in several polls, Biden has more (but not significantly more),No, I stated a view, this is where some seem to have a problem here on HP's. Another problem is selectively choosing a sentence without reading the full paragraph to assert the context of a view or a fact. In this line of conversation, I used the word "significant' twice. Please read the full paragraph to understand my view and the full thought I was sharing. i am weary of having the need to explain context to those that ignore context. I see this as a growing problem, selective choosing of a word or two, and truely taking it out of context.
1. "Regardless, at this juncture, I FIND (indicates my view) the polls to be my main source for understanding American sentiments. As it stands, Trump and Biden SEEM (not definite) to be in a tight race if the election were to happen today, INDICATING (pointing out) a significant portion of the populace favors Trump's return to the White House. HOWEVER,it's IMPORTANT to NOTE that polls are SUBJECT TO CHANGE. Numerous pressing issues could potentially influence voters' opinions on both sides."
( Using the word, however --- This phrase is typically used to introduce a piece of information that the reader should take note of. ) As you see my words add the context that issues can change by influencing voter's opinions.
2. "Regarding the significance of percentages, I believe the tight polls indicate strong support for both candidates, making it appear neck and neck according to current polling data." Note the words I believe,(indicating my view) I did not list the current polls on the match-up between the two due to it would be tedious and unnecessary.
If you are interested in where I formed my view in regards to stats "being tight, and looking like if the election were held today Trump MIGHT win --- My source is actually the poll takers are left-leaning Bloomberg News/Morning Consult poll. So, I do take this poll with a grain of salt. Please read all the contents of the article and view the charts. https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles … ing-states
https://www.economist.com/interactive/u … den-polls/
If you want me to share a view, on a percentage of Americans who appear to support Trump regarding polls today. The polls show as many are supporting Trump as they are Biden. Keep in mind we are conversing regarding polls. As I have shared change is due to changing issues, and factors. I do not think there is anyone on this planet that could answer what % support Trump or Biden. We only have polls to view, and as I said change with time.
You may need to slow down when reading comments and look for the full context of the comment.
And I have provided data time and again that the polling you're relying on has been off compared to the actual results on average by about 8 points since Roe. The Alabama special election this week was supposed to be a close race according to the polling. Instead, it was a 25-point rout.
At this point, I rely primarily on polls to gauge American sentiments, aiming to discern the prevalent issues. However, I acknowledge that election polls, while useful for understanding voter intentions at the time, aren't always reliable indicators of the final outcome. Statistics have shown their limitations in predicting winners. Additionally, it's crucial to recognize that opinions can evolve, potentially altering electoral outcomes. So, I can agree with your sentiment. As I felt I did in my previous comment. --- "Regardless, at this juncture, I find the polls to be my main source for understanding American sentiments. As it stands, Trump and Biden seem to be in a tight race if the election were to happen today, indicating a significant portion of the populace favors Trump's return to the White House. HOWEVER, it's important to note that polls are subject to change. Numerous pressing issues could potentially influence voters' opinions on both sides."
Perhaps I should have kept it simple and stated --- I take all polls with a grain of salt. I do watch them to ascertain what Americans are considering in regards to problems, and issues that top their list. This does give me some insight into their sentiments. This was my point...
I find it challenging to engage in conversations with liberals, which can be frustrating. It appears they often fail to fully grasp the context of my comments. It's clear that I was generally agreeing with your points, but somehow my intended context was overlooked. I don't mean to come across as rude; I simply want to share my perspective. Oh wellUsing RCP averages, Trump was up by 3.3 points Dec 17, 23, 4.3 points on Jan 26, then it has been closing ever since and is now 1 point today. Trump has never gotten better than 47.8% and Biden never worse than 43%, which is why I asked Sharlee what she thought "significant" was. The way I see things, both numbers are "significant".
I don't think Hillary matters anymore at this stage of American Politics.
We've seen how Trump rampaged politics with his alternative facts and macho white male politics.
But this man is an example of a traditional Republic voter who has different values than Trump has.
People who voted Trump the first time as they wanted something else won't vote again for him. Trump has a hard core fan base. But this fan base is to small to give him a victory.
Trump has alienated to many traditional Republican voters. And I think many big companies don't trust Trump either. It's not for nothing that Trump is already talking about what will happen if he looses. He's already trying to build a scenario where he when he looses won't loose face..."People who voted Trump the first time as they wanted something else won't vote again for him."
Are you sure? America went from Obama to Trump in search of that "something else" - are they now looking for the same "something else" after 4 years of Biden's destruction?
On top of that, how many Democrats are fed up with being told "The border is closed!" and "Inflation is down" even as NYC wants 10B of their money to take care of the illegal aliens residing there and people can barely afford to eat any more because of runaway inflation?I think what Peter is saying is that those Obama voters who voted for Trump in 2016, did not vote for him in 2020 and will not vote for him in 2024.
Why does your side continue to encourage migrants to come to America by saying the border is open, when the policies clearly show it to be closed (granted, it isn't the way China and Russia close their borders)?
Why does NYC need 10B? Because Abbott illegally and immorally sent all those migrants to NYC.
Your comments, writ large, about inflation simply is not true. Sure, you can find an anecdote here and there, but at a macro level, wage increases have nearly made up for inflation increases (and should surpass it by the end of the year).Why didn't the hesitant voter opt for Trump a second time? I think that initially, people voted against Hillary and desired change, which Trump represented. However, Trump's novelty has worn off, leaving voters with a choice between him, a former social media icon whose allure has faded, and the sitting president.
The Economy of the US is pretty strong if you compare it world wide. As world wide it all went down a bit. except for the US.
But people do not vote because of numbers. People vote with their under belly and gut feeling. And as said, Trump is old news. And I don't think all that yelling and screaming has any effect any more. So people start to come back to a traditional vote. And the traditional vote will be Biden.
This off course all is speculation made by a foreigner. But isn't it all what we do at this moment. A wild speculation.I sure hope, for America's and the world's sake, that enough American voters come back to reality to convince Trump that real Americans don't want him.
Some want him like some don't want Hilary or Biden. It's a chose.
Yes, you are right, but Hilary or Biden aren't intent on destroying everything good America stands for. And there are 80 some odd million American citizens who don't mind Trump destroying our democracy for the rest of us.
I totally disagree with the later part of your post. If these 80 million odds are voters, bent to help Trump destroy America's democracy, how come Joseph Biden, get 74 million votes in 2020, above Trump's 232 millions to get into the White House? Is this not curious?
It is your statement that is curious. Are you saying Trump got 232 million votes in 2020? Or that Biden got 306 million?
Just to get the facts straight, in the 2020 election Biden got - Oh, I see, you are talking about electoral votes. Biden got 306 electoral votes and Trump 232.
Also, I see my memory faltered, I should have said 74 million some odd voters rather than 80 million that voted for Trump (some of whom won't do it a third time.
Biden got 81,284,666 (51.3%) votes while Trump got just 74,224,319 (46.9%) which means Biden beat Trump by some 7 million popular votes or 74 electoral votes.OMG my statement curious?! And your memory tangoing with itself? Is Trump shuting for the presidency for a third time? I think you need a tablet or two of mind calming medicine. Those statistics of either Trump, or Biden lossing electoral votes are available both online and offline.
"It's essential to distinguish between the personal conduct of a leader and their ability to govern effectively."
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The point is that they both matter and one cannot be inextricably separated from the other.
Also, if I contemplate having my appendix removed who wouldn't give more weight to the opinion of a trained physician over that of a truck Driver?
I like experts, people who through education, training and experience earn the right to have their opinions on a matter within the parameter of their expertise given more serious consideration than that of just the layman on the street.They both matter, neither can be ignored.
The same holds true for the willingness to work with others (at least in our style of government). And the goals one sets. And the ability to work with other nations. And the ability to look years into the future at projected outcomes of actions. And the philosophy of governing one exhibits.
