Donald Trump Supporters/Voters Disenfranchised in Colorado, Who's Next

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  1. abwilliams profile image67
    abwilliamsposted 9 months ago

    https://usercontent1.hubstatic.com/16827476_f1024.jpg
    Which State will be next to decide that their leaders and their State's Supreme Court are more mighty, more powerful than the U.S. Constitution and the Power, which, by design and by LAW, belongs with the American people? That's what this is.....right? A power trip? Let's be the one to outdo all those before us, who have attempted to  eliminate the competition, by hook  or by crook, by golly!?! Let's be the ones who finally trample Rights to pieces, to the point of extinction!
    I cry FOUL, I call TREASON!
    I hope Americans are FINALLY as angry as I am with progressive, leftist, corrupt, UN-AMERICAN B.S.!! I hope that Coloradans will decorate their ballots with Trump's name!

    1. abwilliams profile image67
      abwilliamsposted 9 months agoin reply to this

      If y'all have discussed this already, sorry that I am late to the show, but I really don't care. I need to vent. This has me so utterly angry!

      However, I am so proud of Vivek for standing in solidarity with Donald Trump, with Coloradans, with the United States of America...by having his name removed from the ballot as well. I knew I liked this guy. Gutsy and classy move Vivek Ramaswamy!

      1. Ken Burgess profile image71
        Ken Burgessposted 9 months agoin reply to this

        Deleted

        1. abwilliams profile image67
          abwilliamsposted 9 months agoin reply to this

          "I think the implications of this are extremely far reaching."
          Ya think?
          I may end up in a new location, but I'll not be leaving American soil. I will remain in this battle for the right of this Nation to continue to exist, as Founded, come hell or high water.

          1. Ken Burgess profile image71
            Ken Burgessposted 9 months agoin reply to this

            I think for a long time now... our foreign policy has not aligned with what Americans wanted or thought.

            The establishment, both parties, have created our 33 Trillion dollar deficit running these wars, and giving away our wealth to other foreign causes as well.

            This bill is coming due... the world is changing... America can no longer run its foreign interventions AND keep building debt... therefore, in order for the establishment to be able to continue to do so, it now has to turn on its own people.

            It will essentially need to enslave the American people, take from them their wealth, their retirement, their property and their assets... so that they can continue to fund the American Empire... because the world is no longer going to fund America, it will no longer use the Dollar as the go-to currency, and America no longer makes up the dominant portion of world trade.

            I just see this decision as a continuation of what has been the deliberate execution of America done by the same influence that controls the Biden Administration today.

            The Administration alienating the UAE which has now gone off the dollar standard for trading oil... alienating Saudi Arabia which is doing the same... giving hundreds of billions to Iran so that they can fund our enemies the world over... spending hundreds of billions funding a war against Russia that never had to happen, peace was on the table there for the taking.

            The Executive Orders, spending of trillions on Build Back Better, our Open Borders, as I have said many times... you could not do more to destroy our Nation's future than this Administration has done if that was the goal... other than shooting off some nukes to bring an end to it all, and I wouldn't put it past them.

      2. Sharlee01 profile image84
        Sharlee01posted 9 months agoin reply to this

        Very impressed by Vivek, in my view, he is a true honest patriot.

        1. abwilliams profile image67
          abwilliamsposted 9 months agoin reply to this

          Amen Sharlee.
          If it comes down to a side,
          count me among the patriots; here and now and always.

    2. Sharlee01 profile image84
      Sharlee01posted 9 months agoin reply to this

      I hope there are no delays in resolving this matter. I believe the United States Supreme Court will swiftly address the issue, adhering to the principles outlined in our Constitution.

      It seems that the tactics employed by the courts in Colorado may end up causing more harm than good. History has shown that such strategies often backfire, and it's surprising that the Democrats haven't learned from past experiences.

      Nevertheless, I maintain my confidence in the integrity of the American people to discern the truth. I trust that the Supreme Court will make decisions based on evidence and due process, unlike the accusatory and preemptive approach that some Democrats have adopted as of late.

      Our democratic justice system relies on fair proceedings, a principle that sets us apart from non-democratic nations. (Accuse, no defense, no evidence that would stand up in a court of law, convict, and mete out punishment)

      Ultimately, I have faith in the majority of Americans to uphold the values of truth and justice, and I trust in the impartiality of our Supreme Court.


      Who would be next, if the Supreme Court lets this ruling stand --- it will be Biden in every heavily red state. Precedence will be the name of the new game. And this will be a huge chip out of democracy, and lead to chaos in our Justice system.

    3. Ken Burgess profile image71
      Ken Burgessposted 4 months agoin reply to this

      Such a very apt pic for this moment in time.

  2. Valeant profile image76
    Valeantposted 9 months ago

    Yeah, we've been discussing it in the Trump coup thread.

    It's an unprecedented decision based on an unprecedented action taken by Trump.  So we'll see how the Supreme court rules on it.  There is the danger for Trump that if they uphold the ruling, then he could be banned in every state.  And the Colorado court made their ruling in a manner that was consistent with the originalist view that the current Supreme Court usually takes.  So this one should be an interesting decision for them.

    1. Sharlee01 profile image84
      Sharlee01posted 9 months agoin reply to this

      His name would be written in by many million --- And this would work to show Demacrats they can't win an election by stamping on 'we the people" rights to choose.

      1. Valeant profile image76
        Valeantposted 9 months agoin reply to this

        If his name was written in, that would split the Republican votes between Trump and whoever was the nominee.  That would simply show that Trump's cult was so dedicated to him that they would tank the actual GOP nominee.

  3. Readmikenow profile image95
    Readmikenowposted 9 months ago

    This could set an interesting precedent.

    If this ruling is allowed to stand, that means red states could then start having biden removed from their ballots.

    Could make national elections a bit challenging.

    1. Willowarbor profile image60
      Willowarborposted 9 months agoin reply to this

      And the constitutional reason would be?

    2. Valeant profile image76
      Valeantposted 9 months agoin reply to this

      You would need a cause to remove him.  Two different courts now have found that Trump's actions fit the Constitutional definition of engaged in insurrection or gave aid and comfort to the enemies thereof.  What Constitutional cause would the red states have to remove Biden?  He's just over 35 and was born in the US, and last we all checked, he didn't engage in any type of insurrection.

      1. Readmikenow profile image95
        Readmikenowposted 9 months agoin reply to this

        What courts?  I'm not aware of any trial that took place.

        Since the claim of insurrection has never been proven in a court of law, you simply need to have an allegation.

        I think the allegation of biden getting rich selling influence to other countries such as China is sufficient enough to have him removed from every ballot in the country.

        1. Valeant profile image76
          Valeantposted 9 months agoin reply to this

          So you are not aware of the initial trial where the evidence was presented that led to this appeal to the Colorado Supreme Court?  Where a judge found that Trump did engage in insurrection or gave aid and comfort to the enemies thereof.  Man, many of us really wish you guys would leave your media vacuums.

          'I think the allegation of biden getting rich selling influence to other countries such as China is sufficient enough to have him removed from every ballot in the country.'  Ah, so allegations are all you need, despite every shred of evidence that Comer puts out getting debunked.  Sounds about right for today's GOP.  They see an allegation against the opposition and they jump right to guilt.

          1. Readmikenow profile image95
            Readmikenowposted 9 months agoin reply to this

            "evidence was presented that led to this appeal to the Colorado Supreme Court?"

            The ruling did not determine if President Donald Trump engaged in insurrection but only if he should be put on the ballot. They used the allegation of insurrection as evidence.  President Donald Trump was not on trial.

            "So allegations are all you need"

            It seems that's all the democrats need, so why not?

            1. Valeant profile image76
              Valeantposted 9 months agoin reply to this

              Like I said, leave your media vacuum.  A judge found, based on evidence, that Trump engaged in insurrection.

              https://www.npr.org/2023/11/18/12139610 … -on-ballot

              "The Court found that Donald Trump engaged in insurrection after a careful and thorough review of the evidence," said attorney Mario Nicolais, who was representing the voters who brought the lawsuit.

              1. Readmikenow profile image95
                Readmikenowposted 9 months agoin reply to this

                Here's the problem.  I don't think you understand how the court system works.  The judge made the ruling which means the evidence was permitted to be part of the court's decision to keep President Donald Trump off of the ballot.  The court was determining if President Donald Trump could be removed from the ballot.

                1. Valeant profile image76
                  Valeantposted 9 months agoin reply to this

                  I understand it just fine.  I'm thinking you don't understand the basis for coming to the conclusion that Trump could be removed from the ballot.  It had to be shown that Trump engaged in an insurrection or gave aid and comfort to the enemies thereof - which the judge specifically found he had done after reviewing evidence.  And she did not even say the aid and comfort part, but specifically named engaged in insurrection.  So to her, that was proven by the evidence provided.  Not that we can ever expect MAGA people to accept it, as is on full display in this thread.

                  1. Readmikenow profile image95
                    Readmikenowposted 9 months agoin reply to this

                    See, in our court system a person has a right to address their accuser.

                    I don't know what evidence was provided.  I know there was never an opportunity for a representative of President Donald Trump to review the alleged evidence and provide other evidence to controvert it. 

                    It was absolutely one sided.

                    That is not how justice works.

                    I accept the judge made the ruling.  I also accept how completely and totally bogus the ruling as well as one-sided and unjust.

                    That is something the democrat party likes it is how they do business.

                    Being removed from the ballot in Colorado has not hurt the poll numbers of President Donald Trump in the least.  They've actually improved slightly.

                    Maybe MAGA should thank the Colorado Supreme Court for their support.

              2. Sharlee01 profile image84
                Sharlee01posted 9 months agoin reply to this

                I found the Judges ruling from the first trial that for all purposes Trump won.
                It is very much enlightening and does offer a complete picture.
                This ruling gives a full picture of who testified, and what they shared.

                https://www.courts.state.co.us/userfile … 0Order.pdf

                It left me fully realizing why  Colorado District Judge Sarah Wallace ruled as she did...   Trump's witnesses were first hand, and a couple of experts.

                Well, I will let those discover for themselves what the opposing team offered regarding witnesses...

                This judge perhaps should have realized Two other states thus far have dealt with Trump being removed from the ballot. Minnesota Supreme Court shut it down, and in Michigan, it has been appealed to their Supreme Court.

                1. Valeant profile image76
                  Valeantposted 9 months agoin reply to this

                  Trump may have gained the outcome he wanted from the first trial, but he far from won it.  The fact that she was able to rule that his conduct was an engagement in insurrection is going to be a major sticking point going forward, as we saw from the Colorado Supreme Court overturning the part where they believe the president to be an officer of the United States.

                  1. Sharlee01 profile image84
                    Sharlee01posted 9 months agoin reply to this

                    Upon reviewing the Court of Appeals ruling, it appears to lack additional evidence beyond what the Jan 6th committee presented, much of which was dismissed as hearsay. Testimony from a witness expressing his perspective on why he believed Trump's words could incite violence was also considered. Notably, Trump's defense relied on first-hand witnesses.

                    The judge did assert Trump's guilt of insurrection, though the basis for this conclusion remains unclear to me. If I were a juror and relied solely on the information presented in the ruling, I would find it challenging to reach the conclusion that Trump actively planned or encouraged violence.

            2. Willowarbor profile image60
              Willowarborposted 9 months agoin reply to this

              In November, a trial court in Denver found that the events on Jan. 6 satisfy the definition of insurrection, and concluded that Trump engaged in insurrection through incitement.

              Let's be clear.  Trump literally tried to steal the presidency. That is the only reason that this case moved forward, because of his actions. 

              Why does it generally seem that our conservative folks tend to only know half of a story or have a completely misinformed accounting?

              1. abwilliams profile image67
                abwilliamsposted 9 months agoin reply to this

                Not true, it may have been spun as such, but most of us recognize a good yarn when we see it.

              2. Readmikenow profile image95
                Readmikenowposted 9 months agoin reply to this

                Yeah, about that, that was whether to permit evidence to be included in the court determining if President Donald Trump could be removed from the ballot.  That is what the court is determining.  What the judge determined is irrelevant in determining the insurrection accusation.  That is not what the court was determining.

                As far as I'm concerned only those who can't separate facts from fantasy believe that President Donald Trump tried to steal the presidency.

                There is a strong argument to be made it was stolen from him.

    3. abwilliams profile image67
      abwilliamsposted 9 months agoin reply to this

      I didn't think of that Mike!
      "Interesting precedent" aka: what a nasty can of worms has been opened!

      1. Valeant profile image76
        Valeantposted 9 months agoin reply to this

        It's sort of funny that what gets lost here is that it was six republicans who brought this case to the Colorado courts.  Those six republicans believed that Trump's actions were disqualifying.  So, while it is being labelled a Democrat-thing, the initial action was actually a GOP action - or what people supporting Trump would call a RINO thing since anyone in the GOP who stands against Trump automatically gets moved to the RINO party.

        1. Readmikenow profile image95
          Readmikenowposted 9 months agoin reply to this

          What were the political parties of those who were in the majority for the ruling?

          1. Valeant profile image76
            Valeantposted 9 months agoin reply to this

            What were the political parties of those who were in the dissent?  You'd think if political party affiliation mattered as much as you claim, the vote would have been 7-0, since the entire court was appointed by Democrats.  But it was 4-3.

    4. TheShadowSpecter profile image77
      TheShadowSpecterposted 9 months agoin reply to this

      Until you mentioned it, I didn't even think about it.  Good point!

      1. Valeant profile image76
        Valeantposted 9 months agoin reply to this

        Yeah, except there's this small thing called cause that is actually in the Constitution that those red states would be lacking.

        1. Readmikenow profile image95
          Readmikenowposted 9 months agoin reply to this

          Oh, there is plenty of cause. biden taking money from China and other countries for influence.  It's not been proven but that doesn't matter.  It's never been proven that President Donald Trump engaged in an insurrection. How many of those convicted for their activities on January 6 were convicted of insurrection? Zero.  It's just an opinion.  So, in my opinion, and in the opinion of many others, biden should be removed from the ballot because he used his position to gain money from foreign countries.

          Using democrat logic, I think it is a good reason.

          1. Valeant profile image76
            Valeantposted 9 months agoin reply to this

            'It's not been proven but that doesn't matter.'  That sums up far-right logic perfectly.

            And it was proven that Donald Trump engaged in an insurrection - in a trial.  Both sides, including attorneys for Trump, presented their cases and their evidence and a judge ruled.  That's called it being proven in our society, when a judge hears arguments and makes a ruling.  That ruling was even affirmed by a higher court.

            And plenty of convictions for seditious conspiracy, which is the federal crime for those that conspire to use force to against the U.S. and it's government or laws.   It involves two or more people plotting to overthrow, put down, or destroy by force the government, to levy war against it, to oppose by force its authority, or to prevent, hinder, or delay the execution of any law.  An insurrection is a violent uprising against an authority or government, so the seditious conspiracy charge covers the action of insurrection.

            You see, you completely misrepresent democrat logic, even legal logic to make your case.  So when your case gets into an actual courtroom, like Trump's has, it will fail on its face.

          2. TheShadowSpecter profile image77
            TheShadowSpecterposted 9 months agoin reply to this

            Readmikenow?  In support of what you stated, on January 6, 2021 before the incident at the Capitol building, I remember seeing with my very eyes a television broadcast in which President Trump specifically told the demonstrators there not to engage in any kind of violence.  I would think that that fact alone would serve as exculpatory evidence against any unfounded accusations against him of inciting an insurrection.  Anything else that anyone has said to frame him for something of that nature is pure conjecture on their part as far as I am concerned.

            1. Valeant profile image76
              Valeantposted 9 months agoin reply to this

              Yeah, only if you ignore him telling the crowd much later in the speech to 'fight like hell or they wouldn't have a country.'  Why can no one from the far-right ever post those words?  I wonder....

              1. Readmikenow profile image95
                Readmikenowposted 9 months agoin reply to this

                Definition of the word "Fight"

                When you fight, you dispute or argue. Everyone disagrees from time to time, but it's sad when close friends fight.

                "The verb fight means to engage in a struggle that involves conflict — and as a noun, fight is the conflict itself. A fight can take a physical form, like a boxing match or a playground skirmish, or it can happen with words, like a fight over politics. The ancient root of fight comes from the Proto-Indo-European prefix pek, meaning "to pluck out." Picture a hair-pulling fight, and this makes complete sense."

                1. TheShadowSpecter profile image77
                  TheShadowSpecterposted 9 months agoin reply to this

                  My exact thoughts.  President Trump could very well have been telling the demonstrators to "fight" within the legal system rather than use violence, especially if he had told them beforehand not to use violence.  It's the obligation of the courts to give President Trump the benefit of the doubt inasmuch as one is supposed to be innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.  He was concerned that a Biden administration would be disastrous, and he was correct.

              2. abwilliams profile image67
                abwilliamsposted 9 months agoin reply to this

                "Yeah, only if you ignore him telling the crowd much later in the speech to 'fight like hell or they wouldn't have a country.'  Why can no one from the far-right ever post those words?  I wonder"

                It's a figure of speech, I use it all of the time in my articles! When I do, I am not asking anyone to pick up their boxing gloves, meet me in the ring.  I am not asking them to take up arms and join me on the battle field. I am asking that they get involved in the fight to win our Country back!
                The same can be said of Donald Trump, he uses this figure of speech often, because he doesn't want to lose this Country either!

                1. Valeant profile image76
                  Valeantposted 9 months agoin reply to this

                  Sure, if Trump used it in an article, it would have a different context.  But he used 'fight like hell or you won't have a country' to an angry mob, one he knew to be armed, that he planned to send to Congress, at the very moment they were set to certify his loss, and after he heard Rudy say they should have trial by combat.  Some in the crowd that were charged have testified that they interpreted his meaning to mean attack - because his use of those words allowed for that.  Again, he opened himself up to that based on his word choice, which was reckless.

                  1. abwilliams profile image67
                    abwilliamsposted 9 months agoin reply to this

                    I have said it in person too, because this Country is so worth fighting for V!!