And a dozen others. None can be inextricably separated, none are of a priority level that makes them more important than all others. We're not talking about the Queen of England, where the position is primarily a figurehead, but instead a leader that must have at least some ability in a great many fields.Truer words have never been spoken..
But since we are talking about leadership and Presidents, I could not resist including this article, forgive me please.
https://hubpages.com/religion-philosoph … te-Part-II
---------
Lincoln wrote the most beautiful letter ever sent to a bereaved Mother in wartime. It says a lot about the personality and sensitivities of the man which is part and parcel why he was so great a leader.
Executive Mansion
Washington, Nov. 21, 1864.
Dear Madam,
I have been shown in the files of the War Department a statement of the Adjutant General of Massachusetts that you are the mother of five sons who have died gloriously on the field of battle.
I feel how weak and fruitless must be any word of mine which should attempt to beguile you from the grief of a loss so overwhelming. But I cannot refrain from tendering you the consolation that may be found in the thanks of the Republic they died to save.
I pray that our Heavenly Father may assuage the anguish of your bereavement, and leave you only the cherished memory of the loved and lost, and the solemn pride that must be yours to have laid so costly a sacrifice upon the altar of freedom.
Yours, very sincerely and respectfully,
A. Lincoln
Such as those giving their often objective opinion on the ranking of presidents - all of who rank Trump near the bottom and Biden near the middle. (Personally, after a few years, I suspect Biden's ranking will move up noticeably. On the other hand, Trump's can't get much lower.
Personally, after a few years, I suspect Biden's ranking will move up noticeably.
Considering the heavy lifting that he has to do over the last 2-3 years, that was done successfully, I agree with you.
Geez how can you be rated worse when compared to a President that served for a month, William Henry Harrison? You have to work at that.
Sorry, I have no idea what you are talking about now.
"People who voted Trump the first time as they wanted something else won't vote again for him."
Dan, People who supported Trump in the past because they sought change won't necessarily support him again. Personally, I appreciated the different approach he brought to governance, especially his focus on the economy, border control, and trade deals. Despite controversies, I believe he handled COVID-19 reasonably well by heeding expert advice, though he often bore unfair blame for their missteps. For me, voting for Trump meant embracing change, and I intend to support him again.
Conversely, I see Biden's presidency as a failure, evident in various issues plaguing the country. Moreover, (again my view) many Democrats may feel disillusioned by broken promises like 'closed borders' and 'lower inflation,' particularly as resources are diverted to accommodate illegal immigrants while inflation hits hard. This dissatisfaction might lead some Democrats to abstain from voting or seek alternatives. Hey, one might say "They will be seeking change... What goes around comes around.
I believe Americans typically face reality head-on and recognize clear signs of trouble. Biden's numerous challenges have presented unmistakable problems that are difficult for many to overlook or dismiss.Not being argumentative, only offering a view with a little pondering tossed in. That view is from an independent voter, over 65, and was hurt by inflation. In other words, I remember the pain and feel the impact with my savings account.
As shared at other threads only 6% of voters cross party lines traditionally per studies. 81% of independents have a political lean. So, wild guessing says those 81% won't cross party lines. So, in essence it is 19% of independent voters that need to be catered to by campaigns and the 6% who are shopping for alternatives. However, as we know the bottom line is it is those in the swing states that campaigns need to focus on.
With the economy for them is how long their memory is and what tolerance they had for the pain of inflation. According to one study from 2014; Substituting the End for the Whole: Why Voters Respond Primarily to the Election-Year Economy we see it is this year, 2024, that will make the difference.
From the study abstract we discover, "According to numerous studies, the election-year economy influences presidential election results far more than cumulative growth throughout the term." If that holds water, then there is 7 months to go that will have an impact for those 6% and 19% that need to be catered to most significantly in swing states.
For the abstract link next provided by Jstor; (The study can be downloaded by registering with Jstor and be able to read 100 articles/month.
https://www.jstor.org/stable/24363467
I think off the cuff the border issue will have more impact to sway those voters than the economy. Just pondering. I know with me, an independent voter living in San Diego on the border, it does. The media keeps it in the voters mind constantly since it is a 'hot topic'. Most just see the drama on TV and don't do the research such as us in these forums. That drama on TV is convincing.
For the maybe age group 50 or over social security is on the top of their minds. Well, maybe all the generations? The over 65 crowd, the boomers, usually have a larger turnout for elections while the genz are catching up. Both candidates have said they will protect social security, yet have not offered any plans for its solvency. To me, speculatively, it is the party's position that is of concern.
Social Security 2024: Here’s Where Biden and Trump Stand Heading Into the Presidential Election by Yahoo finance (Mar 28, 2024)
https://finance.yahoo.com/news/social-s … 15879.html
Abortion in my view impact is only relevant to the swing states for those 6% and 19%. I would have to research those swing states for their laws surrounding abortion to get insight.
Healthcare is another issue on the top of voters minds. From NBC News comes; How the 2024 presidential election may threaten health coverage for millions (Feb 21, 2024)
https://www.nbcnews.com/health/health-c … rcna139109
Excerpt . . .
"Worries about health care costs are a major reason for negative views of the U.S. economy, a KFF poll released Wednesday found. Nearly three-quarters of adults fear they won’t be able to pay for their medical bills. And 50% of people in the U.S., including almost a quarter of Republicans, actually want the next president and Congress to expand what the ACA does. Only a third of adults support scaling back the law (14%) or repealing it entirely (18%), the new poll found."
We all know Trump's position on the ACA as well as the Republican Party. Will that hold sway with voters in the swing states?
What about Democracy? Accusations from both sides of the fence come out on that issue. To me both sides have solid points, so is a toss up most likely based on emotion rather than logic. I don't know . . .
Well I got long winded!! Oops!! I just had a pang to write.
An interesting article about the generations follows.
Gen Z to boomers: What does each generation care about? by WBAL TV, Baltimore (Mar 1, 2024)
https://www.wbaltv.com/article/politics … n/46872731
and, Inflation and the Economy Consistently Rank as Top Issues Among Likely Voters — and Here’s Our New Way To Ask Issue Importance by Data for Progress (Mar 6, 2024) It has a great graphic spanning 7-8-2023 through 2-9-2024 for all the issues. There are two other graphics as deep dives into the economy contrast the other issues. Revealing. Yet, how long are people's memory when it is time to vote?
https://www.dataforprogress.org/blog/20 … importanceTim, YIKES! Just kidding --- It's one in the morning, I am still in Mexico, and lots of nice due to the Easter celebrations all along the beach. So I will have a go at your lengthy food for thought...
Your analysis as always offers valuable insights into various factors influencing voters, particularly those in swing states. It's clear that independent voters, especially those over 65, are particularly attuned to issues like inflation, border security, social security, healthcare, and democracy. Your observation regarding the limited crossover of voters across party lines underscores the importance of campaigns focusing on the relatively small percentage of swing voters, especially in crucial states. I guess that will come up to who will come up to being more convincing.
The study you referenced regarding the impact of the election-year economy aligns with the common understanding that economic conditions close to election time, in my view, carry significant weight in voters' decisions. However, your speculation about the border issue potentially having a greater sway on voters, particularly in regions like San Diego, highlights the complexity of voter preferences and the role of media coverage in shaping public perception. I think we have a great division on the immigration issue. With liberal versus conservative ideologies clashing.
Additionally, the concerns raised about social security solvency, abortion laws, and healthcare affordability reflect key issues that resonate with voters across different demographics. The link between healthcare costs and negative perceptions of the economy, as highlighted in the KFF poll, underscores the interconnectedness of economic and social issues in voters' minds. I want to see something done about healthcare, many of our young adults can't afford it period.
Your assessment of the democracy issue as a potential emotional rather than logical determinant in voter decision-making resonates with the broader discourse surrounding political polarization and the erosion of trust in institutions. I mean have we not been given many reasons over the past decades not to feel comfortable concerning our institutions?
In my view, our analysis provides a comprehensive overview of the multifaceted considerations influencing voter behavior, emphasizing the importance of understanding the diverse concerns of voters, particularly in swing states, for political campaigns and policymakers alike.Where in Mexico? My wife and I just got back from Nuevo Vallarta.
Since retiring we have spent our winters in Puerto Vallarta Mexico we have a place at Grand Venetian. Will be headed home end of next week. We have come to love Mexico over many years. Nuevo is a wonderful area, the beaches are beautiful, and can't get nicer accommodation. I am sure you had a great time.
Yes, we did, we have a timeshare at Vidanta.
Outstanding analysis!!
Just curious. While I don't don't doubt the percentages you talk about, do the results of the 2020 and 2022 elections bear them out? The reason I ask is that the forces driving the surprising outcomes in those two elections seem similar to those driving the 2024 election.
But then I believe, with evidence, that Biden has had one of the most successful first term presidencies in American history. For example,
* Bring down down inflation that wasn't his fault to near normal levels
* Leading one of the, if not the strongest economies out of Covid
* Having record breaking stock market results (to use Trump's favorite metric)
* Putting Covid in the rearview mirror
* The bi-partisan Chips and Science Act which is producing record breaking jobs (remember, he promised to try to work with the reasonable Republicans) as well as lowering costs, bringing back critical semiconductor production to America
* The bi-partisan Inflation Reduction Act, which also lowers costs to everyday Americans as well as making the tax code fairer to most Americans (instead of a give-away to the rich that his predecessor did).
* The bi-partisan American Rescue Plan which helped create millions of jobs, reopened ALL K - 12 schools, and against right-wing opposition, got 79% of Americans vaccinated against Covid (just imagine how many more lives would have been saved if Trump supporters had not opposed vaccination).
* The bi-partisan Infrastructure Law which is bringing millions more jobs and improving our roads, bridges, and many more things across America (something Trump promised but failed to do, btw)
* Getting us out of a never ending war which almost all Americans wanted.
* The bi-partisan PACT Act which protected our veterans
* The bi-partisan Safer Communities Act which was the first meaningful gun safety regulations in 30 years (which most conservatives opposed)
* The Respect for Marriage Act protecting the sanctity of LGBTQ+ marriages which most conservatives want to do away with.
* Brought NATO and Europe together again to fight the Russian invasion of a sovereign nation, Ukraine, and allowing Ukraine to survive. Unfortunately, Trump and some other far-right conservatives are now trying to put a win in Putin's column.
* Executive Orders protecting reproductive rights after most conservatives are in the process of taking away from women.
* Doing the most of any previous president to save our nation and world from the ravages of Global Warming which his predecessor made worse and wants to do again.
There are many more big ones, but let me move on to list some of these these lesser known things Biden has accomplished:
* Biden is about to finalize a rule which makes it even harder for companies to deprive workers of overtime by making them salaried workers.
* Finally made, against conservative opposition, the first OTC birth control pills available
* Established the Office of Gun Violence Prevention, and in 2023 schools were awarded $286 million in federal dollars to support student wellness and school mental health professionals.
* Biden reversed Trump policy and told agencies and officials to make the transition to green energy a central tenet, reinvigorating programs left dormant under Trump and accelerating approval of renewable energy projects, like offshore wind.
* The Federal Reserve and its fellow independent bank regulators drafted a new anti-redlining framework, which will go into effect starting in January 2026.
* Had the "CFPB in January release a long-awaited proposal to cut the fees that large banks and credit unions can charge consumers for overdrawing their accounts. "
* Forced Chinese companies to open their books
* To prevent Trump or any other president from attempting to overthrow a fair election had a bi-partisan (again over conservative objections) remake of the Electoral Count Act.
Politico listed another 25 or so smaller accomplishments in their piece on Biden.
https://www.whitehouse.gov/therecord/
https://www.politico.com/news/magazine/ … d-00139046
May we see a similar list for Trump? BTW, Trump's economy is nothing more than a continuation of Obama's. His accomplishment in that regard is not reversing what Obama accomplished after getting us out of the last Republican recession.I must disagree with each of your points. I don't feel they were well-researched with sources. Each of what you listed, has variables and could be deciphered to be more harmful to our Nation than good. You have offered blurbs, mostly pushed by media pundits or articles with Selective headers.
You may have done better to choose one point and make your case. i am not about to waste time shooting down. For instance, this is not a done deal ---- " Had the "CFPB in January release a long-awaited proposal to cut the fees that large banks and credit unions can charge consumers for overdrawing their accounts. " How cares about proposals or "I am going to do this"?
Sorry, we disagree. He is one of the top five worst presidents in our history."How cares about proposals or "I am going to do this"?"
In this case, I do. It is once more a strong indication of liberal intervention into private contracts, putting the government nose where it does not belong. As an indication of where Biden would point government I care, whether he manages to do it or not.Understood. I was highlighting the fact that many of the accomplishments listed by ECO for Joe seem to be promises rather than actual achievements, many of which may never materialize. I see this as a weak political tactic, as promises shouldn't be counted as accomplishments. They belong on an agenda list instead.
Your point about promises revealing agenda intentions is valid. While words matter, actions matter more. So far, it seems that not enough attention is given to understanding the Democratic party's true intentions. There's much happening behind the scenes that the media doesn't cover comprehensively. Personally, I focus on the issues directly affecting me and base my judgments on that. What's evident to me is that I'm not in favor of the path that seems to have been chosen for me.
Throughout my lifetime, I've never encountered such profound apprehension for the potential loss of our nation's democratic
principles. I witness the erosion of our democracy happening right before my eyes, yet part of our society remains oblivious to the unfolding reality.How quickly can major infrastructure get under way? How quickly can we see the gains from the CHIPS act? I will tell you though that Republicans are boasting about the projects/money/jobs they are bringing to their districts for legislation they voted against. I suppose they think their constituents are that dim witted?
Has the Chips Act worked?
In the one year since CHIPS was signed into law, companies have announced over $166 billion in manufacturing in semiconductors and electronics, and at least 50 community colleges in 19 states have announced new or expanded programming to help American workers access good-paying jobs in the semiconductor industry.
Infrastructure?
I'll keep it brief rather than naming off state by state projects.
Biden's infrastructure law has begun 40,000 projects. The project list is a long one, covering airports, bridges, roads, constructing more recharging stations for electric vehicles, getting high-speed internet to get more people on the internet, and on and on.
How long will it take to finish all 40,000? It's estimated between three and five years.
2 years in, real progress being made.. we are off to a great start. I think we also need to remember the importance that Trump placed on infrastructure and how he tried to obtain such a bill but was unable.
Everyone can take a look at their own state but in your state...
"EPA announces $177 Million for Michigan drinking water, wastewater and stormwater infrastructure upgrades as part of President Biden’s Investing in America agenda"
https://michiganindependent.com/2024/03 … ding-bill/
https://www.engineering.com/story/ednoxw
https://www.reuters.com/world/us/bidens … 023-11-10/
https://www.eenews.net/articles/republi … sed-again/While it's certainly promising to hear about the potential benefits of the CHIPS Act, we need to approach these claims with a critical eye. The statement mentions that companies have announced over $166 billion in manufacturing in semiconductors and electronics and that community colleges have expanded programming to support American workers in the semiconductor industry. However, the key phrase here is "announced."
Announcements don't always translate directly into concrete action or tangible outcomes. We need to see actual implementation and results on the ground to determine the true impact of the CHIPS Act. It's entirely possible that these promises may not materialize as expected or may take longer to manifest than initially anticipated.
Additionally, while the intention behind the CHIPS Act is commendable—to bolster domestic semiconductor production and create job opportunities—it's crucial to assess whether these initiatives are effectively addressing the challenges faced by the semiconductor industry and its workforce. We should remain vigilant and hold policymakers and industry stakeholders accountable for delivering on their commitments and ensuring that the benefits of these initiatives are realized by the American people.