              3. Sharlee01 profile image84
                Sharlee01posted 9 months agoin reply to this

                "NASHUA, N.H., FEB. 10 -- Arkansas Gov. Bill Clinton, returning to New Hampshire today to begin the last week of campaigning before next Tuesday's primary, angrily accused his political opponents of trying to destroy his character and vowed "to fight like hell" to win." Bill Clinton
                https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/ … d6017ea54/

                "Obama campaign chief: ‘We got beat,' so ‘let's ‘fight like hell'"
                https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/OTUS/ob … d=16520670

                "Unearthed tweets show Jamie Raskin, Joe Biden saying ‘fight like hell’"
                https://nypost.com/2021/02/10/old-tweet … like-hell/

                The term is very commonly used in politics. Context is very important to consider in how the term is defined.  In all cases including Trump's usage, the term was not ordeing anyone to become violent.

                At this point, Trump's usage has been labeled as ordering violence. However, one only listened to the rest of his long Jan 6th speech to see he was in no respect ordering violence.

                1. wilderness profile image96
                  wildernessposted 9 months agoin reply to this

                  Sorry, Shar - comments from other people are irrelevant.  If Trump says something it is open season to declare fomenting a small riot by unarmed idiots an "insurrection", intended to overthrow the US government.  After all, the crystal balls out there plainly show he intended to take the government by force for his own nefarious purposes by using language that meant something other that what he said - that secret code book he used was widely available, at least to people with imagination that don't mind making up stories.

                  1. Sharlee01 profile image84
                    Sharlee01posted 9 months agoin reply to this

                    In my opinion, some individuals have veered into a state of hysteria, making it challenging for them to distinguish between truth and mere speculation. They seem unwilling to take a step back and consider the context in which words are used. The English language, as we are accustomed to it, appears to have been overtaken, and this is profoundly unsettling. It's akin to a chef insisting that a cup of salt won't overly salt a stew, and everyone follows the recipe only to choke on the excessive salt, yet proclaiming it as delicious. Common sense seems to have been abandoned to accommodate personal beliefs.

                2. Valeant profile image76
                  Valeantposted 9 months agoin reply to this

                  Saying the phrase to reporters, versus saying it to an angry mob, that is armed, that you plan to send to the Capitol at the moment they are set to certify your loss, after your lawyer just said they should have trial by combat.  As usual, the omission of many pertinent details that are damning.

                  And the point is that people who heard his speech and then acted on it, interpreted his words as meaning he wanted violence and have testified to that fact in courts.  So you know who labeled that usage as ordering violence, his own supporters.

                  1. wilderness profile image96
                    wildernessposted 9 months agoin reply to this

                    And Trump is responsible for how people twist and change his words into something never said nor meant.

                    Well, it's an excuse to remove a political rival, anyway.  What more could be desired?

                3. abwilliams profile image67
                  abwilliamsposted 9 months agoin reply to this

                  But, but, but, but....they aren't Trump!
                  There is no CDS or ODS...or BDS, only TDS & lots of BS

                  1. Willowarbor profile image60
                    Willowarborposted 9 months agoin reply to this

                    It is really not solely about the language used at his January 6th event. It is the larger picture, including the whole fake electors scheme.

            2. Readmikenow profile image95
              Readmikenowposted 9 months agoin reply to this

              It all comes down to semantics and the interpretation of the meaning and intent behind words spoken.

              The democrats want there to have been an insurrection, so they will interpret the facts that way.

              The role of the FBI on January 6 is something democrats want to ignore and yet it played a pivotal role in the events that occurred.  There WERE FBI agents in the crowd acting as supporters of President Donald Trump.

              Looks at this exchange between Congressman Clay Higgins and the head of the FBI Christopher Wray.

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

              1. TheShadowSpecter profile image77
                TheShadowSpecterposted 9 months agoin reply to this

                The FBI's actions are reprehensible.  The female victims of Larry Nassar complained to Christopher Wray that when the FBI was investigating their case, the FBI wouldn't even give them access to female FBI agents so that they could talk more openly about the heinous crimes that Larry Nassar committed against them.  They also complained that the FBI didn't do much of anything for them in that matter.

                FBI Director Christopher Wray eventually did apologize to them, which was a first for any FBI higher-up to do in that the FBI seldom ever admits to wrongdoing.  However, the FBI could have handled that situation much better than they did.

                President Donald Trump was our nation's commander-in-chief for four years, and the FBI wouldn't even give him the respect that he so deserved.  The FBI is not as heroic as they are deceivingly portrayed on television.

            3. Willowarbor profile image60
              Willowarborposted 9 months agoin reply to this

              "I would think that that fact alone would serve as exculpatory evidence against any unfounded accusations against him of inciting an insurrection."

              The language of section 3 of the 14th amendment speaks to engagement in insurrection, not incitement.

              His engagement in the fake electors  scheme supports his disqualification.  Particularly in light of evidence of yet another one of his "perfect" calls...

              a Nov. 17, 2020, phone call, the then-president told two fellow Republicans on the Wayne County Board of Canvassers not to sign the state election's certification, saying they would look "terrible" and must "fight for our country," according to recordings of the call reviewed by the Michigan news outlet.

              Republican National Committee Chairwoman Ronna McDaniel, who is from Michigan, was on the call and told the canvassers: “If you can go home tonight, do not sign it. ... We will get you attorneys.”

              “We’ll take care of that,” Trump added, according to The Detroit News.

              Seems like there's a pretty good case against Trump in terms of conspiring to obstruct the January 6th certification. The goal was clearly to overturn the results of the election.  I think this is insurrection against the authority of the United States and  the laws thereof. I believe that it is abundantly clear that none of the events of January 6th would have happened without Trump. 

              https://news.yahoo.com/trump-recorded-p … 22272.html

              1. TheShadowSpecter profile image77
                TheShadowSpecterposted 9 months agoin reply to this

                I believe that it is abundantly clear that none of the events of January 6th would have happened if Joe Biden had dropped out of the 2020 presidential election or hadn't run for president in the first place.  Willowarbor?  I am not a conservative Republican but rather a moderate Independent.  When I voted for Donald Trump in both the 2016 and 2020 presidential elections, I voted for the candidate rather than for the Republican party.

                It is my wholehearted contention that the Trump supporters who demonstrated in the January 6th event were not really trying to guarantee Donald Trump a second term in office but rather attempting to keep Joe Biden from being certified as our nation's 46th president.  A lot of people knew that Joe Biden would become another Salvador Allende once he was in the Oval Office.  He was clearly never presidential material.  His wife (Jill Biden) was too cocky to admit that he should never have run for office in the cognitively decadent condition that he was in.

                Because of Joe Biden, gas prices have soared high.  He and Kamala Harris paid Vladimir Putin a generous amount of money to complete the Nord Stream pipeline from Russia to Germany, and even other Democrats, including Nancy Pelosi, chewed them out for it.

                If Joe Biden had dropped out of the 2020 presidential election, it is not to say that President Donald Trump would have definitely won the election.  He would have had a good chance of doing so.  However, if, say, Tulsi Gabbard or Elizabeth Warren had won that election, all of the unusual events that followed it probably would never have occurred.  President Trump probably would have even congratulated his opponent for becoming the first woman to be president here in the United States.   It would have been a whole different feeling to it than a forthcoming Biden administration.

                At the end of the day, Joe Biden was never meant to be president.  He didn't even run for president in the 2016 presidential election.  Therefore, it made no sense that he decided to run in the 2020 presidential election.  A lot of Democrats are asking him to drop out of the 2024 presidential election.  The only people who are cheering him on at this point are hardcore Bidinites, and there are not many of them left at this point in time.

                1. Valeant profile image76
                  Valeantposted 9 months agoin reply to this

                  January 6th is Joe Biden's fault?  No moderate independent would make that claim, only a full-on MAGA extremist.  Then admitting that those who attacked Congress on January 6 were trying to commit the crime of stopping the lawful certification, as if it is normal.

                  Joe Biden is everything Donald Trump is not.  Compassionate, experienced, calm, bipartisan.  He has as much tolerance for MAGA's alternate realities and acts of domestic terrorism as the rest of us, which is none.  Do many want him to seek a second term, absolutely not.  But if it's a choice between him and Trump, it's an easy decision.

                  1. TheShadowSpecter profile image77
                    TheShadowSpecterposted 9 months agoin reply to this

                    I'm not any kind of extremist.  You have an overly optimistic viewpoint of Joe Biden.  As I said before, when I voted for Trump twice, I didn't vote for the Republican Party.  I voted for the candidate.  Joe Biden is another Salvador Allende.

                2. Willowarbor profile image60
                  Willowarborposted 9 months agoin reply to this

                  Interesting opinions but you did not touch on the fake electors scheme and the recent tape recording of Trump and Ronna McDaniel encouraging officials in Michigan not to sign the election certificate, even offering them attorneys... Which I suppose can be construed as a bribe.

                  1. TheShadowSpecter profile image77
                    TheShadowSpecterposted 9 months agoin reply to this

                    I didn't touch upon the other stuff you mentioned in your post, because I do not find Yahoo to be an unbiased news source.  Back in the 2016 presidential election, Yahoo was decorating Hillary Clinton to be a much better person than who she was.

                    If Tulsi Gabbard or Elizabeth Warren had won the 2020 presidential election, all of the Trump supporters would have been sad and would have moved on with their lives.  However, they would not have questioned the integrity of the election itself.  Too many suspicious things happened during the election and on election night.  Somehow I don't think that Tulsi Gabbard or Elizabeth Warren would have taken any of that sitting down if either one of them had won the election.  Nobody should have been expected anyone to take that sitting down, including President Donald Trump.

        2. TheShadowSpecter profile image77
          TheShadowSpecterposted 9 months agoin reply to this

          There's still this one hugely ugly elephant in the room, and it can be found in the diary of Joe Biden's daughter.  Click the video below.

          https://youtu.be/XQbVe0DesGY?si=Cw11rJjq_rqjDmLf

          Somehow I don't think Joe Biden will be able to get around that same scandal.  Even Democrat voters have to be cringing over what he did to his daughter.  Joe Biden will soon officially be in the doghouse.

          1. Valeant profile image76
            Valeantposted 9 months agoin reply to this
            1. TheShadowSpecter profile image77
              TheShadowSpecterposted 4 months agoin reply to this

              Snopes recently retracted their article in which they had claimed that the diary could not be authenticated.  Now they are saying that it is real and that Joe Biden did act with his daughter in a highly inappropriate manner when she was a little girl insofar as he violated her trust in him.  Here is a video regarding this recent action on the part of Snopes.>>>>
              https://youtu.be/5c1Ncqmj-7g?si=zLFiz4Jx-Wq3Kauz

              This news is all over YouTube.  The best thing that Joe Biden can do at this point in time is drop out of the presidential election.  Democrats will likely vote for Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. anyhow after learning about this.  Jill Biden should divorce him.

              1. Willowarbor profile image60
                Willowarborposted 4 months agoin reply to this

                Any credible sources?

                1. TheShadowSpecter profile image77
                  TheShadowSpecterposted 4 months agoin reply to this
                2. abwilliams profile image67
                  abwilliamsposted 4 months agoin reply to this

                  "Any credible sources?"

                  Ashley Biden.

              2. Credence2 profile image79
                Credence2posted 4 months agoin reply to this

                If you think that Democrats would see Robert Kennedy, Jr as a viable alternative, then you don't know Democrats.

                Geez, after looking into this, it does not look good.

                Yet....

                Furthermore, in her letter to the judge, Ashley Biden wrote that others had "once-grossly" misinterpreted her "once-private" writings and thrown "false accusations that defame my character and those of the people I love."

                Biden also said that her "innermost thoughts" recorded in the diary had been "constantly distorted and manipulated," and assumed that the point of the theft was to "peddle grotesque lies by distorting my stream-of-consciousness thoughts."

                I believe that more information should be forthcomin.

                1. TheShadowSpecter profile image77
                  TheShadowSpecterposted 4 months agoin reply to this

                  I'd be curious to know how Jill Biden feels about it.  After all, she is Ashley Biden's mother.

              3. abwilliams profile image67
                abwilliamsposted 4 months agoin reply to this

                Sorry that I missed this earlier Shadow, spending less and less time here it seems.
                Thanks for sharing.
                AB

  4. abwilliams profile image67
    abwilliamsposted 9 months ago

    There's an active "Trump coup" thread?
    Guess that answers all my questions huh?

  5. Readmikenow profile image95
    Readmikenowposted 9 months ago

    Is it possible the left has NO idea what they're doing when it comes to handling President Donald Trump? I think the evidence is clear.

    "Mainstream media admit 'foolish' Colorado Supreme Court ruling is gift to Trump

    Several mainstream media outlets published pieces this week arguing that the Colorado Supreme Court’s decision to bar former President Trump from the state’s primary ballot is a "gift" to his re-election campaign.

    Columns in CNN, The L.A. Times, and a report from NBC News insisted that the state Supreme Court’s invocation of Section 3 of the 14th Amendment to remove Trump from the ballot does the opposite of block him from being president again. It gives him a "boost."

    In the Tuesday column, Barabak wrote, "Donald Trump received an early Christmas present courtesy of the Colorado Supreme Court."  He said that though the decision has been seen as something to be celebrated by Democrats and Trump foes, "in the longer term the ruling may well be moot."

    The columnist said, "But a perceived assault on the insurrectionist ex-president — by Democratic-appointed Colorado justices, no less — will only make him more sympathetic to the GOP base; his support in polls soared last April after the first of four indictments."

    Barabak continued, describing the court’s decision as another attempt at "an easy out" for Democrats and their Trump problem. "



    https://www.foxnews.com/media/mainstrea … gift-trump

    1. Sharlee01 profile image84
      Sharlee01posted 9 months agoin reply to this

      Their original intent and the actual outcome are significantly divergent. What led them to believe they could dictate to citizens whom they are permitted to vote for? With Trump gaining momentum in the polls despite their attempts to undermine him, their response was to eliminate him from the ballots. This desperate maneuver has not only failed but also made the involved judges appear foolish, sparking widespread frustration.

      Nevertheless, a growing number of people are awakening to the authoritarian nature of this group and the erosion of their rights. The audacity of attempting to control who qualifies for the ballot is nothing short of absurd and has prompted accusations of election rigging. This outrageous act, however, has inadvertently shed light on the true nature of this activist group's intentions, for which I must reluctantly express gratitude.

      Next, the write-in option will be removed ... LOL

      So disparate

      1. Willowarbor profile image60
        Willowarborposted 9 months agoin reply to this

        The audacity of attempting to control who qualifies for the ballot is nothing short of absurd and has prompted accusations of election rigging.

        No,  that would be the audacity of a section 3 of amendment 14.  The Constitution tells us who can appear on a ballot. The Constitution tells us plainly who qualifies.

  6. Valeant profile image76
    Valeantposted 9 months ago

    On the flip side of that, if the Supreme Court overturns the Colorado ruling, it will energize the Democratic base by showing once again that the high court will bend itself into knots to champion any conservative cause, even one that's as obvious as this one that we all saw with our own eyes.

    1. Readmikenow profile image95
      Readmikenowposted 9 months agoin reply to this

      Yes, but there are many democrats who believe this was a bad move and shouldn't have happened.

      It is more evidence of the desperation of the democrat party.

      In a fair election President Donald Trump would have no problem getting reelected.  democrats have no respect for the will of the people. That is one reason I believe democrats align closely with Communist parties and have to do so many underhanded things.

      Remember, in a FAIR election, he will have no problems being reelected.

      1. Valeant profile image76
        Valeantposted 9 months agoin reply to this

        Yeah, so what if some feel that it will energize Trump's base?  They were already pretty energized due to his indictments.

        And if you need to pump yourself up by claiming it's democratic desperation, so be it.  We saw the same false inflation during the 2022 elections with the 'Giant Red Wave' claims.  How did that turn out?  If six republicans bringing this action and seven judges ruling on it is your idea of the democratic party, that's just another weird attempt to associate everything you can to the democratic party.

        Never has there been a greater projection about which party has done underhanded things related to fair elections.  Here is the latest since I'm pretty sure the far-right media sources won't show it to you guys:

        https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/politics … r-AA1lSmme

        This implicates not only Trump but Ronna McDaniel.  If you have to tell people that you will get them lawyers, because you are feeding them lies and asking them to not follow the law, that's probably not good.

      2. IslandBites profile image92
        IslandBitesposted 9 months agoin reply to this

        Yes, but there are many democrats who believe this was a bad move and shouldn't have happened.

        Yes. And they are right, in the sense that Trump as the GOP candidate is better, easier for them and Biden. They already beat him more than once. smile

        A new candidate, not so much.

        You would think it is the Democrats dont want Trump as the GOP candidate, but not as much as a good part of the Republican Party.

        Maybe Im wrong, but wasnt the Colorado case filed on behalf of a group of Republicans?

        The left wont vote for him, a majority of independents wont vote for him, and a good portion of the Republican Party want him out. Your candidate is a loser. You guys should move on.

    2. Sharlee01 profile image84
      Sharlee01posted 9 months agoin reply to this

      It would appear you are insulting the SC. It looks like if things don't go the way you feel they should, you will just point the finger at the SC.

      This is very much what I have noted the Demacrats do when they don't get their way.

      Yes we did all see it with our own eyes, many of us watched Trump's entire speech on that day and found the context very different from what the left media reported. I guess this could be one reason so many stand behind him. I guess that is why he leads in the polls, I guess that's why some that oppose him needed to make such a divisive ploy to try to remove him from the ballot.

      1. Willowarbor profile image60
        Willowarborposted 9 months agoin reply to this

        It looks like if things don't go the way you feel they should, you will just point the finger at the SC.

        As right-wing extremists are pointing fingers at the Supreme Court of Colorado?

        Many seem to be ignoring the fact that this case was brought by Republican voters.  It wouldn't have seen the light of day if not for them... But somehow it's a Democratic ploy?

      2. Valeant profile image76
        Valeantposted 9 months agoin reply to this

        'It would appear you are insulting the SC. It looks like if things don't go the way you feel they should, you will just point the finger at the SC.'

        No different than many members of the right here lobbing insults at the Colorado Supreme Court for doing their job and interpreting the law a certain way that they don't like, now is it?  I could go grab some quotes where they actually make personal insults, and could post all the death threats that MAGA is now lobbing at the justices online if you need those.