I understand your perspective on the time it takes for infrastructure projects to materialize. It's evident that significant funds have been allocated to various states for these projects. It's undeniable that the United States has fallen short in addressing crucial infrastructure needs for decades.It doesn't make a difference to anyone in the MAGA cult Willow. If it didn't happen the day after it was put into effect (assuming they don't deny the law was passed at all like is being said here), it will NEVER happen.
Are you trying to tell me all those bi-partisan Acts were never signed into laws? Really?
No, it is gov't doing its constitutional duty of protecting its citizens from predatory corporations. I am sorry you have a problem with that.
I gave you the sources, please look at them.
Talk about no source: Again, you seem to be projecting about Trump. Presidential historians, you know experts in the field, rate Trump consistently in the bottom five, probably the bottom three.
On the other hand, these same experts absolutely disagree with you about Biden.
CSPAN: Biden unrated - Trump fourth from the bottom
https://www.c-span.org/presidentsurvey2 … ge=overall
SIENA COLLEGE (2022): Biden-19/46 - Trump-43/46
AMERICAN POLITICAL SCIENCE ASSOCIATION (2024): Biden-14/46 - Trump-45/46
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Historica … ted_States
Presidential Greatness Project Expert Survey: Biden-14/45 - Trump 45/45
http://www.brandonrottinghaus.com/uploa … r_2024.pdf
So, it may be your biased, highly partisan view that Biden is where you say he is, but unbiased, neutral observers firmly believe that spot is reserved for Trump.I shared only my opinion regarding Biden being the worst top-five president we have ever had. My statement was not constructed as it should have been. For this, I can apologize, and restate -- In feel he is one of the worst presidents in my lifetime. I did check all of your links, and not sure how it is fair to rate Biden due to his term not being over.
"He is one of the top five worst presidents in our history." - Sorry, when I read a categorical statement like that, I take it as a statement of fact and not opinion.
Opinion or not, when you share something that is false, I feel compelled to share the truth.I consider my perspective solely as my personal viewpoint, nothing more. Similarly, when historians express their opinions, they're merely offering their viewpoints. I didn't dispute or diminish their perspectives in any way. It seems you struggle to grasp the context and meaning of perspective, which refers to a particular attitude or way of viewing something, a point of view. Perspectives are inherently personal and don't necessarily require factual backing. They reflect one's attitude and feelings towards issues. Personally, I strongly believe that Biden is one of the worst presidents in my lifetime. I respect that you hold a different viewpoint on this matter.
You can strongly believe that about Biden, that is certainly your prerogative. But you are making that view known to others, sometimes as statement of fact and other times caveated such that one knows that is just your opinion. In either event, when that perspective is demonstrably wrong, it cannot go unchallenged because it leaves a false impression to others about something, Biden in this case.
And given the importance that people have the correct viewpoint on a future president of the United States, that is consequential. If, on the other hand, you were talking about your next door neighbor who is not running for elective office and for some unknown reason I happen to know that perspective is unfair, I have no reason to correct the record.
I hope you can understand that.
BTW, the example you chose to disagree with went into effect in January. Except for the one that I pointed out is still awaiting a final rule in April, they are all done deals and ALL have been provably good for America and Americans. Unfortunately, that runs afoul of the unreal world you have allowed Trump to create for you.
I can understand both 'significant' points. But Trump, truely held the upper hand. That said, after the November election, the electoral college blows the more significant whistle.
Esoteric: Thanks for this extensive research!
Seems only those with absolutely not contact with Trump still support him. You'd think that would cause them to reconsider.Just saw a truism - Trump want's Americans to worship him like he thinks North Koreans worship Un.
Your generosity in sharing information is truly commendable. Thank you!
Biden among Top five worse President, who says?
https://thehill.com/homenews/4476288-pr … s-in-last/
Trump is on the ground bottom, worse than the worse of our most ineffectual 19th century Presidents. It is my duty to expose such a gross fabrication such as this so that the world can see.
So, am I going to believe almost 150 men, women, historians, who through academic scholarship have earned their credibility in this matter, or believe someone who pulls facts and numbers out of the Air, that levitate with no means of support?
But it figures, as the MAGA standard bearer is a man that through some sort of keen intuition knows everything and knows it all above and beyond experts in their respective fields....
I am being woke?Trump posts picture of President Biden hog-tied in the back of a pick-up truck, in a continuation of his promotion of violence. Wanna bet the FBI is looking at this as a threat to the President of the United States, a felony?
Also, a former RNC chair - a real Republican - called Trump a "visceral animal" for posting that picture.
https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/politics … =shorelineSo this is what Trump supporters want as a President?
He is using dog whistle rhetoric to actually encourage MAGA people to do what he would really like them to do. He is definitely not joking. He is in no way presidential material, and should not be considered for another term.
But also, someone please explain why it is OK for trump to make veiled threats to a sitting president, but yet the average John Q citizen would have been arrested and had their lives ruined?
Another simple question..If you wouldn't want your children or grandchildren acting like Trump, why would you support him being president?All great questions, Willow. Ones that, sadly, I don't think you will get an answer to.
The question posed touches on an important aspect of leadership and the qualities we value in those who hold positions of power. While it's true that Donald Trump has demonstrated certain qualities that some may view as suitable for the job of president, such as assertiveness and a strong stance on certain issues, it's essential to consider the broader spectrum of qualities required for effective leadership.
On the other hand, regarding Joe Biden's suitability for the presidency, it's crucial to acknowledge that individuals may hold differing opinions on his capabilities. However, Biden's long political career, including his experience as Vice President under President Obama, offers a perspective that many find reassuring in terms of governance and diplomatic relations.
It's essential to distinguish between the personal conduct of a leader and their ability to govern effectively. While some may admire certain aspects of Trump's leadership style, others may find his behavior and rhetoric concerning, particularly in terms of its potential impact on societal norms and international relations.
Ultimately, the decision on who to support for president involves weighing a multitude of factors, including policy positions, leadership qualities, and personal character. While some may not want their children or grandchildren to emulate certain aspects of Trump's behavior, they may still support him based on their assessment of his ability to lead the country effectively. Conversely, others may prioritize different qualities in a leader and find Biden's approach more aligned with their values and can overlook some of the serious issues he currently is dealing with during his time in office.
The choice this time around is very complex.
Can someone please explain why conservatives HATE so much? They take the fact that Transgender Visibility Day happens to fall on Easter this year (maybe that is a sign from God that he approves of his Transgender creations) to express their hatred for the LGBTQ+ community. How Sad.
https://edition.cnn.com/2024/03/30/poli … index.htmlTHIS is how badly Lying Trump has infected the Republican Party.
"
Republican Rep. Tim Walberg insists he was speaking metaphorically when he appeared to suggest bombs should be dropped on Gaza “like Nagasaki and Hiroshima” to “get it over quick.”
Walberg, who represents southern Michigan, was speaking with constituents in a town hall on March 25 when he made the WWII-era reference about US atomic strikes against Japan as he called for ending US aid to Gaza.
In a video posted to social media in which Walberg can be heard but not seen, the GOP congressman responded to a question from a constituent about why the US was using American dollars to build a temporary pier to provide humanitarian assistance to Gaza.
“I don’t think we should,” Walberg said of getting further humanitarian aid into Gaza, where the UN has warned famine is imminent in the north and said 70% of the population is already suffering from catastrophic levels of hunger. “We shouldn’t be spending a dime on humanitarian aid.”
He continued: “It should be like Nagasaki and Hiroshima. Get it over quick.”
Clearly, like Trump, this man has no humanity and even to metaphorically suggest, which we can't tell if he is, nuking the Palestinians is just SICK!!!
https://edition.cnn.com/2024/03/31/poli … index.html
And yes, ALL the context is there.I have always said from the beginning that Netanyahu is a beast, who wants a Nagasaki result for all Palestinians living in Gaza.
Biden's mistake is he being too lenient with Bibi, while Bibi tells him to get lost. We have committed far too many resources on the behalf of Israeli to have our concerns dismissed in such a way. Biden may not take so hard a hit from his left flank if he finds a way to stay Netanyahu's blood-stained hands, removing Hamas without killing every Palestinian in sight, is that possible? It should be.
Republicans that are on board in favor of continued terror and massacres are not any better.I agree with you on biden takimg away Hamas to save more trouble in Palestine.
Your generosity in sharing information is truly commendable. Thank you! https://liteblue.cloud
I looked through the voluminous, and mostly vapid, Lying Trump White House page of accomplishments to see what some here find so appealing. The I found was that roughly 90% was a recitation of statistics, many of which were true and a few of those were something Trump had a hand in accomplishing. Most, however, were simply continuation of Obama's work where he didn't ultimately hurt. He did sign many pieces of legislation, as all presidents do. There were only a few that raise to the stature of the many bi-partisan measures Biden signed.
Trump breaks his "accomplishments" down into major groups (he does not talk about is illegal discrimination of Muslims and Hispanics, btw)
Unprecedented Economic Boom - this is simply a lie! Trump and Obama's record on the economy were statistically identical. That means Trump continued what Obama accomplished. He did not list a single Act that helped achieve this goal.
Before the China Virus invaded our shores, we built the world’s most prosperous economy. - Unfortunately for Trump, Obama's economy was already one of the world's most prosperous economies. The PRO is that Trump didn't (although he tried) make it worse. This tells the TRUTH about that - https://www.jec.senate.gov/public/_cach … Co37Mk7xzI
Delivered a future of greater promise and opportunity for citizens of all backgrounds. - Once again, Trump does not list a single thing he actually did to achieve this goal which was a continuation of what Obama started as the above report tells you.
Brought jobs, factories, and industries back to the USA. - So did Obama and so has Biden. The Economic Policy Center said "President Trump’s erratic, ego-driven, and inconsistent trade policies have not achieved any measurable progress, despite the newly combative rhetoric. " - https://www.epi.org/publication/reshori … ring-jobs/
Hit record stock market numbers and record 401ks. - Yep, that is true, but Biden has done even better. While Biden did, Trump didn't list a single thing he did to drive that result.
Rebuilding and investing in rural America. - He lists an executive order intended to increase broadband and improve technology. He DOESN'T list the fact that his trade policies bankrupted thousands of farmers which he later tried to save by subsidizing them thereby ballooning our deficit.
MORE LATERAchieved a record-setting economic comeback by rejecting blanket lockdowns. - 1) He DID NOT reject blanket lockdowns. He locked things down hard - until his base whined too much. Then he opened things up which led to Thousands of needless deaths, 2) The economy DID NOT gain back all its losses under Trump.
It took Biden to finally put Covid behind us. https://www.cnn.com/interactive/2020/10 … residents/ , and 3) only metrics, not actions, are listed under this heading and many of those metrics were misleading at best!
Passed $3.2 trillion in historic tax relief and reformed the tax code. - This heading talks about one of the biggest tax cut flops in history - worse even than President George W. Bush's tax cut fiasco. Not only did it barely help the middle class, it drove the gap between the have's and have nots even wider apart while not producing either the promised job growth or business expansion. It did do one thing though - it ballooned the deficit and grew the debt substantially. This is not an achievement anyone should be proud of.
MORE LATER
WOW! Trump is such a great businessman that his stock tumbled 24% on the news that Truth Social hardly made any money. Granted it is still up 200%, but that is only because Trump supporters (who just took a big loss) keeps the price artificially high.
Like Lying Trump, it is all smoke and mirrors.
https://www.cnn.com/2024/04/01/media/tr … index.htmlIs there anybody in Trump's orbit who is not corrupt?
https://www.cnn.com/2024/04/03/business … index.htmlBoy, Lying Trump just keeps losing and losing doesn't he. After his very surprising win in 2015, he has had very few wins.
He lost in 2020. He led the Republicans to a very poor performance in 2022. He may do the same thing in 2024.
His latest losses have to do with his attempts to not face accountability for his criminal actions.
He lost a couple of defamation cases, a sexual battery case, and a whole bunch of bank fraud activities.
Even his hand-picked judge won't give him a break like she did the first time around. While she is successfully helping Trump to delay the espionage act charges, she just told him that it is given he had broad rights to keep whatever gov't papers he wanted.
The Georgia judge slammed the door shut on his dumb Free Speech claims and the NY judge in that criminal case slapped down his attempts to claim immunity and to delay because running a campaign takes precedence over being held accountable for criminal activity.
https://edition.cnn.com/2024/04/04/poli … index.html
https://edition.cnn.com/2024/04/04/poli … index.html
https://edition.cnn.com/2024/04/03/poli … index.htmlROFL!!!
Trump's $175 million bond rejected - at least temporarily. It seems that among other things, there was no "current" financial statement and Trump didn't name an attorney-of-record.
He will be allowed to fix it, if he can or is willing.
https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/politics … r-BB1l1Nf9Headline - Fact check: Trump falsely claims that appeals court said ‘you won’ the civil fraud case he lost
Why does serial liar Trump cult members want someone they can't trust to tell the truth to be president, even if they do like a couple of things he did?
https://edition.cnn.com/2024/04/04/poli … index.html"Breaking down Trump’s attacks on the daughter of the judge in his New York hush-money trial"
Does everyone agree that Lying Trump is a very sick man, in more ways than one, and is unfit for the presidency and shouldn't be voted for?
https://edition.cnn.com/2024/04/06/poli … index.htmlBeen hearing for nearly 8 years now that Trump is mentally ill. To day, exactly one professional has carried out an examination, and the result was good health. So...just more hate and lies from the left to be ignored.
I don't like Trump, and I would not vote for him...were there any real choice. But when the choice is a man/group that makes it plain the goal is destruction of the country as I know it, well, the vote will go to Trump with crossed fingers.You have been hearing it for that long because it is true as a couple of dozen of mental health professionals can and have attested. Your "professional", who was demoted by the military, gave Trump a simple cognitive test and not a psychological exam.
If you had read the reports of the couple dozen mental health professionals, they make it very clear why they can come to the conclusions they do solely based on how Trump presents himself to the world.
Also, why would you vote for a man - Trump - who has said flat out his goal is to bring down American democracy?? I don't get it.
On the other hand, the man you won't vote for has been one of the most successful first-term presidents in our history. Granted, you may not like his policies, but when you separate his policies from the man, most Americans agree that those policies have been very beneficial to Americans.LOL And your "professionals" made their assessment without every examining the subject, then violated their brand of the Hippocratic Oath to make their "findings" public.
I made it clear why I would vote for him: because the alternative is a man, and group, who make it very, very clear that their goal is to destroy the country as we know it. That they have made considerable strides in just the last few years indicates they are serious, and can be effective - as you say, he has been "successful" as long as "success" means actions that cause harm to the country.One of these days you might get some things right. They did not violate the Hippocratic Oath, they upheld the Duty to Warn - just as any psychiatrist is required to tell authorities if they are dealing with a patient who they think is going to go out and harm someone.
And as I said earlier read their book. Until you do, you have no basis to intelligently criticize . All you are doing is expressing your own personal bias, are you not?
Since almost all of what Biden has done helps, not harms the country (my one exception is not putting to stop what Trump set in motion in Afghanistan). That is true by any measure.Yes, I know that is the excuse they used to make their actions sound reasonable and make them heroes.
But, that is exactly what it is; an excuse to make their actions sound wonderful when they are actually a violation of their oath.