        As noted, polling has 54% supporting this ruling (including 24% of the GOP) and only 35% against it.  Just like Roe, which had the support of the majority of Americans, noting how a court would overturn something that has the popularity of the majority of Americans is just another example of the courts being out of touch with the current American electorate.  And the Roe decision definitely energized the Democratic base in elections, with abortion measures passing wherever they are appearing on ballots.  So, you may take that as an insult, but it seems more a statement of fact based on what has taken place since the Supreme Court went against popular sentiment on an issue.

        https://today.yougov.com/topics/politic … 20/edc6d/1

        And you have every right to have a different context of Trump's speech if you need to.  For many Americans, telling an armed crowd to fight like hell or we won't have a country, and then sending that incited crowd to the very place that they are certifying your loss was reckless.  As many testified in their trials, they took Trump's words to mean attack - so while you may have a different context, it is clear by that testimony, that other MAGA people had a very different context when they were there, in attendance.

        1. Readmikenow profile image95
          Readmikenowposted 9 months agoin reply to this

          Online survey...okay.

  7. Sharlee01 profile image84
    Sharlee01posted 9 months ago

    Get to know Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington  (CREW) This is the activist group behind the Colorado case to remove Trump from the Ballot.

    Politico --   In a major power play that aligns liberal muscle more fully behind the Democratic Party — and Hillary Clinton — the self-described right-wing hitman-turned-Clinton enforcer David Brock is taking over a leading watchdog group, Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington.  https://www.politico.com/story/2014/08/ … ton-110003

    Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington (CREW) is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) watchdog organization devoted to U.S. government ethics and accountability.  Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington was co-founded in 2003 by Norman L. Eisen and Melanie Sloan in part as a liberal/progressive counterweight to conservative watchdog groups such as Judicial Watch.
    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Citizens_ … hington%20(CREW)%20is%20a,U.S.%20government%20ethics%20and%20accountability.

    Is crew a left wing organization?
    CREW is funded by a Who's Who of left-wing donors.

    Many of CREW's biggest funders are left-leaning organizations, including the Open Society Institute, the Tides Foundation, and Democracy Alliance.
    https://crewexposed.com/is-crew-imparti … 0Alliance.

    1. Willowarbor profile image60
      Willowarborposted 9 months agoin reply to this

      Meet the Republican leading the effort to get Donald Trump off state ballots
      Former Republican state lawmaker Norma Anderson is one of four Republicans and two unaffiliated voters who sued the Secretary of State to keep Trump off the ballot.

      Anderson versus Griswold. The case that led to the Colorado Supreme Court opinion that former President Donald Trump is an insurrectionist and unable to hold office is named Anderson v. Griswold.

      The challenge was to keep Democratic Secretary of State Jena Griswold from putting former President Trump on Colorado's primary ballot, hence 'Griswold.'

      The 'Anderson' is former Republican state lawmaker Norma Anderson.

      “Donald Trump does not deserve to be president,” Anderson said. 

      “What does it mean to me? It means Democracy. It tells me what our forefathers fought for when they settled this country,” Anderson said.

      Anderson is one of four Republicans and two unaffiliated voters who sued Griswold to keep Trump off the ballot. CREW – Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington – is the liberal group out of Washington D.C. that helped the voters with the lawsuit that used Section 3 of the 14th Amendment to disqualify Trump from holding future office.

      “I was concerned because of the courage of the courts, I’m sorry,” Anderson said.


      https://www.9news.com/article/news/loca … d6e332f573

      1. Readmikenow profile image95
        Readmikenowposted 9 months agoin reply to this

        " the liberal group out of Washington D.C."

        Tells me all I need to know about those who filed this lawsuit.

        This is simply election tampering.

        democrats afraid the will of the people will be expressed and they won't like it.

        democrats need to give Democracy a try.

        1. Sharlee01 profile image84
          Sharlee01posted 9 months agoin reply to this

          There is a lot of information regarding "CHEW". Their reputation is that of a group that leans far left. Members can call themselves anything they please, they are far-left activists.

          https://www.politico.com/story/2014/08/ … ton-110003

      2. Sharlee01 profile image84
        Sharlee01posted 9 months agoin reply to this

        Appreciate your comment. However, the more reading I do on this group the more I realize they are Biased, and push left-wing ideologies. Sort of like wolves in sheep's clothing.

        1. Willowarbor profile image60
          Willowarborposted 9 months agoin reply to this

          Are you saying that they converted Miss Anderson?  She is a  former  Republican state lawmaker.  It is her name that is on the case. She has representation by crew and what does it matter what kind of background her lawyers have?   Anderson along with other Republicans were the ones who chose to bring the case. What does it matter who presents the evidence or the case to a judge?  I don't understand the part about so called  left wing ideologies of a lawyer? Any lawyer can be biased to the gills in any manner and on any subject but that shouldn't have anything to do with a judge's decision on the law or the Constitution for that matter.

          Does that mean that Trump's lawyers have right wing ideologies? And what does that mean in the end in front of a judge where the case is supposedly brought on its merits?

          Just not understanding what the background of a lawyer has to do with the case or its outcome.

          1. Sharlee01 profile image84
            Sharlee01posted 9 months agoin reply to this

            I was careful not to mention names...  My comments are geared toward organizations that have claimed they initiated the complaint, and at this point are claiming victory on their website.

            "CREW successfully barred Trump from the Colorado ballot
            The CO Supreme Court ruled that Trump is disqualified from holding office because he incited the insurrection.

            This is a monumental win—but it’s not over. Trump has made clear he’s going to try to overturn this decision."

            https://www.citizensforethics.org/news/ … urrection/

            I have already shared I feel all involved in the case including both Colarda courts, as well as the attorneys that presented the case, and CREW will be ultimately admonished by the United States Supreme Court.

            I have no right to insult Miss Anderson or defame her name.

      3. abwilliams profile image67
        abwilliamsposted 9 months agoin reply to this

        What else is new with RINOs?!

        1. Ken Burgess profile image71
          Ken Burgessposted 9 months agoin reply to this

          A very Happy Holidays to you all!!!

          Ho Ho Ho... we have war in the Middle East, war on the Russian Border, the former President and current Front Runner being banned from ballots, and we have AI taking over the internet... so much to look forward to in 2024!!!

          As a gift to my fellow Hubbers, let me add one more log to the fire, to keep your thoughts toasty warm this Merry Weekend!

          Speaking on a World Government Summit panel titled 'Are We Ready for a New World Order?', "Global Leader for Tomorrow" for the WEF, Pippa Malmgren, announces the arrival of central bank digital currencies (CBDCs).

          "It means having an almost perfect record of every single transaction that happens in the economy, which will give us far greater clarity over what's going on. [Shifting] the balance of power between states and citizens."

          https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CDDlWKSQvS8

          And what I so love about this particular video, is not the information it provides, but the Context warning label just below it which states:

          The New World Order (NWO) is a conspiracy theory that hypothesizes a secretly emerging totalitarian world government.

          Imagine that?

          There they are... on the world stage... discussing the continued efforts to create the New World Order... and for context, Youtube is warning you that it is purely a conspiracy theory.

          Could anything be a better representation of where we are heading into 2024?

          I think not!

          Buckle Up... 2024 is going to be super fun, for everyone!

          Happy Holidays!

          https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2018/12/ … russia-us/

          1. abwilliams profile image67
            abwilliamsposted 9 months agoin reply to this

            Merry Christmas Everyone.
            God is in control!

            1. tsmog profile image87
              tsmogposted 9 months agoin reply to this

              Glad Julafton is Swedish for Merry Christmas Eve. God Jul is Merry Christmas. I wish both for you!!

  8. IslandBites profile image92
    IslandBitesposted 9 months ago

    Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington (CREW) filed a lawsuit Wednesday on behalf of six Republican and unaffiliated voters in Colorado that include former federal, state and local officials. The group alleged that Trump violated the oath of office by “recruiting, inciting and encouraging a violent mob that attacked the Capitol on January 6, 2021 in a futile attempt to remain in office.”

    “In my decade of service in the House of Representatives, I certified multiple presidential elections and saw firsthand the importance of ethics, the rule of law and the peaceful transfer of power in our democracy,” said former Republican member of Congress Claudine (Cmarada) Schneider. “This lawsuit is crucial to protecting and fortifying those fundamental democratic values, and I’m honored to be a part of it.”

    “As a longtime Republican who voted for him, I believe Donald Trump disqualified himself from running in 2024 by spreading lies, vilifying election workers, and fomenting an attack on the Capitol,” said conservative columnist for the Denver Post and Republican activist Krista Kafer. “Those who by force and by falsehood subvert democracy are unfit to participate in it. That’s why I am part of this lawsuit to prevent an insurrectionist from appearing on Colorado’s ballot.”

  9. Valeant profile image76
    Valeantposted 9 months ago

    Yeah, far-right democracy...where you try multiple avenues to overturn the will of the people.  No thanks.  If a person violates the Amendments in the Constitution, I have no issue with courts ruling that person ineligible to be the main defender of the Constitution.

  10. Kathleen Cochran profile image74
    Kathleen Cochranposted 9 months ago

    The 14th Amendment was written for a reason. Either you support the Constitution or you don't.

    1. Ken Burgess profile image71
      Ken Burgessposted 9 months agoin reply to this

      "The 14th Amendment was written for a reason."

      Of course it was written for a reason.

      The 14th Amendment was passed by Congress in 1866 during the Reconstructionist period.

      The framers of the Fourteenth Amendment wanted to protect the new Civil Rights Act from being declared unconstitutional by the Supreme Court and also to prevent a future Congress from altering it by a mere majority vote.

      The amendment extended liberties and rights granted by the Bill of Rights to formerly enslaved people. It granted citizenship to “all persons born or naturalized in the United States" and also ensured rights to those who lived in States that were not so hospitable to minorities.

      It pertained to what occurred during and after the Civil War, and wanted to ensure that those that partook in the efforts to secede (aka insurrection) were not able to undermine the Constitution or the Federal Government. 

      "Either you support the Constitution or you don't."

      I think many people who support the Constitution can find plenty wrong with those who want to label Trump's actions as an "insurrection".

      I think many people who support the Constitution can find plenty wrong with the decision made by the Colorado Supreme Court.

      The wonderful thing about today's "reality" and today's 'facts" is that they are more open to interpretation and what a person feels than at any time in history.  One of the wonderful positives of today's Progressive Identity Politics era.  If a person feels like a non-binary genderfluid queer then that is what they are, if a billionaire feels like they are a victim then they must be accepted as such, and so on... everything is a matter of perception and how it impacts the individual.

      If Trump says he did not instigate an insurrection, that he loves his country and is a Patriot, then that is what you must accept... the reality of the individual is of the highest importance and must be accepted as such.

      I don't think efforts to brow-beat people with such statements as you have made are going to have any positive effect.

  11. Valeant profile image76
    Valeantposted 9 months ago

    'If Trump says he did not instigate an insurrection, that he loves his country and is a Patriot, then that is what you must accept... the reality of the individual is of the highest importance and must be accepted as such.'

    This sums up MAGA in the easiest way possible.  No matter what actions are shown, what laws those action broke, MAGA must accept it.  For the rest of America, the Constitution and its laws and the evidence that has been presented, as well as the rulings of judges still matter more.

  12. Springboard profile image85
    Springboardposted 9 months ago

    I believe the move is unconstitutional and will be struck down by the U.S. Supreme Court. Fingers crossed there is some common sense and rule of law left in this country, but who knows? These days it seems to be getting more and more scary that we may be becoming a Banana Republic.

    1. abwilliams profile image67
      abwilliamsposted 9 months agoin reply to this

      Now Maine!
      The Left has habitually used the word "disenfranchised" for the simple, common sense practice, of having voter's show i.d.

      But, completely eliminating the competition by removing their name from the ballot, depriving voters of their right to choose, is perfectly okay!?!

      1. Valeant profile image76
        Valeantposted 9 months agoin reply to this

        If that person violated the Constitution by engaging in insurrection against their own country, that's pretty disqualifying to many Americans.  And there's a whole bunch of Americans who watched Trump engage in that insurrection on January 6, especially when he sent a message out to the violent mob that Pence was not going along with the coup plan.

        1. abwilliams profile image67
          abwilliamsposted 9 months agoin reply to this

          A continuation of the revision of history...while simultaneously engaging in disenfranchisement, all while attempting to justify it all!
          This is what the left does; this is what it looks like.

          1. Valeant profile image76
            Valeantposted 9 months agoin reply to this

            Which part did I revise?  Did Trump not send a tweet out at 2:24pm telling those attacking the Capitol that Pence wasn't going to stop the certification?  It's been established that this was an insurrection based on the convictions for seditious conspiracy.  Trump is heading to trial for defrauding the United States in an attempt to stay in power.  For those who have looked at the facts and evidence of the case, it's plainly obvious Trump tried to subvert the will of the voters.

            For those in his base, they deny this reality just as they deny the reality that 81 million people would vote against Trump.  The same denial that causes them to change the subject anytime we bring up Trump's Campaign Chair meeting with members of Russian Intelligence in 2016 to pass campaign strategy and internal polling data along to the Russians.

            The left does not ignore these things that go directly against our country.  It is the right that revises history to ignore the many crimes that Trump has committed in an effort to get into, and then stay in, office.  If Trump had left office peacefully, no state would have a problem having him back on the ballot.  So don't try putting this on the left - look over at your own candidate and his acts that are disqualifying for any candidate who has already taken an oath to support and defend the Constitution and then engaged in insurrection against the country.

            1. abwilliams profile image67
              abwilliamsposted 9 months agoin reply to this

              What's evident is the wool which has been pulled over the eyes of many Americans.

              1. Valeant profile image76
                Valeantposted 9 months agoin reply to this

                Never has a human so projected as what was just written above.

                1. abwilliams profile image67
                  abwilliamsposted 9 months agoin reply to this

                  Maybe you will begin the process of removing the wool by the time we have our next chat, some time next year.
                  Later.

                  1. Valeant profile image76
                    Valeantposted 9 months agoin reply to this

                    Yeah, I'm not the one ignoring testimony given under oath, basic facts like Trump sending messages out to people committing violence to further his goals of stopping Congress, or Trump showing off classified material to people who do not have the clearance to view it (as he confirms to those people that he did not declassify it).  Nor do I think that a person who commits such obvious violations of the law or Constitution should ever set foot in the Oval Office again.

      2. Willowarbor profile image60
        Willowarborposted 9 months agoin reply to this

        Secretary of State Bellows' finding came after a group of petitioners (many Republican) challenged Trump's eligibility to appear on the GOP primary ballot. Unlike other states, Maine law outlines a process for the secretary of state to weigh such challenges, which puts Bellows, who is elected by the Legislature, in a quasi-judicial role in considering oral arguments and written evidence.

        Again, why do states rights not apply here? She is an elected official. If citizens of Maine do not like her decision or job performance they can vote her out next time.  Simple as that.

        Article 1, Section 4 of the Constitution explains that the States have the primary authority over election administration, the "times, places, and manner of holding elections". Conversely, the Constitution grants the Congress a purely secondary role to alter or create election laws only in the extreme cases of invasion, legislative neglect, or obstinate refusal to pass election laws.

        Every state has their own election laws and a process for those to be placed on a ballot.  Now you want to take away States rights?

        1. Readmikenow profile image95
          Readmikenowposted 9 months agoin reply to this

          Again, why do states rights not apply here?

          That was asked many times after the repeal of Roe V Wade.

          Funny how things change when situations change.

          1. Willowarbor profile image60
            Willowarborposted 9 months agoin reply to this

            Article 1 of the Constitution gave states the responsibility of overseeing federal elections.  No doubt there.
            Do we set this aside? Will the "originalists" on the supreme court remain true to there style of interpretation?   

            I would rather see Trump lose at The ballot box but how do we dispose of that pesky Constitution? 

            Yes, it will be funny if the court suddenly becomes inconsistent from Dobbs to Trump's ballot issue.  The court has lost so much credibility, I don't think they have any choice but to show consistency.

            The laws in Maine allow for challenges to the ballot to be decided by the elected Secretary of State.  Are you suggesting that the federal government claw this back?  Wrestle  back control from each state? Invalidate the procedures in each state that have been put in place by those elected by the people?
            Seems a little big brother- ish  to me.

            1. Readmikenow profile image95
              Readmikenowposted 9 months agoin reply to this

              I suggest President Donald Trump be permitted to run without interference and let the people decide.

              It's just that simple.

              All of these things done by democrats just demonstrate the fear democrats have of people choosing who they want to be president in a fair election.

              If the FBI and social media don't work together to try manipulate news stories negative to democrats this election; things may be different.

              1. Willowarbor profile image60
                Willowarborposted 9 months agoin reply to this

                You haven't addressed the constitutional issue. It would seem that in this situation the Democrats seek to follow the Constitution while some Republicans would rather see it set aside.

                1. Ken Burgess profile image71
                  Ken Burgessposted 9 months agoin reply to this

                  No.

                  It seems some folks want to conclude that what Trump did was worthy of keeping him off ballots, while other people consider that politically motivated BS.

                  This is the same BS you see in other banana republics that go the way of Venezuela or Honduras.  The old "our political rival committed crimes", so we are going to prosecute, jail, remove him from ballots, etc.

                  Meanwhile, insider information trading continues to go on in the Senate, Biden's son, brother, etc. get hundreds of millions from various banks, corporations out of China, Ukraine, etc. ... good ol'Joe laughs and talks about how they will shut down the Nord Stream pipeline and then a little while later it happens to blow up, or he laughs about how they had a great strategy with Mail in Ballots to ensure victory in the 2020 election and no one questions it, just writes it off as him mumbling nonsense.

                  It is SO obvious to anyone who pays attention what is going on... no amount of MSM propaganda or shrill Progressives screaming at the tops of their lungs is going to convince the majority of Americans that the persecution of Trump is legit and not political.

              2. Valeant profile image76
                Valeantposted 9 months agoin reply to this

                Fear?  That's a joke right?  In the polling, Biden gets crushed by all other GOP candidates besides Trump.  Polling has Trump and Biden running nearly even and Biden will have edges when you factor in the media campaign the Democrats will run to show Trump bragging about being responsible for ending Roe.  If there's one candidate the left wants against Biden, it is Trump. 

                But at the same time, the members of Trump's own party have looked at Trump's actions and see someone who violated the qualifying standards set forth in the Constitution in the most treasonous way possible, by taking part in a violent attack on the Congress of the country.  They brought that issue to a court in Colorado and a Secretary of State in Maine.  And a court has seen the same thing and it will be sent to the Supreme Court to verify or overturn.

                If following the Amendments set forth in the Constitution is the right's idea of having an unfair election, again, that just shows the autocratic nature of the right in this country.

                And like Ken in the other thread who relies on Giuliani as sourcing, someone who was proven to be lying about voter fraud and has lost his law license for providing false information to the courts about the 2020 election, it's no wonder the FBI and social media companies had some questions about that particular news story when it originated with him. 

                Some, especially those on the right, may want all the Russian disinformation affecting our elections, but many Americans are thankful that the FBI is trying to limit the content that the Russians put out to swing our elections to their preferred candidates, even if they miss the mark occasionally.

                1. Readmikenow profile image95
                  Readmikenowposted 9 months agoin reply to this

                  If there is no fear of President Donald Trump winning a second term then there is no reason to keep him off any ballots.

                  President Donald Trump is back on the ballot in Colorado

                  "Colorado's Secretary of State Jena Griswold said Thursday that, with the appeal filed, Trump will be included as a candidate on the state's primary ballot unless the U.S. Supreme Court declines to hear the case or upholds the state supreme court's ruling."

                  https://www.cbsnews.com/news/colorado-r … allot-ban/

                  The Hunter Biden Laptop story has been proven to have not been russian disinformation and the FBI knew it.

                  "The dishonor of our intelligence community, and most of the media, is now complete.

                  It turns out the “51 intel experts” letter implying Hunter Biden’s 100% authentic laptop was a Russian fake, and the ensuing efforts to kill Post reporting on it, were the actual disinfo operation.

                  Veteran spook and former acting CIA Director Mike Morrell masterminded it, as he swore under oath, to “help Vice President Biden … because I wanted him to win the election” — at the behest of campaign flunky (now Secretary of State) Antony Blinken.

                  And Morell plainly also did it in hopes a victorious Biden would hand him the top CIA job. Not only was there no intricate Russian plot, there was never any evidence suggesting one — only a Biden campaign conspiracy to bury the truth under a tissue of lies."

                  https://nypost.com/2023/04/21/hunter-bi … all-along/

                  This is simply more evidence of the democrat election interference.

                  I don't know why a fair election is such a scary thing to democrats.

                  Let the people decide.

                  1. Valeant profile image76
                    Valeantposted 9 months agoin reply to this

                    Yes, Trump is back on the ballot because the appeal.  And do you hear any of us complaining?  Nope.  Why?  Because we are following the process and know that the decision will be up to the Supreme Court.  Will we complain if they overturn the result?  Nope.  Why?  Because it doesn't really affect our plans to show up and vote for anyone but Trump in the upcoming election.  If the opposite happens and there's a Nikki Haley on the ballot instead, that might give more of us a consideration because she's a candidate some liberals might be able to stomach.

                    Ah, yes, a NY Post opinion article taken as fact.  Again, the far-right getting information taken out of context to try and convince them that there weren't other motivations from the 51 ex-intelligence officials.  Here is the actual quote from Morell that they spliced to change the narrative:

                    When asked what the intention of the letter was, the former intelligence agent explained that he had two motivations: “One intent was to share our concern with the American people that the Russians were playing on this issue; and, two, it was [to] help Vice President Biden.”  The signatories acknowledged in the letter that they had no actual evidence that Hunter’s laptop was a Russian plant but nevertheless claimed the Post story had “all the classic earmarks of a Russian information operation.”

                    And if that is Democratic election interference, what is paying off a porn star to suppress a story that Trump had slept with her before an election?  What is a catch-and-kill operation where a publisher pays people for negative stories on a candidate and then chooses to bury them? The hypocrisy of calling out them Democrats for using the same tactics that the GOP has been using on multiple occasions is comical, as usual.

  13. Readmikenow profile image95
    Readmikenowposted 9 months ago

    This is just more proof the left fears a fair election and has no respect for the will of the people.

    IF the left felt that President Donald Trump was not going to win the 2024 presidential election, they would have never even thought to have done such things.

    This is strong evidence the left fears the majority of Americans will vote President Donald Trump into a second term as president.

    It's obvious they fear the will of the people and seek to manipulate elections as they do in communist countries. 

    As I've said before democrat = Communist wannabe

    1. Sharlee01 profile image84
      Sharlee01posted 9 months agoin reply to this

      Very much agree. When the Demacrats are cornered they take unthinkable action.  And this latest ploy will not play well for them --- it is so corrupt, a ploy a banana republic would pull.  They truely fear Trump so much they will do anything to try to keep him from winning the Primary. At any rate, I trust the Supreme Court to put a stop to this nonsense.

      Sick bunch...

    2. TheShadowSpecter profile image77
      TheShadowSpecterposted 9 months agoin reply to this

      Well, I say that if President Grover Cleveland was able to get a second term in the Oval Office after a 4-year absence from the White House, then President Trump should also be able to acheive that same goal.

      1. Readmikenow profile image95
        Readmikenowposted 9 months agoin reply to this

        The democrats are not playing fair.

        I believe in a fair election President Donald Trump would have no problem winning a second term.

        The democrats are afraid of a fair election.  THAT is the reason for all of this persecution of President Donald Trump.

        If he was no threat to win, they would simply ignore him.

        1. TheShadowSpecter profile image77
          TheShadowSpecterposted 9 months agoin reply to this

          Yeah, if I have my American history right, I believe that President Trump would be the second president to have had a 4-year gap between his first term and second term in the Oval Office if he wins this presidential election.  I don't know of any other president who has pulled that phenomenon off other than President Grover Cleveland.  In any event, let's hope that President Donald Trump wins the 2024 presidential election here in the United States.

  14. Valeant profile image76
    Valeantposted 9 months ago

    It's funny to watch the far-right in these forums always leave the 'people' who have filed these challenges very general to avoid acknowledging that it's members of their own party bringing the issue to the courts or to the Secretaries of State.  it just has to be 'progressive persecution.'  And never any mention of the specific acts Trump took to keep him off the ballot or to get him indicted.  That's what's really obvious to anyone who pays attention.  No amount of conduct or illegality will ever register to those in the MAGA cult - and we have a bunch of members who post to this forum, that's one certainty.

    1. Readmikenow profile image95
      Readmikenowposted 9 months agoin reply to this

      If all was fair Hillary Clinton and Barrack Obama would have been in court on many, many charges.

      The right didn't fear them.

      The left is terrified the majority of Americans will choose President Donald Trump for a second term.

      THAT is the only reason he is being so persecuted.

      It is working against the democrats in a big way.

      1. Valeant profile image76
        Valeantposted 9 months agoin reply to this

        The right simply believes that the left is terrified.  In the same way they believed there would be a big red wave in 2022.  And the way they think that Americans like their policies.  It's false bravado.  When it comes time to vote, and Trump is their candidate, that bravado will be crushed as it was in 2018, 2020, and 2022 as the country keeps telling the GOP that MAGA extremism is not what America wants.

        1. Readmikenow profile image95
          Readmikenowposted 9 months agoin reply to this

          I think this may be a cause for concern among democrats.

          "Biden Ends 2023 With 39% Job Approval"

          President Joe Biden’s job approval rating is 39%, marking a slight improvement from the 37% low points in October and November but the fifth time his rating is below 40% in 2023.

          Biden’s Current Rating Worse Than Other Modern Presidents at Same Point
          Looking at the approval ratings of the past seven presidents at the same point in their first term in office, Biden’s current 39% is the lowest. Barack Obama (43%) and Donald Trump (45%) had slightly higher ratings heading into the year they sought reelection, while all of the others were above 50%.

          Job approval ratings of Bill Clinton and George H.W. Bush were 51%, and Ronald Reagan and Jimmy Carter stood at 54%. Buoyed by the mid-December capture of Saddam Hussein in 2003, George W. Bush had the highest approval rating of the eight presidents (58%).

          https://news.gallup.com/poll/547763/bid … roval.aspx

          1. Valeant profile image76
            Valeantposted 9 months agoin reply to this

            Why would approval ratings concern the Democrats when Trump left office with 29% approval rating.  And since then, his Supreme Court ended a woman's right to body autonomy, he was indicted for trying to keep classified documents, he is on audio displaying those classified documents to people without clearances, he was found liable for defamation and sexual abuse, and he's under indictment for trying to steal a presidential election.

            2024 is not about who the Democrats nominate.  It's solely about who the GOP runs.  If it's Trump, it's a loss.  If it's anyone else, they likely win.

            1. Readmikenow profile image95
              Readmikenowposted 9 months agoin reply to this

              If any of that mattered President Donald Trump wouldn't be doing so well in the polls.

              If any of that mattered, it wouldn't even be close.  It is close, very close.  biden has problems with the economy and the border.  BIG problems.

              President Donald Trump leads in registered voters and biden leads in likely voters by not much.  There is less than a four point shift and poll after poll shows this is within the margin of error.

              1. Valeant profile image76
                Valeantposted 9 months agoin reply to this

                And then you're neglecting the Roe effect which we've seen in most elections across 2023, which has Democrats averaging 11 points above whatever the polls stated was going to happen.  Or the MAGA candidates in 2022 that got absolutely annihilated across the board.

    2. IslandBites profile image92
      IslandBitesposted 9 months agoin reply to this

      it's members of their own party bringing the issue to the courts or to the Secretaries of State.

      Yup.

      https://youtu.be/iRgnSDPG924?si=n0X2_MhRKh0Cc8qq

      Former Maine State Senator Tom Saviello voted for Trump twice. Now, he wants him off the ballot. Saviello challenged Trump's eligibility on Maine's ballot in 2024.

      1. Ken Burgess profile image71
        Ken Burgessposted 9 months agoin reply to this

        He has a right to form his own opinion.

        That is the biggest reason for the argument of having Trump remain on the ballots, either we trust the people with the ability to discern what has gone on, and to vote accordingly, or we do not.

        If he does not have the majority of Americans vote for him, which clearly many people do not believe could happen, then allowing all Americans the choice to vote for him shouldn't matter.

        Then, after he loses the election, he can be prosecuted without the perception that it is purely for political purposes to ensure he is not elected President, again.

        There will be a deepening stigma not only to the coming election, but the past election, keeping Trump off the 2024 ballot only lends credibility to all the "conspiracy theories" regarding that election.

        It is interesting that instead of being happy that they won the election, and moving on, focusing on the future... they instead put so much effort into persecuting anyone that attempted to question the election, legally or otherwise... similar to how they are focused on attacking Elon Musk, for exposing the efforts of the FBI to silence certain perspectives or misinform America (IE - the Hunter Biden laptop).

        There actions appear to be similar to those who know they are doing wrong and are out to vilify, silence, eliminate any who would expose their wrongdoing.

        1. Willowarbor profile image60
          Willowarborposted 9 months agoin reply to this

          That is the biggest reason for the argument of having Trump remain on the ballots, either we trust the people with the ability to discern what has gone on, and to vote accordingly, or we do not.

          What about the question of Constitutionality?  Should the Constitution determine his eligibility to remain on the ballot or not? I don't know, maybe it's just me but Trump supporters seem to rally around the Constitution when it suits their need and abandon it when it doesn't.

          The pundits are all saying that SCOTUS needs to settle the issue of the disqualification (or not) of Trump from ballots for all states. But the true conservative position is to let the states decide...isn't it?

          This is a states’ rights issue. All the state constitutions are different. Let the individual decisions stand. The Supreme Court is very much in favor of states’ rights: Witness the Dobbs decision to let each state decide the abortion issue. Similarly, if the ballot case(s) reach the court, they should defer to the states, in true conservative fashion.  Let's show some consistency here.

          1. Ken Burgess profile image71
            Ken Burgessposted 9 months agoin reply to this

            One could say that is what got us in this mess, States doing their own thing, blowing off their own Constitution as well as the U.S. Constitution regarding the 2020 election.

            And now, they want to throw the 2024 election into question as well?

            It is interesting that it seems it is the Democrat led states that are doing all the major changes to their election policy and regulations, and are now insisting that Trump be removed from the ballots... that looks a lot like bias and political motivation to me.

            And that is why Trump needs to remain on all ballots, in all states... or we can continue to go down this road, which will continue to fracture the nation and eventually lead to some form of civil war or secession effort... which I am sure there are some who are in favor of.

            The abuses of power are evident, one can see this evident beyond their pursuit of the destruction of Trump, we can see it in how the laws are not applied equally to Clinton or Biden, we can see it in the persecution of Musk (who is not even a political activist, more of a free speech activist) and in how they twist so many other matters.

            1. Sharlee01 profile image84
              Sharlee01posted 9 months agoin reply to this

              "It is interesting that it seems it is the Democrat led states that are doing all the major changes to their election policy and regulations, and are now insisting that Trump be removed from the ballots... that looks a lot like bias and political motivation to me."

              Ken,   Their fear is palpable, in my view. They have run out of tricks and time.

            2. Willowarbor profile image60
              Willowarborposted 9 months agoin reply to this

              Article 1, Section 4 of the Constitution explains that the States have the primary authority over election administration. 

              The Maine Secretary of State :

              "Under Maine law, when I qualified Mr. Trump for the ballot, any registered voter had the right to challenge that qualification. Five voters did so, including two former Republican state senators. And then I was required under the statute, under the law, to hold a hearing and issue a decision, and do so within a very compressed timeline. So this wasn't something I initiated, but it's something that's required under Maine election law.. In my decision, I made clear this is part of Maine's process. It now goes to Maine Superior Court."

              She simply followed the laws in her state.  Conservatives would now like these states rights to be clawed back by the Federal government? Would you like the federal government to remove the ability of citizens to challenge ballot eligibility?

              I certainly would prefer that the victim in chief be defeated at the ballot box but how will the conservative Court dispose of the issues of constitutionality? 

              Democrats have made changes to their election policies? Where specifically?
              Again you are leaving out the fact that ballot eligibility was challenged by voters...not those in office.  If voters choose to challenge eligibility, the state is compelled to act.  it's as simple as that. 

              The Supreme Court will take up the issue of constitutionality.  What do you find unconstitutional in these state decisions?

              1. wilderness profile image96
                wildernessposted 9 months agoin reply to this

                It is a rather interesting question; should the federal government supply the rules for eligibility of federal offices?  Ignoring for the moment the US Constitution, what is the right thing - for each state to decide who is eligible for a federal office or for the nation as a whole to decide?

                When I look at the specific case now being seen - a group of unarmed idiots occupying the capitol building, after being told to remain peaceful, whereupon the one ordering them NOT to cause violence is charged with insurrection - it seems rather obvious what is happening.  When it is ONLY states that are hardline Democrat, removing their primary opposition from the ballot, that perception gains strength.  When there has been years to prosecute the speaker (Trump) of insurrection and nothing is done, it certainly appears he is not guilty of the charge...yet Red states declare he is, without the need of a conviction. 

                For me, in my opinion only, politics has become so dirty today, so lacking in basic morals or ethics, that it necessary to declare that the elected federal government should decide who is eligible for federal office.  States can determine that for themselves, for their own elections, but not for the nationwide elections.  And certainly not for a primary election, carried out by a political party, which has absolutely nothing to do with individual states.

                1. Ken Burgess profile image71
                  Ken Burgessposted 9 months agoin reply to this

                  Very well said, seems common sense.

                2. abwilliams profile image67
                  abwilliamsposted 9 months agoin reply to this

                  Hear, hear.

                3. Willowarbor profile image60
                  Willowarborposted 9 months agoin reply to this

                  Legal requirements for presidential candidates have remained the same since the year Washington accepted the presidency. As directed by the Constitution, a presidential candidate must be a natural born citizen of the United States, a resident for 14 years, and 35 years of age or older.
                  And then we have The 14th Amendment of the Constitution which  includes a clause that prohibits anyone who has “engaged in insurrection or rebellion” against the U.S. government from holding elected office if they had previously taken an oath “to support the Constitution of the United States.”.

                  The Constitution also allows the states to administer elections.  That necessarily includes interpreting the above qualifications to be included on a ballot.

                  "it seems rather obvious what is happening.  When it is ONLY states that are hardline Democrat, removing their primary opposition from the ballot"

                  I see States dealing with challenges brought by their voters in terms of candidates valid eligibility within the laws of  their states.  That's why we have seen different outcomes.

                  Let's take California for example. Secretary of State Weber  said the California Constitution does not give her clear authority to take action and leaves the decision to the courts.

                  Why was the challenge to remove Trump from the ballot in Michigan rejected?

                  The court found no provision in Michigan Election Law requires someone seeking the presidency "to attest to their legal qualification to hold the office,"

                  All we are seeing here is that states are dealing with challenges to ballot qualification within their own laws.

                  "States can determine that for themselves, for their own elections, but not for the nationwide elections. "

                  Article 1, Section 4 of the Constitution explains that the States have the primary authority over election administration.

                  You would like this amended?

                  I would like to see Trump remain on the ballot but it looks like the conservative Supreme Court is going to have to do some major philosophical gymnastics to bend the Constitution.

                4. GA Anderson profile image82
                  GA Andersonposted 9 months agoin reply to this

                  The "right thing to do" is to follow the Constitution.

                  Using Willowarbor's constitutional arguments, the details of Maine's actions, and, stripping away specific names and affiliations that simply muddy the issue, there doesn't seem to be another 'right choice.'

                  GA

                  1. Readmikenow profile image95
                    Readmikenowposted 9 months agoin reply to this

                    The problem with the decision in Maine is that it affects more than the state of Maine.

                    With a president being determined by popular vote as well as electoral college votes, their actions will have a national impact. 

                    The state's rights argument is a view the south had when it came to slavery.  The counter was that the slave trade was done on a national level and had a national impact.

                  2. Ken Burgess profile image71
                    Ken Burgessposted 9 months agoin reply to this

                    Which becomes problematic only when that is a tool used to strip the rights of the citizens from choosing who represents them.