You may find that inflation helps the country, I do not. You may find that bringing in millions of people for Americans to support helps the country, I do not. You may find that forcing people to pretend a lie helps the country; I do not. You may think that consistently lying to the people about what is happening in their pocketbook helps the country, I do not. You may find that using our national security assets to attack political rivals helps our country and aids democracy, I do not.
I could go on for hours, but you get the picture. You understand me just as I understand that you DO find these things beneficial to the country. That does not change the fact that they are harmful, and if the country can survive more than a few years under such "leadership" it will be an unrecognizable caricature of what it was.How do you know? You have read their books. And since you haven't, your view is simply your unfounded bias showing through.
"they are actually a violation of their oath." - Don't just say it, prove it.
Virtually all economists think some inflation is good for the economy.
"You may find that bringing in millions of people for Americans to support helps the country, I do not." - But isn't that because you don't understand economics while I do?
"You may find that using our national security assets to attack political rivals helps our country and aids democracy, I do not." - That is nothing more than Projecting Trump's actions on Biden (who does not use the national security assets to attack political rivals). That is a Trump thing, not Biden's.
"That does not change the fact that they are harmful, " - I have proven in other posts that most of the things Biden has done are helpful to America. All you do is SAY it has been harmful without producing one iota of proof.
America needs four more years of Biden's steady hand at the helm. America does not need the chaos that is Trump.
Trump? He made America 'First' as a policy. No wonder many countries of the world are now copying that...that Trump's America First, Evidentially, it helps.
Those were the WORDS he used, but every one knows he is a serial liar. In the end, Trump made America LAST.
What a beautifully articulated sentiment! I concur wholeheartedly and can only aspire that the majority aligns with us in the end. Should that not be the case, it's disheartening to ponder that our grand endeavor might meet its demise, with us, the citizenry, bearing the weight of responsibility for its downfall. Never in my life did I feel America could fail.
I just can't believe that a majority of Americans want a convicted sexual batterer as president.
I just can't believe that a majority of Americans want a convicted fraudster as president.
I just can't believe that a majority of Americans want a convicted defamer as president.
I just can't believe that a majority of Americans want a serial liar as president.
You may want that kind of reprobate representing America, but I bet most Americans do not.We all have our reasons for supporting a candidate. I choose to vote for Trump over Biden for several reasons. I appreciate Trump's perceived business acumen and his promises to stimulate the economy through keeping tax cuts and deregulation. I support his stance on immigration, viewing his policies as necessary for national security and job protection.
Additionally, Trump's commitment to appointing conservative judges to federal courts, particularly the Supreme Court, as he did. He has prioritized issues such as gun rights and coming up with suitable abortion laws that will hopefully please all. Furthermore, I find Trump's blunt and unconventional style appealing much of the time, believing that he is unafraid to challenge the status quo and shake up Washington.
I prioritize economic growth, immigration reform, conservative judicial appointments, and a confrontational approach to politics I find Trump's platform more aligned with my values and priorities than Biden's.
In my perspective, Biden's agenda is excessively left-leaning, and I believe it has done great harm to the United States overall. Leaving him in office would be nonsensical. He has more than proven he can't do the job. While I can't fully gauge the thoughts of other Americans beyond what I observe in the polls, I believe it would be imprudent to dismiss their significance. Polls show Trump has good support. I can not imagine why you have not realized what damage Biden has done thus far.Do you consider that his first tax cuts hurt the economy, it did not help it and it drove a huge deficit and increase in debt?
Do you consider that Trump keeps going bankrupt and his "business acumen" seems to be limited to conning people out of their money and fraud? Even his Truth Social is going under and his merger has now cost him about $2.5 billion.
Then here is immigration policies. Those dealing with people seeking asylum were inhumane and are never the right thing to do. Those dealing with normal immigration hurt the U.S. economy in the long-run by drying up the only source of labor we have since native born birth rates are negative, i.e. it is such that our population IS shrinking and can't support our current economy.
So, you are OK with his litmus test for appointing Supreme Court justices - kill Roe v Wade? Look at the enormous harm that has done to American women.
No question Lying Trump is blunt and unconventional with his talk of "bloodbaths" and is continued incitement to violence. Personally, I cannot find that as a positive.
Then you are like Biden for he prioritizes economic growth (which is why it is better than Trump's), immigration reform (remember he had a bi-partisan agreement that the Democrats hated until Trump killed it (meaning Trump is NOT for immigration reform),
I will grant you Biden prefers judges who can judge according to the law and not ideology where Trump prefers the opposite and Biden works (and has been very successful) for bi-partisan consensus and NOT Trump's bull-in-the-China-shop breaking every aspect of governing approach that Trump has adopted (which you say aligns with your values).
Biden, in fact, is a moderate which why the Left is so mad at him. He HAS done great GOOD for America, not the least of which is reversing much of the BAD Trump accomplished in his four years as a failed president. Trump has made it very clear he is unfit for the job while Biden has proved himself very capable indeed (at least so say the experts who judge such things.
The polls show Biden has the same support as Trump (most all polls are within the margin of error) and Biden's numbers are improving while Trump's are stagnant or retreating.
I have not realized that Biden has caused any damage because - well - he hasn't.I had issue about Biden being too lenient with Netanyahu over the handling of the Hamas/Palestinian matter. But being the adept politician that he is he is recognizing the need to rein Netanyahu and his brutal tactics in and from my position of generally being a bit left of center, he is moving satisfactorily in the correct direction.
Yes. Whether it is tied to Biden or not is unknown at the moment, but the IDF withdrew a division of troops from Kahn Younis in southern Gaza. It may put their attack on Rafah into question.
Truth Social -- "Still, the stock also remains higher than before a deal that took Trump's media company public last week. The shares had previously traded under the name Digital World Acquisition Corp., a shell company designed to take Truth Social public. Even after Monday's dip, the stock has surged 179% this year." facts matter https://www.cbsnews.com/news/trump-trut … g-concern/
This is a new stock, and it is not unusual for a new stock to fluctuate.
"Do you consider that Trump keeps going bankrupt"
He seems to be doing very well with his many business ventures and has not had a bankruptcy in decades...
"The six bankruptcies were the result of over-leveraged hotel and casino businesses in Atlantic City and New York: Trump Taj Mahal (1991), Trump Plaza Hotel and Casino (1992), Plaza Hotel (1992), Trump Castle Hotel and Casino (1992), Trump Hotels and Casino Resorts (2004), and Trump Entertainment Resorts (2009)."
https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics … six-times/
In my view, it would seem you have not given him credit for how well he has done in business for many decades, you have looked into his far past to find a negative, that is no longer is relevant in his business standings.
Very surprised you would bring up Trump being inhumane at the border. Biden has lost 85,000 children, and has no idea where they are or what they are doing. He also has provided the US with migrant crime, as well as many now surfacing health problems such as TB. This is just now being reported more... Because it will become a huge problem.
CDC -- US tuberculosis cases rise for third year in a row: CDC
https://www.ktsm.com/hill-politics/us-t … a-row-cdc/
https://nypost.com/2023/04/18/bidens-op … ghborhood/
https://www.dshs.texas.gov/hivstd/reports/border/sec6
https://www.foxnews.com/health/tubercul … nt-strains
"Biden, in fact, is a moderate which is why the Left is so mad at him."
Biden seems to tailor his message to suit whichever crowd he's addressing, often contradicting himself in the process. It appears he adapts to whatever stance he's instructed to take for the day. The ideologies he champions lean far left and are off-putting to many. In contrast, Trump's "America first" approach is straightforward, unapologetic, and consistent. What you see is what you get with him. I strongly disagree with the notion that Trump's policies were detrimental. Speaking from my own experience, I found his policies to be highly favorable and beneficial. Overall, I was deeply satisfied with the direction Trump was steering the country towards.