                    The tools of the State are being used for political purposes, clearly, and this has been ongoing since BEFORE Trump won the election.

                    This is undeniable at this point, from the Dossier that was created and used against Trump, for the FBI to get its warrants to investigate everyone associated with the Trump campaign, to the investigations and impeachment efforts, to the circus like court hearings ongoing in NY today.

                    Coinciding with FBI efforts to work with Social Media as shown in the Twitter Files released by Elon Musk. 

                    It is clear that the government is working against the interests of its citizens by misinforming and mis-using the mechanisms of the government to suppress opposition to their agendas, suppress free speech and to protect politicians that have engaged in criminal activities while persecuting others.

                    When the authority provided to the State to ensure Law and Order, to protect the freedoms and liberties of its citizens have been subverted to be used against the people and those they choose to represent their interests, what tools do those citizens have remaining to protect themselves, their rights, their assets?

                5. Valeant profile image76
                  Valeantposted 9 months agoin reply to this

                  First, making the argument by setting aside the Constitution seems like a typical omission we see from the far-right.  Well, these actions are fine, if we just set aside the law, or our morality.

                  Second, 'When I look at the specific case now being seen - a group of unarmed idiots occupying the capitol building, after being told to remain peaceful, whereupon the one ordering them NOT to cause violence is charged with insurrection - it seems rather obvious what is happening.' 

                  Well, that was a typical rewrite of history from the far-right and here is how:
                  1.)  The idiots were armed - armed doesn't necessarily mean they had to be carrying guns.  They were definitely using weapons against police that included shields, flag poles, fire extinguishers, and bear spray among other weaponry.
                  2.)  They did not simply occupy the Capitol.  Some were allowed past barricades, but in many of the cases, the insurrectionists attacked police and then broke into the Capitol through windows to breach the Capitol.
                  3.)  Trump said peacefully, but he also said fight like hell or we won't have a country.  Those that wanted to go peacefully and those that wanted to go fight both had marching orders from the man.  His own speech opens him up to engagement.

                  Next, since when is Maine 'hardline Democrat?'  They have three districts and one usually votes red.  And again, the Constitution does not require a conviction for insurrection, just to prove that someone engaged in it, or gave aid or comfort to the enemies thereof.  During a five-day trial, where Trump had legal representation, where evidence was presented, a court concluded that he did engage in insurrection by his actions.  Organizing the rally that led to the insurrection, being reckless with his speech and saying to fight like hell, sending a crowd that only had a permit for the ellipse to the Capitol without telling Capitol Police, tweeting out to the crowd after the violence had been going on for an hour that Pence was not going to follow his plan to stop the certification, and then telling the insurrectionists that he loved them after the attack were all actions that led the courts to find he engaged in or gave aid or comfort to the enemies thereof.

                  For me, in my opinion, you only get to ignore the court's ruling when you try to ignore the actual actions Trump took, which is exactly what we just saw in the post above - and frankly, from the entirety of Trump's MAGA following.  The omission of all pertinent facts towards Trump's guilt is what we see time and time again in these forums.  Except this time, the omission of the Constitution, which is something Trump himself has mentioned wanting, is the path chosen to try and absolve Trump and keep him eligible.

                6. Sharlee01 profile image84
                  Sharlee01posted 9 months agoin reply to this

                  Oh Yes...

  15. Valeant profile image76
    Valeantposted 9 months ago

    '...they instead put so much effort into persecuting anyone that attempted to question the election, legally or otherwise...'

    Since when is someone being held to account for the otherwise (something not legal) persecution?  This is the issue we have with MAGA.  They do not believe they should be prosecuted for their illegal acts. 

    Trump did not simply question the election, he took actions such as threatening state elections officials, pressured those elections officials and had surrogates do the same, had campaign officials break into voting machines in both Georgia and Michigan, and had campaign staff forge and submit documents to try and intervene with the certification of his loss.  Anyone notice that Ken has not discussed any of those actions ever in any of his posts?

    Now, should we also trust the people to vote for someone under 35 or who is not a natural-born citizen?  Why does MAGA accept those qualifying standards that are written into the Constitution but not the one that refers to those who have engaged in insurrection?

    As for the timing of Trump's cases, many American citizens want an answer of guilt or innocence about Trump's actions leading up to and after the 2020 election.  Heck, we also want an answer to his 2016 actions pertaining to using his company to suppress media stories about sleeping with a porn star.  His followers engaged in a domestic terror attack on Congress based on his lies.  He doesn't get to walk away from his role in that civilly or criminally.  Sorry, MAGA.

  16. Valeant profile image76
    Valeantposted 9 months ago

    'It is interesting that it seems it is the Democrat led states that are doing all the major changes to their election policy and regulations, and are now insisting that Trump be removed from the ballots... that looks a lot like bias and political motivation to me.'

    The bias is continuing to not recognize that 31 states, many of them red states, made alterations to their elections processes without changing their election laws in 2020.  And the insistence on removing Trump from the ballot in those Democrat-led states originated with Republicans in those states.  Again, another factor that cannot even be mentioned before advocating for violence and sedition.

  17. Credence2 profile image79
    Credence2posted 9 months ago

    It can be expected that the Red States in a childish response to Blue State removal of Trump from the ballet per Amendment 14, Section 3, that they would attempt to recripocate by removing Biden from their ballots, even though he has been found no more guilty than you or I in regards to violation of Section 3.

    But there is a danger here, one with the potential of fomenting a dangerous division between the states. While I believe that Trump is complicit regarding Section 3, Maine's counterparts in Tennessee and Texas would fervently deny that accusation, even if they cannot legally remove Biden from the ballot. Blue removes Trum, Red retains him. How do we put the 2020 so called voting fraud fiasco to rest, with Trump not on the ballot in so many states, would the conservatives take this sitting down?

    Disruption of the electoral process on such a magnitude could be the beginning of a disraveling of our United States. It is crucial that the SC make a ruling on this matter quickly.

    Does the court rule in favor of states rights allowing Blue States executive branches to disqualify Trump, open a bucket of worms for this fall? Or would the court require a universal standard free of partisan interpretation? I believe that can only come with a trial against Trump and his conviction as a criminal and felon. That is a designation beyond mere politics and it serves as objective grounds for ballot removal and at the very least will give independents and moderates cause to consider if they want to vote for a convicted felon for President?

    We can have this trial only if we can be certain that the court dismisses Trump's claim of immunity for his crimes in office out of hand. This is the last dodge and perry Trump will attempt to make to avoid having that determination made.

  18. Kathleen Cochran profile image74
    Kathleen Cochranposted 9 months ago

    He took the same oath every elected official or employee of the government takes "to protect and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies foreign and domestic." You folks can rant and rail all you want. That is the fact of the matter. If you don't understand that fact, you should lose your right to vote because you don't understand how America has worked for 247 years.

  19. Willowarbor profile image60
    Willowarborposted 9 months ago

    The issue in Maine would have never gone to the Secretary of State if registered voters didn't pose the qualification challenge.  Are some folks here wanting to see that ability stripped from Maine voters? All voters?   Voters should not be allowed to challenge the eligibility of those on the ballot?  That's really what it comes down to.

    1. Readmikenow profile image95
      Readmikenowposted 9 months agoin reply to this

      I think things change when it is a national election.

      When it affects more than the state and has an impact on the entire country, things are different.

  20. Credence2 profile image79
    Credence2posted 9 months ago

    As Brynn Tannehill wrote Wednesday at the New Republic, polling data shows "an unbreakable plurality of the GOP explicitly wants fascism." These are folks "who believe they should be forever atop the social and political order because of their race and/or religion and are angry at society for changing." You cannot placate such people. All you can do is beat them.

    Uh.... Yep

    https://newrepublic.com/article/177796/ … ga-fascism

    1. Readmikenow profile image95
      Readmikenowposted 9 months agoin reply to this

      If you want to post an opinion piece by a leftist...fine.

      To me it means nothing.

      I can post many opinion pieces from those on the right.

      I'm sure to you it will mean nothing.

      1. Credence2 profile image79
        Credence2posted 9 months agoin reply to this

        "I'm sure to you it will mean nothing."

        Probably, but I would not dismiss it out of hand, it is always easier to simply label but not think?

        You might not bend an ear, but there others reading who just might have something to think about....

  21. Sharlee01 profile image84
    Sharlee01posted 9 months ago

    Alan Dershowitz, a defense attorney and Harvard academic who defended Trump during his Senate impeachment trial, has long argued that America’s court system is being weaponized to bring down former President Donald Trump in ways that violate civil liberties for all. In an interview with Forbes, he argues that Tuesday’s Colorado Supreme Court ruling to exclude Trump from the state’s 2024 ballot sets an especially dangerous precedent.

    By making decisions that should be left in the hands of voters, he argues, the U.S. Supreme Court will have no choice but to intervene and overrule the Colorado decision, which justified removing Trump’s name from the ballot under Section 3 of the 14th Amendment—a ratification passed in the aftermath of the Civil War which states that no person shall hold office if they have engaged in insurrection or rebellion.

    “This is an attempt to totally manipulate an amendment that was never designed to disqualify people in future elections,” says Dershowitz, who argues that the blowback could be intense. “Texas will try to take Biden off the ballot, saying he lent support to an insurrection by opening the borders—an absurd argument but not much more absurd than the argument that the four justices of the (Colorado) Supreme Court.”

    Dershowitz argues that Congress’s impeachment provisions, whether politically motivated or not, at least provide safeguards against the party in power targeting its opponents. “There has to be a real trial and two-thirds of the vote in the Senate,” he says, adding that’s vastly superior to “a provision that says if anybody thinks the president did something that they believe is an insurrection—and if they can get a secretary of state somewhere to agree with that—millions of voters become disenfranchised.”

    To be sure, many of Dershowitz’s peers disagree with his analysis. Ilva Somin, a professor of law at George Mason University, argues that Article 3 was designed precisely to avert a candidate like Donald Trump — and wrote an analysis of the decision, saying “the Colorado court got it right.” Added Somin: “I think it's fairly obvious that the January 6 attack on the Capitol amounts to an insurrection, and the Colorado justices also concluded this is not a close issue.”

    Both academics agree that the matter is now in the hands of the Supreme Court of the United States (SCOTUS), which will almost inevitably make a ruling in the Colorado case, given the unprecedented nature and consequences of its decision. SCOTUS is currently reviewing a request from special counsel Jack Smith to make a ruling on Trump's claims of presidential immunity from criminal prosecution in order to proceed with lower court deliberations.

    Dersowitz argues that the Supreme Court has increasingly overstepped its reach in making decisions that belong to other branches of government. “The worst decision the Supreme Court made in the last quarter of a century may have been overruling Bush versus Gore, in which five Republican justices outvoted four Democratic justices and turned the election over to the man who got fewer votes in Florida than the other side,” says Dershowitz, who represented the voters of Palm Beach County in that case. “The court should not be intruding into elections now but they may have to if a lower court the Colorado

    “I’m very worried that we're living in a time in which people call things “insurrections” ... Black Lives Matter was seen by some as an insurrection, Keeping the border open and allowing 100,000 people to come through is seen by some Republicans as an insurrection. People believe that the demonstrations in New York against Israel and against the United States, some of which are calling for the overthrow of the United States, are insurrections. They are not.”

    “Even the terrible events of January 6 are not insurrections; they’re protests gone bad.” Among those who disagree with that analysis, many would agree it’s a matter for voters to decide at the polls."
    https://www.forbes.com/sites/dianebrady … 788a8c45ad

    Any thoughts?

  22. Credence2 profile image79
    Credence2posted 9 months ago

    Either the conservatives are classic bull sh*t artists or are going simple on you.

    So, They don’t understand the Constitution’s provisions for those eligible for President as a candidate, yet they seem to understand the concept well enough to attack Barack Obama for not being an American citizen and thus ineligible for the office.

    They are full of it, don’t believe them for a minute

  23. abwilliams profile image67
    abwilliamsposted 9 months ago

    Doubtful, wouldn't  that require an act of Congress?

  24. Kathleen Cochran profile image74
    Kathleen Cochranposted 9 months ago

    What kind of country can we have if one side (democrats) believe they can break any law, ignore any protocol, tell any lie that suits them to get their candidate elected.

    All these things apply to Trump.

    1. Valeant profile image76
      Valeantposted 9 months agoin reply to this

      The right does project really well, don't they?

  25. Valeant profile image76
    Valeantposted 9 months ago

    Complains about energy independence while ignoring that the United States just hit a record high in oil production.  So on brand for MAGA.

    https://www.eia.gov/dnav/pet/hist/LeafH … S2&f=M

    1. TheShadowSpecter profile image77
      TheShadowSpecterposted 9 months agoin reply to this

      Yet Joe Biden has acted against the American oil and gas companies from the very first day he entered office in his so-called quest for green, renewable energy with technology that we are years and years away from actually having at our disposal.  Even Janet Yellen got chewed out about this at a Congressional hearing.  She didn't have very good excuses for it either.

      1. Valeant profile image76
        Valeantposted 9 months agoin reply to this

        Anyone who tries to address man-made climate change will be seen as against the fossil fuel industry.  He was elected to address it, not bury his head in the sand and ignore the problem like every member of the GOP.

        1. abwilliams profile image67
          abwilliamsposted 9 months agoin reply to this

          The only thing that Joe Biden has addressed...is his role, his part to play in the takedown/the downfall, of the greatest Country ever known to man.

          1. Valeant profile image76
            Valeantposted 9 months agoin reply to this

            Yeah, stock market near all-time highs, unemployment near all-time lows, lowest inflation rate among developed nations, infrastructure law passed and many parts of the country are touting those rebuilding projects.  Not exactly the downfall that doom-&-gloom-MAGA's like to make it out to be. 

            But they've been programmed to believe that the guy who let a deadly virus reach our shores and wreck our economy, the one who violated the basic human rights of children, the one who added $7.8 trillion to the national debt, the one who sexually abused (NY's polite way of saying raped) a woman, the one who illegally tried to steal an election with lies that a kindergartener could have identified, and the one who made $7.8 million from foreign governments is the answer.

            Sorry, but we'll have to agree to disagree on this one.

            1. Sharlee01 profile image84
              Sharlee01posted 9 months agoin reply to this

              "Yeah, stock market near all-time highs, unemployment near all-time lows, lowest inflation rate among developed nations, infrastructure law passed and many parts of the country are touting those rebuilding projects.  Not exactly the downfall that doom-&-gloom-MAGA's like to make it out to be. "

              Yet polls indicate the street is not feeling any of this. In fact, Biden has a very low approval rate. The majority of Americans are not satisfied with his job record.  Most are feeling no relief in their pocketbooks and could care less that some of us are enjoying a good stock market. They live week to week, and we see the poverty rate climbing.

              "What is the current US poverty rate?
              12.4%   12.4% of Americans now live in poverty according to new 2022 data from the U.S. census, an increase from 7.4% in 2021. Child poverty also more than doubled last year to 12.4% from 5.2% the year before. The U.S. poverty level is now $13,590 for individuals and $23,030 for a family of three"

              1. tsmog profile image87
                tsmogposted 9 months agoin reply to this

                How did the Republicans in congress vote to expand the Child Tax Credit? That was responsible for cutting child poverty by approximately half. Why get rid of it? What is the big plan by Republicans to alleviate child poverty? Just curious.

                1. Sharlee01 profile image84
                  Sharlee01posted 9 months agoin reply to this

                  I hope my previous comment didn't imply that Republicans supported the expansion of the Child Tax Credit; perhaps my wording wasn't ideal.

                  In my perspective, the Child Tax Credit served as a temporary measure to assist families during the COVID-19 pandemic. However, I believe it contributed to prolonged inflation in our economy over the past two years, leading to increased costs across the board today. Do you share concerns about the lasting impact of elevated prices on various goods and services? Additionally, can America sustain another significant social program considering the current state of Social Security and the escalating national debt under the Biden administration?

                  It's worth noting that when Trump took office, the child poverty rate was alarmingly high. Without introducing new programs, his administration successfully reduced the Child poverty rate through measures such as enabling people to retain more of their income and fostering job growth. I view this as progress achieved through solutions rather than quick fixes.

                  I agree with you if you're criticizing the current Congress for not presenting effective solutions to address child and adult poverty. They do not seem to be on board with a new social program, that we can't afford.  It seems that, after  Trump left office,  Washington has resumed business as usual with no substantial progress in tackling the issues of poverty or little else. So, the Republicans have no plans that I can see to tackle child poverty. In my view, neither do the Dems, other than attempting to attempt to toss money
                  we don't have to blanket a growing problem.

                  I see much of Biden's economic problem occurred to overspending. I think our economy would have been much worse if he initiated a new social program. I feel it is better to work to solve underlying problems. I feel this builds a stronger Nation.

                  1. tsmog profile image87
                    tsmogposted 9 months agoin reply to this

                    I am no economics whizz. Just plain ignorant could be said. I do know the Child Tax Credit worked and as soon as it was eliminated child poverty increased. With what little research I have done for the long term economic effect I have seen no criticism of it. If you have that I am interested.

                    For now I post a quote from a study done by National Bureau of Economic Research; The Benefits and Costs of a U.S. Child Allowance (March 2022) for you consideration. It has caused me to stop and ponder about it.

                    "Using microsimulation, we then apply these estimates to determine net aggregate benefits of three child allowance policies, including the expanded Child Tax Credit as enacted for the year 2021 in the American Rescue Plan (ARP). Our estimates indicate that making that expansion permanent would cost $97 billion per year and generate social benefits with net present value of $982 billion per year. Sensitivity analyses indicate that our estimates are robust to alternative assumptions and that all three child allowance policies we evaluate produce very high net returns for the U.S. population."

                    https://www.nber.org/papers/w29854

                    Note: The resulting paper of the study is downloadable as a PDF document.

                    Business Insider published an article using that study. It is; Permanent monthly checks for parents would have a 1,000% return on investment, study says (Mar 23, 2022)
                    https://www.businessinsider.com/making- … ort-2022-3

                    To further my knowledge, currently, I am peeking at; Expansions to Child Tax Credit Contributed to 46% Decline in Child Poverty Since 2020 by the U.S. Census (Sept 13, 2022)
                    https://www.census.gov/library/stories/ … verty.html

                    The graphic of the trend line starting with 2009 is telling. Overall, since 2009 progress has been made. I see it as the Shrinking Paradox at play. It seems the states are stepping up to plate using child tax credits both red and blue.

                    States are Boosting Economic Security with Child Tax Credits in 2023 by Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy (Update - Oct 2023)
                    https://itep.org/states-are-boosting-ec … s-in-2023/

                    One line caught my attention stating; "Together these credits constitute an annual multibillion-dollar investment in the next generation."

              2. Valeant profile image76
                Valeantposted 9 months agoin reply to this

                You always bring out polls.  Perception can be manipulated by media, as we have seen by the amount of Republicans who still think there was fraud in 2020 (some 70%).  Polling and perception does not offset the reality that the stock market, jobs market, and infrastructure are all accomplishments for Biden.  You're talking about recognition, and in these partisan times, the hate that MAGAs have for anyone not in their cult is both dangerous and delusional, and why I don't really care about the polling.  Especially because that polling has been off by about 10% in recent elections, something you seem to continue to ignore because it's damning to your arguments.  It gets tiring bring up this fact, repeatedly, about how off polls have been.

                And you want to talk about things like child poverty, when it was Biden's policies that cut that rate down so low and then the GOP stripped the child tax credit out of new laws?  Talk about being blind about where that blame lies to the outcomes we now have.  Unreal.

                1. Sharlee01 profile image84
                  Sharlee01posted 9 months agoin reply to this

                  I do believe that polls provide a glimpse into the sentiments of Americans. While they suggest that a majority of Republicans and Republican-leaning Independents view President Joe Biden's win as illegitimate, polls alone don't negate the tangible impact on the stock market and job market. My point is that despite positive statistics, citizens may not be experiencing the anticipated relief. I'm unclear about your reference to infrastructure and other accomplishments. From my perspective, there's been minimal progress in infrastructure, and I haven't witnessed noteworthy achievements deserving of extensive praise.

                  As for MAGA supporters, I'm not aware of them harboring "hate" towards those with opposing views on America's future. I think many who support MAGA on social media have learned to ignore the unprovoked remarks and move away from conflict.

                  Regarding Biden's policies that aimed to alleviate economic strain during COVID, it's crucial to clarify that these were intended as temporary solutions rather than permanent social programs. Contrary to popular belief, Congress chose not to enshrine the child tax credit measures into law, allowing them to expire at the end of 2021 despite President Biden's appeals for extension. Notably, child poverty was already a significant concern when Trump took office, and he made strides in reducing it without implementing a new government social program.

                  19.7 percent
                  For most demographic groups, 2015 poverty rates and estimates of the number of people in poverty decreased from 2014. Between 2014 and 2015, poverty rates decreased for all three major age groups. The poverty rate for children under age 18 dropped 1.4 percentage points, from 21.1 percent to 19.7 percent.

                  https://hubstatic.com/16866756_f1024.jpg

                  Is it wise to just toss money at a problem or is it wise to work on solutions that improve our society's poverty rate?

                  1. TheShadowSpecter profile image77
                    TheShadowSpecterposted 9 months agoin reply to this

                    Sharlee001?  I've actually never been to a MAGA rally before.  However, if the MAGA people at one of those things had no problem with me being a moderate Independent and the atmosphere at one of them was upbeat, I might just go to one of those to see what they're like.  I wouldn't see any harm in it.  I'd probably enjoy myself at one of them.  I'd also get to cheer on my candidate of choice - Donald Trump.  Those on this discussion thread who disagree with me can't really knock something until they try it.  :-)

            2. Willowarbor profile image60
              Willowarborposted 9 months agoin reply to this

              A new report by Democrats on the House Oversight Committee documents more than $7.8 million in payments from at least 20 foreign governments — including China, Saudi Arabia and Qatar — to businesses owned by then-President Donald Trump during two years of his presidential term.

              It is illegal for presidents to accept any money from foreign governments without congressional approval per Article I of the U.S. Constitution, which states that "no person holding any office ... shall, without the consent of the Congress, accept of any present, emolument, office, or title, of any kind whatever, from any king, prince, or foreign state."

              Why aren't our maga friends commenting on this?
              Could you imagine if this was Biden?
              And the committee only scratched the surface because Comer shut it down... Gee I wonder why?  As they say a lot of smoke..

              Is this irrelevant to MAGA?
              https://www.npr.org/2024/01/04/12228960 … -president

              1. GA Anderson profile image82
                GA Andersonposted 9 months agoin reply to this

                Many might comment that those monies aren't emoluments, they are transactions in business dealings. But, since that will quickly turn into an unwinnable 'is too, is not' argument, maybe commenting is a wasted effort?

                GA

                1. Ken Burgess profile image71
                  Ken Burgessposted 9 months agoin reply to this

                  Or maybe the obvious... Trump was a international businessman that got involved in politics after he already established that he was a billionaire.

                  Biden, Clinton, and most life long politicians got into politics and were essentially destitute and used their political positions to make themselves into millionaires.

                  1. tsmog profile image87
                    tsmogposted 9 months agoin reply to this

                    Key = self preservation!

                  2. Sharlee01 profile image84
                    Sharlee01posted 9 months agoin reply to this

                    As did Biden -- and his family, and Obama. Bottom feeders. Trump donated his salary.

              2. Readmikenow profile image95
                Readmikenowposted 9 months agoin reply to this

                Yeah, it's irrelevant.  Nice try to save crooked biden, but it misses the mark.


                Before he took office President Donald Trump turned over responsibility for day-to-day decision making of his companies to his two eldest sons.

                This is from the article you linked to

                “The largest documented payment was $5.4 million in rent from China's state-owned Industrial and Commercial Bank during his first two years in office...the lease deal was initiated many years before his 2015 presidential campaign announcement.


                Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Kuwait, India and Malaysia each spent more than $200,000 at Trump hotels and properties, according to the report...the profits from hotel stays "were donated in full to the United States Treasury for patronage at our properties while President Trump was in office" and cited a roughly $450,000 donation by the president.”


                There is no evidence money went directly into the pockets of President Donald Trump, unlike biden, who has his son on record stating some of the payments he got would go to “the big guy.”

              3. Sharlee01 profile image84
                Sharlee01posted 9 months agoin reply to this

                President Trump inked a "phase one" trade agreement with China, marking an effort by the world's two largest economies to resolve a trade war spanning over 18 months. The agreement addresses issues such as intellectual property theft, forced technology transfers, and increased Chinese purchases of U.S. goods. However, it leaves questions about enforcement unanswered. The Trump administration aims to initiate negotiations for the next phase of the trade agreement before the November 2020 election.

                The Abraham Accords Declaration, signed by various parties, emphasizes the importance of maintaining and strengthening peace in the Middle East and worldwide. The declaration is rooted in mutual understanding, coexistence, and the respect for human dignity and freedom, including religious freedom.

                It seems that Trump wasn't particularly friendly towards Qatar, exhibiting no apparent favoritism and expressing vocal criticism, as evidenced by the reported panic buying in Qatar during a Saudi blockade in 2017 . Just one source   https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/ … i-blockade

                As a global businessman, Trump conducted many dealings offshore, reflecting the broader trend of numerous businesses operating internationally. While some may not have realized the extent of his offshore dealings when voting for him, there hasn't been substantial evidence or questioning suggesting Trump engaged in pay-for-play, akin to the accusations faced by Biden. If such evidence existed, Democrats would likely have pursued impeachment. It remains to be seen whether this narrative might resurface in the event of a Trump victory in 2024.

                t would seem Trump was working above board keeping his business venture separated from his job as president.
                "Former President Donald Trump lost almost one-third of his wealth over the course of his time in office, leaving him more than $1 billion worse off after four years in the White House.

                Trump's fortune fell from $3.5 billion to $2.4 billion between entering office in January 2017 and departing the White House less than three months ago, according to Forbes."
                https://www.newsweek.com/donald-trumps- … ys-1581266

                He did not increase his wealth while he was in office. So pay for play seems very much ridiculous, in my view.

                1. Willowarbor profile image60
                  Willowarborposted 9 months agoin reply to this

                  I'm not saying it was pay for play at all. Just more simply, like everything else with trump, a violation of the Constitution.

                  It is illegal for presidents to accept any money from foreign governments without congressional approval per Article I of the U.S. Constitution, which states that "no person holding any office ... shall, without the consent of the Congress, accept of any present, emolument, office, or title, of any kind whatever, from any king, prince, or foreign state."

                  The Democrats' evidence consists primarily of thousands of Trump's business records obtained from his longtime accounting firm, Mazars USA, which were obtained after a years-long legal battle which was ultimately decided by the Supreme Court.

                  Shockingly, it was shut down by the Republicans... So much for transparency right?

                  Despite warnings from government ethics officials, Trump broke with tradition and did not divest from his businesses before taking office. Leave it to Trump to not be able to do anything right.
                  Everyone knows for certain that if Biden would have done this, the Republicans hair would be on fire right now... Despite their inability to investigate anything competently LOL

                  1. Sharlee01 profile image84
                    Sharlee01posted 9 months agoin reply to this

                    I was just pointing out it well appears Trump's bank account became smaller in the years he was in office. I can see your point regarding the Republicans having their hair ablaze if Biden did the same regarding divesting business interests. There is no doubt about it.

  26. abwilliams profile image67
    abwilliamsposted 9 months ago

    .... and to use your favorite word V, it won't go down, without a "FIGHT".

  27. MG Singh profile image64
    MG Singhposted 9 months ago

    I am bowled with the quantum of muck being pinned on the last president. I am just not able to fathom how a man who had more votes at the hustings lost out on a postal ballot.  I am astounded that spontaneous expression of anger by his supporters should be construed as a coup and pin it on the ex-president, Perhaps the accusers don't know what a coup is and the blood bath it entails. Nobody sees that this man kept the world safe, Abraham accord, North Korea, and Putin check and all frittered away by his successor, the senile man better off fishing at the lake with his grandkids,  for he has led the world to the brink of total war by his actions in Ukraine, Gaza, Korea, Taiwan and soft-peddling to the real enemy- China; perhaps because of the bucks lining the pockets of his son. God save America.

    1. TheShadowSpecter profile image77
      TheShadowSpecterposted 9 months agoin reply to this

      My exact thoughts.  I have studied Latin-American history; and what I find was that when there were insurrections in South and Central America, there were almost always guerillas involved in it.  A good example in that regard is what happened in Cuba in the 1950s when the guerillas overtook the Moncada Barracks in an effort to overthrow Fulgencio Batista.

      On the other hand, what happened at the Capitol building on January 6, 2021 can be best described as a demonstration gone wrong.  Otherwise, we would have to accuse the flower children and the hippies of being insurrectionists for protesting against the Vietnam War back in the 1960s.

    2. Sharlee01 profile image84
      Sharlee01posted 9 months agoin reply to this

      Well said...

    3. abwilliams profile image67
      abwilliamsposted 9 months agoin reply to this

      Amen and hear, hear MG.

    4. profile image0
      savvydatingposted 9 months agoin reply to this

      They don’t know, MG Singh. They have lived privileged lives as civil servants in the land of the free and they have happily served a fat, bloated, corrupt bureaucracy.

      They watch CNN and MSNBC religiously, stupidly believing the propaganda. They know nothing of a coup and “the blood bath it entails.” They have wet dreams of leading so-called insurrectionists around by dog collars.

      They are the smallest of men who have no knowledge of anything beyond their own personal rage and bias against those they have been programmed to hate.

      They attack the intelligence of others, having no critical thinking skills of their own, sadly.

      Their ignorance makes them dangerous.

      It takes brave men and women to stand up to save a republic.

      Those you speak of, are not brave.

      But, courage is greater than the ignorance of small minded men.

      That hope remains.

      As you know, if America fails due to their tyranny, the rest of the world follows.

      If so, hope is gone.

      God save America.

      1. gmwilliams profile image83
        gmwilliamsposted 9 months agoin reply to this

        +10000000000000

      2. tsmog profile image87
        tsmogposted 9 months agoin reply to this

        https://usercontent1.hubstatic.com/16866970_f496.jpg

        1. Sharlee01 profile image84
          Sharlee01posted 9 months agoin reply to this

          Hey, you live on the "left Coast" Can you afford that popcorn? I know here in Michigan it has gone up about 30%.

          1. tsmog profile image87
            tsmogposted 9 months agoin reply to this

            I actually prefer cheese doodles. Yes, they are costly as compared to a few years back. grrrr . . . 2020 = $3.99. Today = $5.49. A whopping 38% increase. Wow!!

            1. Sharlee01 profile image84
              Sharlee01posted 9 months agoin reply to this

              I am blessed enough to afford all the many increases, but those that are not as blessed are a concern. I never thought I would see America choose to go backward and see so many accept it as no problem... Oh well

        2. profile image0
          savvydatingposted 9 months agoin reply to this

          No offense, but consider the fact that your candidate is the preferred candidate of the radical left… if all else fails. That should tell you something.

          Thanks for the popcorn. I prefer mine buttered.

          1. tsmog profile image87
            tsmogposted 9 months agoin reply to this

            Your welcome . . .

      3. Sharlee01 profile image84
        Sharlee01posted 9 months agoin reply to this

        well said...

  28. Credence2 profile image79
    Credence2posted 9 months ago

    A considerably large MAGA constituency can be easily defined as not exactly the "sharpest knives in the drawer"

    https://www.yahoo.com/news/trump-connec … 42387.html

    https://www.yahoo.com/news/iowas-christ … 57600.html

    Modern day Cyrus the Great? Now that is a live one....
    Have they all gone nuts?

  29. Credence2 profile image79
    Credence2posted 9 months ago

    ESO, Valeant and other concerned on lookers, how viable are these possible ruses in potential decisions of the Supreme Court that gets Trump off the hook regarding exclusion from the ballot by certain state governments?

    https://news.yahoo.com/five-ways-suprem … p_catchall

    What do you think, is there cause that the serpent might just escape once again?
    ---------
    So, I get  a little nervous when I contemplate this outcome from the court

    https://news.yahoo.com/column-why-supre … p_catchall

    1. Valeant profile image76
      Valeantposted 9 months agoin reply to this

      1.)  No way they exempt a president from the 14th amendment based on the office not being covered.  It makes zero sense logically.
      2.)  Partisan Congresses are the least qualified to decide matters of fairness, we witnessed this during the Clinton and first Trump impeachments.  The 14th has a backup that Congress can implement if courts or state laws badly err in the application.
      3.)  Due process was given.  Perhaps Trump did not believe the court would rule against him, but it was his choice not to put forth a larger defense.  But he did have the opportunity.  And the amendment does not require a conviction.
      4.)  Too early to determine does not make sense because you wouldn't want someone to win the nomination of a party if they could not be elected to office.  We don't put those under 35 on ballots.
      5.)  The Supreme Court is there for too hot to handle issues.  It's literally why they exist.

      They have off-ramps, but not sure they have legit reasons for taking one.

      1. Credence2 profile image79
        Credence2posted 9 months agoin reply to this

        As for the "off ramps", I hope that  you are right.

        The Supreme Court should be there to remove ambiguity as to why Colorado and Maine courts find Trump ineligible, yet Texas and Tennessee do not.

        We see that a crime was committed, and it has to be more than an affirmative interpretation from some states and clear denial from others. They would have to say either that Trump based on his violation of Section 3 is ineligible as a candidate everywhere or take an off ramp artificially rasing the bar to allow him to continue as a candidate everywhere, not accepting the decisions from either Colorado or Maine as valid. Or require additional steps to allow the conclusion that we understand to be seen as lingua Franca across all 50'states.

        Which choice will they take?

  30. Kathleen Cochran profile image74
    Kathleen Cochranposted 9 months ago

    Who's next? Hopefully, the other 49.

    If the 2nd amendment is sacrosanct, so is the 14th.

    1. Credence2 profile image79
      Credence2posted 9 months agoin reply to this

      Thanks...

      I am only concerned that the conservative court's reputation for ruling based on "Original Intent" and "Strict Interpretation" may well give way to politics and the fact that "those guys" do owe Donnie a favor....

  31. Valeant profile image76
    Valeantposted 9 months ago

    Everyone not backing Trump is radical left to certain people in this forum.

  32. Kathleen Cochran profile image74
    Kathleen Cochranposted 9 months ago

    Donald Trump made up to $160 million from international business dealings while he was serving as president of the United States, according to an analysis of his tax returns by CREW.

    His donated salary was pocket change.

    1. wilderness profile image96
      wildernessposted 9 months agoin reply to this

      I haven't checked, but it would not surprise me at all that every president we've ever had has made money on the side while in office.  All the way back to George Washington, these were not poor people - Washington had a plantation, broken into several farms, that he took intimate care of.

      1. Willowarbor profile image60
        Willowarborposted 9 months agoin reply to this

        So adherence to some parts of the Constitution are optional?  Maybe the emoluments clause will be part of the Constitution Trump will look at "terminating" if he some how wins this election.  I think it's become increasingly clear that Trump and many of his supporters are not fans of the Constitution.

        1. Readmikenow profile image95
          Readmikenowposted 9 months agoin reply to this

          "Trump will look at "terminating" if he some how wins this election."

          I hope you realize a president is not able to terminate any part of the Constitution. That just isn't possible.

          1. Willowarbor profile image60
            Willowarborposted 9 months agoin reply to this

            Dictators have their ways though don't they

            1. abwilliams profile image67
              abwilliamsposted 8 months agoin reply to this

              Very odd that you see Trump as a Dictator. He isn't the one and Republicans aren't the Party, attempting to tear apart this great Nation and the citizens herein. But then, it has always been this way.

              1. Valeant profile image76
                Valeantposted 8 months agoin reply to this

                They aren't?  They didn't try to steal an election by tearing apart police in an effort to invade Congress at the moment of the certification of an election they lost because of lies about fraud?  They haven't asked for absolute immunity from our laws, arguing in court that they should be allowed to get away with murder as long as their allies in Congress will allow them to do it?  They didn't make irresponsible Covid policies that studies have found led to hundreds of thousands of added deaths? 

                There are plenty of examples of republicans and Trump tearing our nation apart - but getting any MAGA to acknowledge them is the impossible task due to the cultish brainwashing.