I find it difficult to comprehend how anyone could overlook the detrimental impact this individual has had on both our nation and the broader global community. Each of us forms our perspectives through unique experiences and insights. From my vantage point, I witness policies that seem to advocate for an open border, accommodating millions of migrants while neglecting the needs of many Americans who are struggling. I observe a disturbing rise in crime rates, escalating costs of living, and individuals being pushed to rely on their savings and credit just to get by. Furthermore, I see a significant health crisis emerging as migrants bring in tuberculosis due to insufficient vetting at the border. Additionally, the United States finds itself entangled in two wars... the list of grievances could extend indefinitely. It's perplexing how these issues seem to evade your attention. Perhaps it's worth introspection to understand why that might be the case. I have never in my lifetime witnessed such a downfall in our Nation."He also has provided the US with migrant crime,"
Have crime rates risen in cities that have accepted the largest number of migrants?
"I observe a disturbing rise in crime rates, "
Do recent stats back that up?
"I see a significant health crisis emerging as migrants bring in tuberculosis due to insufficient vetting at the border."
How have vetting processes at the border changed?
Let's look back at 2019
Last week, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s independent watchdog reported on dangerous overcrowding and prolonged detention of children and adults in Border Patrol facilities in the Rio Grande Valley of Texas. Nearly a third of the children in the facilities had been detained for more than 72 hours — a violation of federal limits. Many had little or no access to showers or clean clothes.
Reports have described outbreaks of scabies, shingles, chickenpox and mumps at the facilities. Heartland officials said the spike in contagious diseases they are now experiencing is unlike anything they’ve seen before.
“Historically, we have seen intermittent cases of TB and chickenpox,” Heartland officials said this week in response to questions from ProPublica Illinois. “However, lately, we are seeing them come in clusters.”
Refugees and migrants are the most affected populations at risk of developing TB and other infectious diseases due to their living conditions .
https://www.propublica.org/article/hear … raumatizedI expect to be hearing more media reports on TB and its rise in the US. At this point, one needs to dig hard, but I feel soon this problem will not be hidden so well. Many communities are showing increases in cases.
"At the turn of the 20th century, a bacterial lung disease, known at the time as consumption, haunted the lives of people all over the world. In hopes of stopping the “Great White Plague,” (called that due to the paleness of the patients) in 1904, Dr. Edward Livingston established the National Association for the Study and Prevention of Tuberculosis, which was later renamed the American Lung Association. It would take about 50 years of horror and hard work before one researcher, Dr. Edith Lincoln, discovered that isoniazid treated and prevented the spread of tuberculosis (TB).
Today, tuberculosis is considered largely controlled in the U.S., but it is still a bigger threat than most people know. According to the CDC, there are an estimated 13 million people in the United States living with inactive TB. And without treatment, 1 in 10 of them may become sick with active TB disease, spreading this potentially deadly disease to others. TB remains the 13th leading cause of death worldwide, and the second most infectious killer after COVID-19. Rita Hickson, a disease intervention specialist in Georgia, sees everyday just how much tuberculosis is still affecting the modern world. “As a case manager I always try to talk to friends and family about TB, informing them that tuberculosis is here and try to get that information out to everyone so that we can eradicate TB for good. But we need to work together,” Hickson said." https://www.lung.org/blog/tuberculosis-tb-today
Feb 7, 2024 Tuberculosis cases rise, but public health agencies say they lack the resources to keep up
https://stateline.org/2024/02/07/tuberc … o-keep-up/
County of San Diego Communications Office County Public Health Officials Report 17 Percent Rise in TB Last Year
https://www.countynewscenter.com/county … last-year/Are you suggesting Willow, like with violent crime, we ought to be looking at native born Americans as the bigger source of the problem rather than the tiny bit migrants might introduce?
What is being bought into is the right-wing mythology about migrants without considering (or providing like you have) the facts.
I am surprised you post anything from Truth Social from Lying Trump - you know it is a lie.
Let's put the right spin on those "decades old" (as if that makes any difference) bankruptcies. They span 18 years!! You would think he would have learned something from the first four, but apparently not. THAT is NOT good business acumen.
His Trump University failed in 2011 after it was shown he was defrauding the students. That is not good business acumen either, at least in this business man's opinion.
His business venture in buying the New Jersey Generals football team failed in 1986.
Trump was partly on the hook for $211 million in debt to a Chinese bank in 2011. (The bank later sold the loan to somebody else, they claim.)
There is this headline from a 2011 Business Insider that also speaks to Trump's business acumen - "Why do Trump's foreign golf resorts lose millions of dollars every year? Experts say it could be incompetence, vanity, or something more sinister' - https://www.businessinsider.com/why-do- … ear-2021-5
The only place where Trump seems to have made money is licensing his name. For example: "Trump also licensed his name to son-in-law Jared Kushner's 50-story Trump Bay Street, a Jersey City luxury development that has raised $50 million of its $200 million capitalization largely from wealthy Chinese nationals who, after making an initial down payment of $500,000 in concert with the government's expedited EB-5 visa program, can usually obtain United States permanent residency for themselves and their families after two years.[79] Trump is a partner with Kushner Properties only in name licensing and not in the building's financing."
To quote you: "It's perplexing how these issues seem to evade your attention. ".
And to quote you again: "I have never in my lifetime witnessed such a downfall in our Nation." - except I said that in 2019 after three years of Trump taking a wrecking ball to America. One other difference is that I can (and have many times) prove that claim. Let's see you do the same about Biden.
You said "Biden seems to tailor his message to suit whichever crowd he's addressing, often contradicting himself in the process. " - Actually, that is Projection of what Trump does repeated on to Biden.
Tell me which policies "seem" to advocate open borders. For each one you come up with, I will come up with two policies that advocate Closed borders and I will throw in a bunch of screeds by the Right telling migrants our borders are open, when they are not.again --- Yikes you did not pick up context
Willow posed this question -
"Do you consider that Trump keeps going bankrupt" NOTE WORD "bankrupt"
Here is my reply regarding bankrupties - He seems to be doing very well with his many business ventures and has not had a bankruptcy in decades...
"The six bankruptcies were the result of over-leveraged hotel and casino businesses in Atlantic City and New York: Trump Taj Mahal (1991), Trump Plaza Hotel and Casino (1992), Plaza Hotel (1992), Trump Castle Hotel and Casino (1992), Trump Hotels and Casino Resorts (2004), and Trump Entertainment Resorts (2009)."
Trump University did not go bankrupt. Not sure why you brought up Trump U.
In my view, Trump was a good president. I was very satisfied with the job he did, in fact I felt very good about where we were headed.I believe you were responding to my statement that "Do you consider that Trump keeps going bankrupt and his "business acumen" seems to be limited to conning people out of their money and fraud? Even his Truth Social is going under and his merger has now cost him about $2.5 billion."
So, it isn't just what you decided to focus on, the word "bankrupt" which implies he is a terrible business person who only know how to sell his name. In my statement is "CON", which is why Trump U is relevant even though you apparently want to ignore it. I can understand why though, I can list dozens of lawsuits (one of which brought down Trump U) where Trump conned people out of their hard earned money. (I guess that is a good quality for a president, being able to con Americans like he has MAGA).
Another word you ignored is FRAUD. Why didn't you address that? Maybe because he as been found guilty of a multitude of fraud counts. Remember he also had to close down his charity for the same reason - your president STOLE money or other things of value.
So tell me, how does having your golf courses losing money left and right, going bankrupt 6 times in 18 years, conning people out of their money, and committing fraud translate to good business acumen that you admire?
And those are just the civil actions. The criminal ones will start later this month.
I am glad you think he was a good president, 60% of us think he was terrible including the EXPERTS in studying such things.
And you can turn a blind eye to his crimes, interesting. You want a criminal for president.
No one will ever wamt a crimimal as president of the USA. Never. Or Trump wouldn't have been President in the first place. Many Americans are trying to giving him a second chance as shown by his leads in the polls. May the heavens help him.
Well, apparently 68 million Americans (MAGA) don't care if a criminal is president.