                1. abwilliams profile image67
                  abwilliamsposted 8 months agoin reply to this

                  The Dems have been at it, since Abraham Lincoln dared.

                  1. Valeant profile image76
                    Valeantposted 8 months agoin reply to this

                    Are you saying you still support slavery then?  Because Lincoln dared to fight against slavery.

                2. Sharlee01 profile image84
                  Sharlee01posted 8 months agoin reply to this

                  "They didn't make irresponsible Covid policies that studies have found led to hundreds of thousands of added deaths? "

                  What policies?

                  In my view,   It's important to note that a significant number of Americans lost their lives to COVID-19 during Biden's presidency. From my perspective, Biden's handling of the pandemic not only led to a high death toll but also had negative repercussions on education for our children and contributed to a prolonged period of inflation in the country. He was inept in his handling of COVID-19.

                  In my view, Trump saved many lives with his quick decision-making and pushing for the quick production of several vaccines.

                  1. Valeant profile image76
                    Valeantposted 8 months agoin reply to this
        2. wilderness profile image96
          wildernessposted 8 months agoin reply to this

          Apparently it is: when every president in history has made money, without complaint, it is difficult to understand just why Trump is singled out as somehow different and wrong for following all the others.

          1. Valeant profile image76
            Valeantposted 8 months agoin reply to this

            How many of those presidents made money from hostile foreign governments such as China?  It's easy to single trump out when he's making money from outside US sources, while others are making money from things such as book sales.

            https://hubstatic.com/16871167.jpg

            1. Sharlee01 profile image84
              Sharlee01posted 8 months agoin reply to this

              Regarding Obama --   He was not a businessman nor was his wife. It would be hard to know what he would have done if he was a man of business.   Obama worked at various times at jobs that would have been, such as low paying jobs, such as community organizer, lawyer, lecturer, and  Lecturer, and later published his memoir Dreams from My Father before beginning his political career in 1997 as a member of Illinois. Not sure there is a comparison between a long-time billionaire businessman and a man that to put it simply, was not a man of wealth or even a business owner. He has earned great wealth after leaving office, which is very common with politicians. Trump was an enigma, not sure there was ever another president that had such a large business. 

              Trump a man that had done business with for many years. He offered a form of service or products such as Hotels and more...  In reality, over his presidency, he lost money in most of his many businesses, including those in China when consideration is taken to what he made from China before becoming president. His taxes showed he did better financially before his years in office. YES he still made profits off the many nations he did business with, but he saw decreases in profits while president.
              https://www.bbc.com/news/business-56438914
              https://www.cnn.com/2020/09/09/politics … index.html

              It has been well proven Hunter Biden was paid money from several nations that he truely offered no services or products.  It is yet to be seen if Joe Biden profited or helped his family become enriched by the nation that enriched the Biden family. The verdict is still out on the Biden family's ventures.

              However, Trump's taxes have been made available, and he lost money while he was president.

              1. Valeant profile image76
                Valeantposted 8 months agoin reply to this

                And do you not see a national security threat in a president taking profit from hostile foreign governments while serving in office?  One who refused to divest from his businesses as others had done?  I don't care about his profits being lowered, I just care that he was able to use those businesses to be influenced by governments.

                And stop bringing up Hunter until you can prove Joe actually took any money.  Hunter is a private citizen and is free to do business wherever and whenever he wants.  Just as Don Jr. and Eric were since they held no official posts.  Trying to equate Hunter to Donald J. Trump is such a false equivalency that it's pathetic.

                1. Sharlee01 profile image84
                  Sharlee01posted 8 months agoin reply to this

                  I observed a president who maintained a tough stance on China throughout his entire term, providing little for China to be content about. It's hard for me to believe that someone with such a stance would willingly give up their business to assume the role of president. From my perspective, expecting Trump to fully divest and dispose of his business units through sale, exchange, or closure in order to become president seems illogical. Is it worth noting that he did step away from actively running his business? 

                  There are allegations of wrongdoing against Joe Biden and some of his family members related to receiving funds from foreign nations. The House recently authorized an impeachment inquiry into President Joe Biden, with unanimous Republican support. The vote has set the stage for a process that could potentially lead to the president's removal for "high crimes and misdemeanors." As I mentioned earlier, the outcome of investigations into the Biden family's activities is still uncertain, and it remains a topic open for discussion, much like the accusations that were made against Trump during his presidency.

                  1. Valeant profile image76
                    Valeantposted 8 months agoin reply to this

                    'From my perspective, expecting Trump to fully divest and dispose of his business units through sale, exchange, or closure in order to become president seems illogical.'

                    Illogical why?  Should a president be subjected to a conflict of interest between what is right for the country and what is right for his business interests?  Does the fact that he's accepting monies from those foreign governments open him up to questions of integrity?  In my view, it absolutely does.

                    As for the allegations of wrongdoing against Biden, the GOP in this country is being gaslit by their elected reps.  Just like they were gaslit about 2020 election voter fraud.  It's just sad that they are not smart enough to see through the charade, and why that makes them dangerous.   James Comer goes on to Fox News and tells their viewers that Biden received monies from both Hunter and his brother Jim.  Does he admit that he has the bank records showing the exact outlay from Jim and Hunter in the months prior to Joe getting the money?  No.  Does he tell the viewers that one of the checks explicitly says 'loan repayment' on it?  No.  Does he tell them that these checks were from a period when Joe Biden was not even in office?  No.  Why not?  Because it's about the appearance of wrongdoing, not actual wrongdoing.

                    And just because the entirety of the House GOP approves of this marketing campaign to make Biden look dirty, does not mean they have a shred of evidence to actual taint the man.  Just like 70% of the GOP still believes that there was election fraud in 2020, the vast majority of the GOP now sees Biden as corrupt.  Not because of any evidence, mind you.  But because they are idiots.

              2. Credence2 profile image79
                Credence2posted 8 months agoin reply to this

                I don't see how it profited us to have a "business man" as President?  The skills required for an effective Chief Executive are different than that of a billionaire. Would Rockefeller or Vanderbilt have made good Presidents? Big shot CEOs cannot have the kind of absolute authority and power as President of the United States, who have to rely on a certain level of persuasion the bring others onboard to an agenda. I like to keep it that way.

                That is why in American History you find virtually no business tycoons even wanting to be President.

                1. Sharlee01 profile image84
                  Sharlee01posted 8 months agoin reply to this

                  From my perspective, America has evolved into a colossal enterprise, arguably the largest in the world. We seem to have transitioned beyond the traditional politician-type president, and Biden's leadership underscores the need for such a shift.

                  Your notion that no other business tycoon sought the presidency might warrant consideration that Trump's motivation could have been centered around improving America for the benefit of all.

    2. Readmikenow profile image95
      Readmikenowposted 9 months agoin reply to this

      Before he took office President Donald Trump turned over responsibility for day-to-day decision making of his companies to his two eldest sons.

      “The largest documented payment was $5.4 million in rent from China's state-owned Industrial and Commercial Bank during his first two years in office...the lease deal was initiated many years before his 2015 presidential campaign announcement.


      Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Kuwait, India and Malaysia each spent more than $200,000 at Trump hotels and properties, according to the report...the profits from hotel stays "were donated in full to the United States Treasury for patronage at our properties while President Trump was in office" and cited a roughly $450,000 donation by the president.”

      Unlike biden, who has lived off of the taxpayer dole his entire professional life, President Donald Trump had been an international businessman for decades before he became president.

      1. TheShadowSpecter profile image77
        TheShadowSpecterposted 9 months agoin reply to this

        President Donald Trump is a philanthropist.

        1. Willowarbor profile image60
          Willowarborposted 9 months agoin reply to this

          Lol  in 2019 Trump was forced to pay more than $2 million in court-ordered damages to eight different charities for illegally misusing charitable funds at the Trump Foundation for political purposes.

          1. TheShadowSpecter profile image77
            TheShadowSpecterposted 9 months agoin reply to this

            From where did you get this said information?

            1. Willowarbor profile image60
              Willowarborposted 9 months agoin reply to this

              It was widely reported across every news source.  If you Google it you'll see it reported everywhere

            2. Sharlee01 profile image84
              Sharlee01posted 9 months agoin reply to this

              I was not attempting to start a firestorm with my comment regarding Trump's history while and before his presidency was charitable.

              "in September 2017, following Hurricane Harvey’s devastation in Texas, Trump personally pledged to donate $1 million for relief efforts there. The White House at the time officially announced a list of organizations that would receive donations and the amounts for each. Several organizations later confirmed that they had received the money. Promise kept.

              Also in September 2017, Trump’s inaugural committee announced that it would donate $3 million divided evenly to three organizations involved in hurricane relief efforts — a pledge that was reflected in the committee’s subsequent tax filings.

              The media and social media do not at times share the truth, as for a time we saw the false hoaxes that falsely claimed that Trump and his family donated $1 billion to a fund for a wall at the southern border (they didn’t) and that the president donated a whole year’s salary to “repair military cemeteries” — which is false, though he does donate his salary to various causes in quarterly increments, as we’ve explained. https://www.factcheck.org/2019/09/trump … donations/

              Again ---   Former president’s tax returns report no contributions to charity in 2020 and nearly $1.9 million in 2017.

              1. TheShadowSpecter profile image77
                TheShadowSpecterposted 8 months agoin reply to this

                ""in September 2017, following Hurricane Harvey’s devastation in Texas, Trump personally pledged to donate $1 million for relief efforts there. The White House at the time officially announced a list of organizations that would receive donations and the amounts for each. Several organizations later confirmed that they had received the money. Promise kept."

                Sharlee01?  I'm glad that you mentioned that, because during the 2016 presidental race, I recall seeing President Trump on television, helping a group of Good Samaritans unload food supplies from a truck down in the Southern region of the United States for the survivors of some kind of natural disaster.  I believe it was Hurricane Matthew, but don't hold me to it.  In any event, Hillary Clinton was nowhere to be found for such charitable purposes, even though she was running for president back then.  The Clinton Foundation has a wealth of money, and Hillary Clinton has never donated any of it to any kind of noble cause involving disaster survivors that I'm aware of.

                I've also not come across any news about Joe Biden taking part in any such noble causes since he first set foot in the White House in 2021.  Like Hillary Clinton, he is all take and no give.  President Trump never accepted one dime of his yearly presidential salary all four years that he resided in the White House.

                1. Sharlee01 profile image84
                  Sharlee01posted 8 months agoin reply to this

                  I think Trump was very charitable in donating his salary, and he has a history of being charitable.  The media have nothing positive to say about Trump, they seek to stir dislike with little truth to back their reports.

                  1. Valeant profile image76
                    Valeantposted 8 months agoin reply to this

                    Yeah, what's $1.4 million (his last 6 months, there is no record of donations, and Trump did not claim donations on his taxes in 2020) when you're fleecing taxpayers for $2 million into your own pockets just for the Secret Service doing their job.

                    https://www.businessinsider.com/donald- … rew-2022-5

    3. Sharlee01 profile image84
      Sharlee01posted 9 months agoin reply to this

      Bloomberg -- "Donald Trump’s Taxes Reveal Big Losses: What We Learned So Far, in Charts --
      A Trump entity lost money every year from 2015 to 2020
      Copies of Trump’s tax returns to be released in coming days"
      https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles … rump-taxes

      Donald Trump's net worth dropped by about $700m to $2.3bn (£1.65bn) during his time as president, according to the Bloomberg Billionaires Index. The Covid-19 pandemic hit his fortunes hard, with Mr Trump's office buildings, branded hotels and resorts losing revenue and falling in value.
      https://www.bbc.com/news/business-56438914
      https://abcnews.go.com/US/donald-trump- … d=93860929
      https://www.cnn.com/2020/09/09/politics … index.html

      The bottom line is that before becoming president he did business all over the world. His business continued to do business in many foreign nations.  While President charts show many of the Nations he had made money from before he took office, took a hit while he was president.

      In my view, donating his salary was a kind gesture.

      His tax record indicated Trump as well as Melania gave very generously to many charities over the years. The donations varied while in the White House. In 2017 he donated $1.8 million to charities.
      https://www.wsj.com/articles/donald-tru … 1672430692
      https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics … ributions/

  33. Credence2 profile image79
    Credence2posted 8 months ago

    And here is just a little bit more...

    A wealthy landowner and Revolutionary War commander, Washington said he did not need or want to get paid to lead the executive branch. While he did not accept a salary for his military service, he ultimately accepted $25,000 for his presidential duties because the Constitution mandates the president receive a salary.

    Trump also didn’t have his historical facts straight when saying no other commander in chief gave up their presidential paycheck.

    ( when has he ever checked any reference materials before opening his mouth?)

    Thirty-first president Herbert Hoover was the first American executive in chief to refuse a salary. Hoover was a multimillionaire before assuming office from a previous career as an engineer and businessman and donated his paycheck to charitable causes.

    Similarly, John F. Kennedy was born into wealth and prestige. When Kennedy took the oath of office in 1961, he was the richest man in history to do so. The Kennedy family fortune was valued at $1 billion, and allocated a $10 million trust fund to JFK.

    Kennedy refused both his congressional salary from the House and Senate and his presidential salary, though he kept his $50,000 expense account for “public entertaining he must do as President.”

  34. Valeant profile image76
    Valeantposted 8 months ago

    And what happened in 2010 that caused funding levels across the board to drop?  The GOP took control of the House of Representatives and started getting in major fiscal battles with the White House.  Always leaving out your own party's hand in things.  It gets tiring adding in your omissions that you forget to try and make those partisan blames.

  35. Valeant profile image76
    Valeantposted 4 months ago

    I think the diary is valid.  It definitely speaks to Biden's past issues with underage girls.  Just as the civil lawsuit filed in court (and went away thanks to threats - probably from Michael Cohen - which I've been waiting for someone to ask him about) spoke to Trump's.  We're all likely supporting men since 2020 with major issues with young women.

  36. Willowarbor profile image60
    Willowarborposted 4 months ago

    Here’s an excerpt from Ashley Biden’s full letter to the judge obtained by the New York Times:

    “After being the victim of a crime in my early twenties, I developed PTSD. The journal that was stolen was part of my efforts to heal. I am a private citizen, targeted only because my father happened to be running to be President. In other words, the extensive work I have done to move past my trauma was undone by Ms. Harris's actions. The defendant's actions have created a constant environment of anxiety, fear, and intimidation in which my innermost thoughts are constantly distorted and manipulated.

    Although this criminal act happened more than three years ago, because of the publicity it drew — exactly as Ms. Harris intended — I am constantly re-traumatized by it. I will forever have to deal with the fact that my personal journal can be viewed online.

    Repeatedly, I hear others grossly misinterpret my once-private writings and lob false accusations that defame my character and those of the people I love."

    Here is the diary page in question... She apparently had something traumatic happened to her and her twenties and it obviously had her looking back on various instances in her life. 

    https://x.com/camrynbaylee/status/1562897393603203073

  37. abwilliams profile image67
    abwilliamsposted 4 months ago

    I agree Ken, I need to incorporate it into a new article. It has been a minute, since I've written anything new.

  38. Valeant profile image76
    Valeantposted 4 months ago

    Apparently, the who's next question goes to Texas where the GOP wants to negate individual vote totals in favor of county majorities:

    The Republican Party of Texas has voted on a policy proposal that would require any candidate for statewide office to win in a majority of the state's 254 counties to secure election, effectively preventing Democrats from winning statewide positions based on the current distribution of their support.

    Democratic voters in Texas are heavily disproportionately concentrated in a handful of major cities which only constitute a small number of counties, while Republicans dominate most of the more sparsely populated rural counties.

    On Saturday, Texas Republicans voted on a range of policy proposals at the party's biannual conference which took place from May 23-25 in San Antonio. Once these votes have been counted, the official Texas state Republican policy platform is expected to be revealed later this week.  Proposal 21, under the state sovereignty section, called for a "concurrent majority" to be required in order to hold statewide office.

    It says: "The State Legislature shall cause to be enacted a State Constitutional Amendment to add the additional criteria for election to a statewide office to include the majority vote of the counties with each individual county being assigned one vote allocated to the popular majority vote winner of each individual county."

    Talk about disenfranchisement attempts in clear violation of the Constitution.

    1. Readmikenow profile image95
      Readmikenowposted 4 months agoin reply to this

      This is nothing to do with the law.  It's not something proposed in the state's legislature.  It's a policy PROPOSAL.

      "The Republican Party of Texas has voted on a policy proposal"

      1. Valeant profile image76
        Valeantposted 4 months agoin reply to this

        True. The party has voted on this proposal to see if they will take that undemocratic stance.  Meaning, someone in that party believes it to be a good enough idea to put it forward.  That voter disenfranchisement is acceptable.

    2. wilderness profile image96
      wildernessposted 4 months agoin reply to this

      This makes me think that it is a reverse of the cries to do away with the electoral college, or pass state laws requiring electors to vote the national common vote rather than the local common vote.

      Either one disenfranchises a large percentage of the vote; why is one fine but the other disenfranchisement?

      1. Valeant profile image76
        Valeantposted 4 months agoin reply to this

        Not sure you understand disenfranchisement.  Those votes were not voided, there just weren't enough of them to have picked a winner.  And the state electors are being forced to vote along the same lines as the winning candidate. 

        This Texas 'policy' would void the winner from a state race if they could not win in a majority of the individual counties, even if they had the majority of individual votes from across the state.  It gives the power to the rural counties and takes it away from the actual people.

        1. Credence2 profile image79
          Credence2posted 4 months agoin reply to this

          That is out and out blatant tyranny and disenfranchisement. Does Texas really believe that they can get away with this?

        2. wilderness profile image96
          wildernessposted 4 months agoin reply to this

          *sigh*.  Here, I'll line it out for you.

          The Constitution made a great effort to make sure that the majority in this country does not simply run roughshod over the minority, and the Electoral College setup is a major part of that.

          Remove the College, either through actual removal or through requiring voting by the countries majority rather than local majority, and the minority (Republican if you haven't figured that out) suddenly has no voice at all in the highest office in the world.  We already see it in state after state, wherein a couple of large cities (or even one) completely controls the voting in the presidency election.  No one else in the state need vote as they are completely overridden.  Remove the College and the entire country is that way; only Democrats need vote, for the votes of all the Republicans in the country won't matter.