BTW - Trump has had uncountable chances of mending his ways. He simply doesn't know how as his horrible character is built into his genes.It's evident that this troubles you, and you're certainly not alone in feeling this way. Maybe it's time to delve into why 68 million Americans continue to stand behind Trump. It seems like you're caught in a loop and struggling to understand that many people genuinely support him, each with their own unique perspectives and reasons. What I see is you putting it all in one basket. By doing this, you will never realize the answers to all the many reasons Americans support Trump. Perhaps ask the questions, and listen to the answers.
Usually those answers are just denials of reality. January 6 was a tourist visit. Trump is not a proven rapist. Multiple MAGA supporters are on here trying to justify his fraud. Trump didn't try and steal an American election, at the state and federal level.
It's not the reasons to support him, it's the exclusion of the obvious reasons that should be disqualifying. The morality to back someone with Trump's history is what is so head-scratching to those outside the MAGA cult.I think the more important question is why 68 million people want an insurrectionist as president, especially one who can't tell the truth to them or anybody else.
I am not in any loop, I do understand many support him. The question is WHY. It is not rational to do so. WHY are they so irrational? As I have explained elsewhere, many of the are brainwashed and many others WANT an authoritarian gov't.
I hope you don't think it is rational to want a person who tried to overthrow an election through violence, promises to be a dictator (at least on day one), promises to seek revenge, using the DOJ, on his political enemies, sexually abuses women, cheats banks and regular people, It doesn't matter that he MIGHT have done a few good things in his previous stint as president.
What rational person wants a Putin or Xi or some other dictator as president?
In my opinion, there should only be one person supporting Trump, and that is Trump himself.
Here, I will repeat what I responded to Wilderness:
"You have been hearing it for that long because it is true as a couple of dozen of mental health professionals can and have attested. Your "professional", who was demoted by the military, gave Trump a simple cognitive test and not a psychological exam.
If you had read the reports of the couple dozen mental health professionals, they make it very clear why they can come to the conclusions they do solely based on how Trump presents himself to the world.
Also, why would you vote for a man - Trump - who has said flat out his goal is to bring down American democracy?? I don't get it."
What America needs must is a God fearing guy that will carry everyone along, and not just an 'ethnic group.'
Well, Trump is certainly not that person.
Also, America was founded on secularism. Consequently, even an atheist (man or woman) who is capable and has America's (and not his own, like Trump) interests at heart is fine by me.If only. But there has not been one such for many decades now; every one has the power of their own party as a top priority, along with their own pocketbook/power trip. The needs of the nation lag far behind.
That is called Projection because you are only speaking of Trump. Biden is a true patriot who is working for his country first and foremost and not just himself.
ROFL - I just tried to short DJT (Lying Trump's new stock) and Schwab thinks so poorly of it that it wants to charge me $11 in interest A DAY on the loan. Needless to say, I didn't execute it.
I did, however, sell TSLA (Musk's Tesla) stock short the other day. (Short means I sold stock that I don't own on the belief it will decline in value. It is sort of Sell High, Buy Low kind of thing)I have no idea where Truth will go or won't go... However, I made tons due to my intuition on Facebook. Just held on for a long ride, and ended up in a pot of jam. Changed my life. For very little investment cash. I am not jumping in on Truth. Just because the powers that will work against all that is Trump But, I thought about it due to feeling this man just lands on his feet "sometimes"
How many shares did you accumulate? I never bought into Facebook, but I am doing great with Google, Apple (after about the fourth try), and Amazon.
Yup.
Trump Media stock erases all gains since it began trading as DJT shares fall again
And many traders are betting that the stock price will continue to fall further.
The stock closed down more than 8% Monday at $37.17 after falling about 11% earlier in the day. It had traded above $79 a share on March 26, the day of its debut.
But experts warned the stock was bound to tumble, as its main product - Truth Social - loses users and burns cash.
According to company filings, Trump Media lost $58.2 million last year and did not report any user metrics.
Truth Social has claimed it has about 8.9 million sign-ups, but it has declined to share the commonly disclosed performance metrics that could give shareholders a better sense of its operations.
Meanwhile, the company’s auditor issued a “going concern” notice for the business, saying it was not confident it would be able to stay afloat.
Esoteric: "68 million Americans (MAGA) don't care if a criminal is president."
If they just didn't care I wouldn't be so concerned. That they WANT a criminal (proven in court already with more indictments pending) is what is so disconcerting.It is actually up to independents and REAL Republicans.
Eso, your against all things Trump. The Rep and Ind are part of the 68 million folks, right? And you know full circle why they're supporting Trump, while you don't okay? Why don't you find out from these your fellow Americans?
No, I am against MOST things Trump - for obvious and well thought out reasons. He is Evil.
No, the REAL Republicans and independents are not part of the 68 million. They are part of the 88 million who won't vote for Trump.
Because I have eyes and ears and a function brain trained in analyzing things. I make up my own mind and not what someone tells me like MAGA does.If that means will I vote for a Republican whose election would be good for the nation? Yes. I used to be a Republican but they no longer represent my values - the Democrats do.
DON'T YOU JUST LOVE IT?
NY may still be able to go after Trump's assets because the bond company nor Trump may have the means to back up its surety.
Abbreviated YAHOO NEWS - "Donald Trump, with the help of “the king of subprime car loans,” has posted the $175 million bond for his civil fraud case ...
By posting the bond, ..., Trump theoretically delayed the state of New York seizing his assets. After all, as the bond supposedly indicates, he’s good for the money. But as more information on the surety backing the bond surfaces, it’s not clear that’s true.
... James is arguing that Trump must file a motion by Monday guaranteeing that either he or the surety can be “justified.” She cited a statute that dictates Trump or Knight Specialty Insurance Company, which underwrote his bond, have 10 days to prove they are good for the bond. If they can’t, the bond will be declared “without effect” and James can begin seizing Trump’s assets to cover the judgment.
It would be an embarrassing end to the bond saga, which has seen the former president and former ultrarich person reduced to hawking sneakers and meme stocks to cover his legal fees. ... After Trump put up the bond on April 1, the court’s filing system rejected it due to paperwork errors, prompting James to question the solvency of Knight Specialty, which is not licensed as an insurer in New York.
As it turns out, the company has nowhere near the capital and surplus to guarantee Trump’s bond. What’s more, the legal document it produced does not seem to promise to pay the full penalty if Trump’s appeal fails.
As a result, Trump may not be off the hook after all. It might just cost him a few of his favorite properties."
ROFLToday's Republican (MAGA) Party continues to try to stop all votes from being counted, even legal ones. Why, because they know that if everyone votes - they lose.
"The Republican National Committee and the Mississippi Republican Party are suing the Magnolia State to end its practice of including absentee ballots received up to five business days after the election. In the swing state of Pennsylvania, meanwhile, the RNC and other Republican groups have challenged efforts to count absentee ballot envelopes missing a date – and have won so far. The GOP has also jumped into cases in Ohio, Georgia and Florida to defend restrictions on ballot drop boxes enacted by Republican lawmakers that are now being challenged by groups on the left. And in North Carolina, a new law, advocated by Republican lawmakers and in effect for this year’s elections, eliminates what was once a three-day grace period to accept most mail-in ballots."
IRONICALLY, they also show how disingenuous and fraudulent their effort is.
"But amid the legislative and legal attacks on early voting, the GOP’s leadership is nonetheless vowing a robust program to convince Republicans to turn in ballots early, either via in-person early voting or by mail, with a campaign called “Bank Your Vote.”
https://edition.cnn.com/2024/04/11/poli … index.html
WHY does ANY RATIONAL person support such a dishonest Party and man (meaning Lying Trump)?So what was all the talk about Biden not being on the ballot in Alabama and Ohio?
I had not read that story. It seems 1) either the DNC screwed up big time in scheduling their convention and didn't check the rules or 2) those states purposefully set the date after they knew when the convention was to achieve this result. I suspect the former.
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