          1. Valeant profile image76
            Valeantposted 4 months agoin reply to this

            Your post seems to overlook a major sticking point.  That Democrats also do not have a majority to win an election.  In places where party affiliation is known, democrats have 36% of the vote, Republicans 30%, Independents 31%, and other parties with the rest.  Any party needs to win portions of the others to win elections.  No one party has a majority as you very falsely claimed in that post. 

            The problem Republicans really have is that their beliefs in what America should be aren't really popular outside of the rural county level.  So, it works in states that lack major culturally diverse cities.

  39. abwilliams profile image67
    abwilliamsposted 4 months ago

    I will have to look into this, but I suspect that anything Texas is doing, isn’t designed to disenfranchise legal U.S. citizens/registered voters.

  40. Credence2 profile image79
    Credence2posted 4 months ago

    Texas SUCKS and remains a virus that needs to be eradicated. Need I say more?

    Who cannot recognize the changes and see where they are leading?
    --------

    https://www.salon.com/2024/05/28/texas- … e_partner/

    https://www.salon.com/2024/05/28/straig … e_partner/

    1. abwilliams profile image67
      abwilliamsposted 4 months agoin reply to this

      "Who cannot recognize the changes and see where they are leading? "

      To the Beauty Parlor!

      Seriously Cred, Salon?
      Let me know when you are ready to have a serious discussion on this subject.

      1. Credence2 profile image79
        Credence2posted 4 months agoin reply to this

        AB, It is a serious discussion, why not read the articles and tell me what is incorrect about its contents. I am listening and waiting.

        https://www.texastribune.org/2024/05/25 … -platform/

        Here is one for ya that does not eminate from a beauty parlor. No point in covering for them, they are rank scoundrels.

        There is even more, what else do you want?

        https://www.keranews.org/politics/2024- … arty-chair

        1. abwilliams profile image67
          abwilliamsposted 4 months agoin reply to this

          I completely understand Texas attempting to protect the sanctity of the Vote. Can't have illegals voting. I understand that Dems need their votes, but that doesn't make it right.

          The bible was always intended to be taught in Government schools, in this Christian Nation, which was founded on Godly principles.
          Look it up, beyond 'Google'.
          The Mayflower Compact {"Having undertaken for the Glory of
          God, and Advancement of the Christian Faith..."} and our Founding Documents (based on the initial covenant with God and the biblical principle that our Rights come from God, not Gov)
          The beginning is a good place to start your research.

          Abortion is murder, it has nothing to do with "healthcare", no matter how it is spun, a little human's life is taken.

          What's the problem?

          A great Revival is required, not a great Reset, Texas is leading the way.

          1. Credence2 profile image79
            Credence2posted 4 months agoin reply to this

            Well, AB, I don't know but this seems to define conservatives and liberals in a nutshell.
            ------
            "We anti-Trumpers often tell a story to explain that. It was encapsulated in a quote the University of North Carolina political scientist Marc Hetherington gave to my colleague Thomas B. Edsall recently: “Republicans see a world changing around them uncomfortably fast, and they want it to slow down, maybe even take a step backward. But if you are a person of color, a woman who values gender equality or an L.G.B.T. person, would you want to go back to 1963? I doubt it.”

            I don't care what conservatives want. It took far too much blood, sweat and tears to acquire the progress we currently have, and I am not going back, leastways not without a fight.

            So,who is talking about illegals? I am talking about the proposed GOP hairbrained scheme to to disenfranchise populated areas in favor of unpopulated ones.

            ------------

            The Supreme Court as long ago as 1962 forbade the mandatory instruction of religion in public schools, did you you miss the memo? So, If I am not Judeo-Christian, why should I be forced to have my kids subject to the religious dogma of others? This is NOT a Christian nation, it is nation as defined by the first amendment where there is not and cannot be an Government establishment of religion.

            Don't you rightwing types ever think about what it means to force to people comply with your religious dogma regarding concepts that are among the most important of individual decisions. I dont want established government telling me or my kids what to believe in this aspect of life, as there is no definitive answer, such as 2 and 2 is 4. Is it your God or my God that controls, as we definitely are not going to see in the same vein?

            No wonder you all support Trump, he offers the comfort a forced backward course, regardless of its acceptance by the public.

            I am not going to establish personhood over a handful of living cells. I hope that the women are smart enough to see through the Rightwing scheme as well and vote accordingly.

    2. tsmog profile image87
      tsmogposted 4 months agoin reply to this

      Thanks for providing an opportunity to keep up with political attitudes in Texas.

      Off the bat it seems like a very emotional over reaction to imminent changes or occurring changes. Resistance just disrupts the flow increasing heat. That heat is seen with the proposed changes. In my mind it is destructive.

      Quoting the article the main points are;

      "Republican Party of Texas delegates voted Saturday on a platform that called for new laws to require the Bible to be taught in public schools and a constitutional amendment that would require statewide elected leaders to win the popular vote in a majority of Texas counties.

      Other proposed planks of the 50-page platform included proclamations that “abortion is not healthcare it is homicide”; that gender-transition treatment for children is “child abuse”; calls to reverse recent name changes to military bases and “publicly honor the southern heroes”; support for declaring gold and silver as legal tender; and demands that the U.S. government disclose “all pertinent information and knowledge” of UFOs."

      The only thing of all of them that I support is the UFO thingy. I want to know about that.

      1. Credence2 profile image79
        Credence2posted 4 months agoin reply to this

        "Republican Party of Texas delegates voted Saturday on a platform that called for new laws to require the Bible to be taught in public schools and a constitutional amendment that would require statewide elected leaders to win the popular vote in a majority of Texas counties."

        This is outrageous, Tim, why would they even consider such a thing? They can take their hypocrisy along with their Bibles and shove them where the sun don't shine. So now they want to allow virtually unpopulated hayseed counties to have as much say in state elections as populated Bexar  County (San Antonio). That's absurd.

        The rest of it is extreme rightwing agenda, and cooky conspiracy theories. Currency evaluations belong to the national government. Why would I consider secession advocates as national heroes, rather than traitors?

  41. Ken Burgess profile image71
    Ken Burgessposted 4 months ago

    Libertarians select gay, Antifa-loving, Trump-hating, vaccine mandate-supporting, open borders enthusiast as their presidential candidate

    https://thepostmillennial.com/libertari … candidate?

    I do not fully understand what a Libertarian is, but it certainly isn't what I thought it was.

    1. Readmikenow profile image95
      Readmikenowposted 4 months agoin reply to this

      Libertarians have been around for many years.

      They have never attracted a large audience.

      I find them as individuals who have left the realm of reality for their alternate universe.

      I'm not surprised some of the booed President Donald Trump.

      I would be very shocked it they didn't.

  42. abwilliams profile image67
    abwilliamsposted 4 months ago

    Yeah I think the "libertarian tendencies" to my Conservatism, have to do with agreeing on limited Government -  and that's about as far as it goes!

    1. abwilliams profile image67
      abwilliamsposted 4 months agoin reply to this

      Ew, yuck, you forgot "drag queen story time" loving.

  43. Valeant profile image76
    Valeantposted 4 months ago

    Some links really explain where the bigotry is coming from that we see on this site.

  44. abwilliams profile image67
    abwilliamsposted 4 months ago

    Sounds like this is a discussion you should be having with God!

    If wanting children to have a chance from the start; a chance to live, to learn, to grow and to be children for as long as possible without crazy, perverted, confused adults scaring them, confusing them, grooming them is "religious dogma"... is your idea of going forward, then yes... absolutely, charge me as guilty, leave me behind,

    1. Credence2 profile image79
      Credence2posted 4 months agoin reply to this

      "Sounds like this is a discussion you should be having with God!"

      My God or yours?

      I am not necessarily disagreeing with your last paragraph. I don't take issue with it and do not defend perverted and confused adults.

      Why is it conservatives take comfort in us all believing the same thing and adhering to it, particularely when the subject is entirely subjective?

  45. abwilliams profile image67
    abwilliamsposted 4 months ago

    Yours, naturally.

  46. Ken Burgess profile image71
    Ken Burgessposted 4 months ago

    Well worth watching:
    Megyn Kelly Rips Apart Outrageous Prosecution of Trump in NYC
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N_pFE95nfGc

    1. Valeant profile image76
      Valeantposted 4 months agoin reply to this

      Apparently, Megyn Kelly is an idiot.  What did she think the entire first week of the trial was about?  It was about David Pecker establishing the intent of the business fraud - to conceal the illegal campaign contributions from the public right after the Access Hollywood tape had come out.  Cohen and Hicks backed up that with their testimony.

      So, this is just more gaslighting by the right.  The prosecution did not have to charge the campaign finance crimes, they just had to prove that the business fraud was done in service of those crimes - which they more than did with multiple witnesses and paperwork.

      Megyn's just upset that New York proved its case and the right's nominee got caught cheating in the 2016 election by breaking campaign finance laws and state laws.  Something she, and many here, seem more than willing to excuse.

    2. Readmikenow profile image95
      Readmikenowposted 4 months agoin reply to this

      Megyn Kelly lays it out pretty clear.

      The initial charge was a misdemeanor business records charge that had expired due to the statute of limitations. So, there had to be an underlying crime, and the prosecution said it was a violation of federal campaign finance laws.

      Does anyone in the New York judicial system comprehend the concept that the state of New York does NOT have the authority to prosecute people who commit federal crimes?  The federal election commission looked at the same evidence and concluded no crime was committed.

      So, there is NO crime here.

      This is hard proof of a shame trial.  It is obvious to those in touch with reality this is politically motivated.  The only reason for this trial was that the democrats know they are not doing well with biden and have to do something to stop the enthusiasm for President Donald Trump and his success in the polls.

      Just when I think the democrats have sunk as low as they can go, they prove me wrong.

      1. Ken Burgess profile image71
        Ken Burgessposted 4 months agoin reply to this

        It is an obvious effort to subvert and deny the 'Will of the People'.

        Those in control of DC despise with an intensity that they can barely contain their contempt for the American system... the Constitution... the Rights of the People.

        When Clinton calls Americans deplorables... when Biden claims the greatest threat to America are 75 million 'Domestic Terrorists'... what they are saying is they are sick of having to pretend that we have a Republic, that they are there to SERVE the People, the Citizens of America.

        They are working hard to destroy America the Nation, they are working to destroy Citizenship and the benefits that are supposed to be available ONLY to Citizens.

        That IS what this political battle is really about... the Death of the Nation.

        That is what the Biden Administration is all about... and those who side with the Biden Administration are truly Anti-American and traitors to the nation... blinded by the falsehoods and propaganda peddled to them every day by the MSM.

        In order to watch the likes of MSNBC's Morning Joe or Rachel Maddow and believe anything said you must be brainwashed and so out of touch with reality that you are beyond reaching, beyond recovery... the same type of disconnect that effected people who watched Jews being herded into Cattle Cars in Germany is what is effecting those who still believe the lies pumped out by MSM outlets like MSNBC and CNN.

      2. Valeant profile image76
        Valeantposted 4 months agoin reply to this

        And yet, Trump is only being prosecuted for the business fraud.  That there has been a second crime proven with the campaign finance crimes simply elevates the New York crimes to felonies.

        The FEC?  How about the DOJ absolutely finding that a crime was committed, convicted Michael Cohen for that crime, and even named Trump as a co-conspirator in that conviction?  The statement that there was no crime is a fabrication based on the government already securing a conviction for the very crime at issue in the New York trial.

      3. Willowarbor profile image60
        Willowarborposted 4 months agoin reply to this

        Judge Merchan  explained the legal theory at the center of the case.

        Prosecutors allege that Trump falsified business records in order to hide a violation of New York election law.

        "Under our law, a person is guilty of such a conspiracy when, with intent that conduct be performed that would promote or prevent the election of a person to public office by unlawful means, he or she agrees with one or more persons to engage in or cause the performance of such conduct," Merchan said.

        It was a grand jury that voted to indict, not "the Democrats". And he will be so judged by a jury just as any of the rest of us would be.  The man is not above the law.

        1. Readmikenow profile image95
          Readmikenowposted 4 months agoin reply to this

          Where that legal theory falls a part is that President Donald Trump didn't run for an office in New York.  He ran for a national office.  New York laws don't apply to federal elections. ANYONE with any legal knowledge knows the statute of limitations for a violation of New York election laws for the 2016 campaign was over years ago.

          Again, he is trying to get a conviction using federal statues and that is not the prevue of his court.

          1. Valeant profile image76
            Valeantposted 4 months agoin reply to this

            You likely meant purview, with your extensive legal background and understanding of the law.  And the conviction would be for fraud.  They get elevated to felonies when shown to have been done in the service of the campaign finance violations.  For the 20th time, New York has not charged Trump with any election crimes.  They proved the fraud was done for the election, which violated campaign finance laws.  That just elevates the fraud to felonies.  Let alone that there are multiple exemptions for the statute of limitations claims - one being Trump was in office and a second is that he changed his legal residence to Florida in 2019.

          2. Willowarbor profile image60
            Willowarborposted 4 months agoin reply to this

            New York charges against Trump are under New York Penal Law § 175.10, falsifying business records in the first degree.

            "Under New York law, falsification of business records is increased from a misdemeanor to a felony by linking that falsification to the “intent to commit another crime and aid and conceal the commission thereof.”

            And additionally under New York State Election Law Section 17-152a.  That law makes it a misdemeanor for "any two or more persons" to "conspire to promote or prevent the election of any person to a public office by unlawful means."


            What are the federal statutes being used by Alvin Bragg?

            Bragg  has explained the case concerns an attempt by Trump to interfere in the outcome of the 2016 presidential election outcome. For example, during a radio interview in December, Bragg said that the “core” of the case “is not money for sex … It’s about conspiring to corrupt a presidential election and then … lying in New York business records to cover it up … That’s the heart of the case.” He was even clearer in January of this year, saying: “It’s an election interference case

        2. Ken Burgess profile image71
          Ken Burgessposted 4 months agoin reply to this

          That is NOT a Court of Law.

          That is a Conviction Trial very similar to Stalin's Courts.... show me the man and I will create the crime to convict him with.

          You don't have to be very clever to see how corrupt these sham trials are in NY... but you have to be willing to deny truth and reality to defend them.

          1. Valeant profile image76
            Valeantposted 4 months agoin reply to this

            Oh, look, another Russian reference.  You don't have to be clever either to ignore the mountains of evidence pertaining to the many crimes that Trump has committed.  Just willing to believe the lies of a conman and grifter.  Those kinds of people are called rubes, and there are millions of them currently in our country.

        3. TheShadowSpecter profile image77
          TheShadowSpecterposted 4 months agoin reply to this

          A grand jury hearing is always the prosecutor's ballgame no matter who is innocent or who is guilty.

      4. TheShadowSpecter profile image77
        TheShadowSpecterposted 4 months agoin reply to this

        In other words, the New York state court did not have subject-matter jurisdiction to prosecute Donald Trump.

  47. abwilliams profile image67
    abwilliamsposted 4 months ago

    No, he is being prosecuted and persecuted, because he is Donald Trump. Because he stands in the way of those seeking to blur delineated lines and borders, and destroy our sovereignty. Because he stands between those who seek to dismantle this Nation and we, the patriotic and proud, American people!

    1. Ken Burgess profile image71
      Ken Burgessposted 4 months agoin reply to this

      If Trump is nothing else he is America 1st.

      That is why the Left despise him, the Democrats, the Globalists, they are intent on destroying the Nation state.

      They don't hide this fact, it is there to read in the UN's Agenda 2030, in the WEF's Great Reset, in the Soros Foundation's Open Borders Open Society.

      America... its Constitution... its Citizens who still know what 'We the People' stands for are in their way. 

      If not for their incessant efforts to destroy America, if they hadn't come up with false and fabricated Russian Collusion charges against Trump and the few good men he had assembled initially to help his Administration there would be no war with Russia... Trump would have negotiated an end to hostilities there.

      Instead of pulling Russia into our confidence we have pushed them into the arms of China... and now we have a growing unified number of nations (BRICS) looking to undermine the Dollar and overthrow America's position in the world.

      Today there would be no chaos in the Middle East if Trump had been re-elected, he had cut Iran off from hundreds of billions of dollars, money that now flows from Iran to the Houthis, Hamas and Hezbollah.

      The real traitors to the Nation are sitting in the Oval Office today... the Biden Administration is the biggest threat America has ever faced, at least in our lifetimes... we would have to go back to at least WWII... if not the Civil War, to find a time when the Nation faced a greater threat or was beset from within by enemies intent on its destruction.

    2. Valeant profile image76
      Valeantposted 4 months agoin reply to this

      If the people who support him were patriotic, they would not be supporting someone found to have committed this many crimes.  They would not side with a criminal over the laws of the country.

      1. Readmikenow profile image95
        Readmikenowposted 4 months agoin reply to this

        Is it possible they can view the facts of the cases and conclude it's not about the alleged crimes but the corruption of the justice system for political purposes that is the real problem.

        1. Valeant profile image76
          Valeantposted 4 months agoin reply to this

          Except that they often omit key facts of the cases to arrive at that conclusion.  Was there business fraud in the current case?  Did three different people testify that the scheme was to influence the 2016 election, with the National Inquirer readily admitting that to buy Stormy's story would subject them to campaign finance crimes?

        2. Ken Burgess profile image71
          Ken Burgessposted 4 months agoin reply to this

          And it is so obvious, so blatant.

          They have to jump through hoops, re-write laws to amend statutes of limitations, deny evidence the defense wants to present, and so much more.

          The fact that not ONE of the charges brought against Trump in NY could have been brought against him without manipulating the limitations or ignoring higher (federal) authorities which stated there was no crime to prosecute should be alarming to ANY citizen of America that believes in America and the Constitution.

          If for no other reason than to save the Republic, the Biden Administration must not be allowed to continue past November 2024. 

          We will not have an America that follows the Constitution or protects its Citizens if the Biden Administration remains in control beyond 2024.

  48. abwilliams profile image67
    abwilliamsposted 4 months ago

    I see all of this for what it is, and nothing more.

 
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