Political Posts

[Cigarbutt]

1 hour ago, KJP said:

...

2-Regarding your apathy point, can you describe specifically what you believe the "good people" could or should be doing that they are not?  Note in this context that Trump won the popular vote and that we will have another federal election in a year.

1-Also, you refer to "unprecedented executive overreach".  Can you give two or three specific examples of what you're referring to?

Question 1-

-Capitol Riot pardon on top of the cancellation of all other related trials

-DOGE creation, a non-governmental 'agency' with huge potential implications

-Personal control of the Justice Department (Attorney General with unlimited and non-conditional loyalty, key role to provide judicial validity to decrees, nominations, firings etc) and federal police

-Designation of immigrants as foreign invaders

-Tariffs

-Coordinated cultural war (Kennedy Center, Smithsonian Institute, universities etc etc)

-Use of national guards

All these premeditated moves based on existing laws but in the context of distortions (laws mentioned do exist but are taken out of context, invasion, rebellion, economic emergency) with increasing laxism in superior courts and even the Supreme Court. Unprecedented powers are given to one person as if there was, in fact, a rebellion, an invasion or an economic emergency...

Question 2-

Thanks again for the helpful feedback. On my side, in the context of constructive discussions (with family and acquaintances, quite typical and ordinary people), many, especially in younger cohorts tend to be alarmed by such developments (democratic backsliding) and i then tend to act as a moderating voice, but it looks like i'm running out of moderating arguments in what is considered a very slippery slope (i recently read the German drift to Revolution, written in 1933, and...it rhymes...).

You don't think your army could be used to influence the next election cycle?

I admire the US and continue to marvel at its Constitution. The founders were obssessed to avoid the concentration of power into the hands of one person. Washington, when he retired (under no obligation to do so, to the contrary) described the necessity to promote virtue in the common man. What did he mean by virtue? Who decides if there is a rebellion, an invasion or an economic emergency? The angry mob?

It has been said that Jefferson had a particular attachment to two books: Montesquieu's treaty about the separation of power and Gibbon's history of Roman decline.

 

[Castanza]

49 minutes ago, LC said:

@Castanza Let's be real, the time for nuanced discussion or self-reflection is long gone. (What's it time for?)

Do you think Trump is sitting down to debate the issues? What did he just say about pardoning a convicted binance money-launderer? "I don't even know him!" Meanwhile his family is in bed with Binance. Give me a break.

 

As you said, Trump is a symptom of the system. We got what we paid for - or in this case, what we didn't pay for. Shall we talk about tax breaks for the rich and ICE budgets? Shall we talk about wealth distribution? Why does every republican senator vote against a bipartisan border security bill at Trump's request? Gimme a break.

 

In terms of education- yes I made a blanket statement...dig deeper? Sure.

Take a look at education levels amongst the 50 states and compare with which States voted red vs blue. (way to not examine nuance or culture) We both know how it looks, we both know which states historically pushed for public education funding and which prefer voucher systems (and?). We both know which party pushed for taxes to fund the institutions meant to discourage the blatant unconstitutional corruption we are seeing, and we know which party (both) has made every effort to gut those institutions, using the same bullshit arguments seen in 1774 and 1858 (which party?). I'll spare the poor sensitive summer children in the audience the painful truth, they don't want to hear it  anyways. 

 

I'm not defending Trump. I did not vote for him and do not support most of what he's doing. But this reply has more glazing over than a Krispy Kreme factory...As I said, Trump is a symptom of the system that consists of TWO PARTIES. The authoritarian approach you're seeing is the result of a broken political system and a weary populace looking for "action" over anything else. When large swaths of the public perceive it's institutions and government systems as broken or weak THIS is what you end up with. ACTION fills a void and then ORDER begins to proceed FREEDOM.  It's the same mechanics that allowed Hitler to take office after the political neutering Weimar Germany went through between 1918 and 1933...

 

The question everyone should be asking is WHY did each half of the population lose confidence in it's institutions? Democratic institutions are arguable more important than democratic ideals. 

 

Samuel Huntington said "America is not great because of the character of its peoples, but because of its institutions." 

 

When you erode that trust you've got to work overtime to correct it. Politicians have done an extremely terrible job of this the last two decades. Congress has been paralyzed for nearly two decades. Special interests and lobbyists have ruled the land. BOTH parties have been trying to take advantage of said institutions by over politicizing them. We've also allowed our institutions to double down on poor policy which has contributed heavily to the lack of confidence. Couple that with the weaponization of certain institutions by both parties and we end up here.....with a dismantling of many as an attempt to strong arm results preferred by your voting populace. Trump is heavily challenging the separation of powers. I agree with you the risk is 100% real. But much like investing you have to play the long game not the short one....That requires thinking about how any why we ended up here and what the fix is...When I look around the political landscape I don't see many leaders worth looking to. 

 

[LC]

An old mentor used to say, "There is no Switzerland"

Anyone can say how "both sides are bad" and "all politicians are terrible". Of course they are right. 

But we live in the real world, it's almost worse not picking a side.

 

How many anecdotes before it becomes reality? Here's another:

 

https://www.chicagotribune.com/2025/11/03/chicago-woman-collision-ice-accountability/?clearUserState=true#mhjguwblyk0ai6p9byh

 

Personally I'm so grateful ICE was able to abduct this obviously illegal US citizen and soon-to-be-confirmed domestic terrorist before her son's pikachu pinata IED killed millions of beautiful white kids.

 

 

[KJP]

1 hour ago, Cigarbutt said:

Question 1-

-Capitol Riot pardon on top of the cancellation of all other related trials

-DOGE creation, a non-governmental 'agency' with huge potential implications

-Personal control of the Justice Department (Attorney General with unlimited and non-conditional loyalty, key role to provide judicial validity to decrees, nominations, firings etc) and federal police

-Designation of immigrants as foreign invaders

-Tariffs

-Coordinated cultural war (Kennedy Center, Smithsonian Institute, universities etc etc)

-Use of national guards

All these premeditated moves based on existing laws but in the context of distortions (laws mentioned do exist but are taken out of context, invasion, rebellion, economic emergency) with increasing laxism in superior courts and even the Supreme Court. Unprecedented powers are given to one person as if there was, in fact, a rebellion, an invasion or an economic emergency...

Question 2-

Thanks again for the helpful feedback. On my side, in the context of constructive discussions (with family and acquaintances, quite typical and ordinary people), many, especially in younger cohorts tend to be alarmed by such developments (democratic backsliding) and i then tend to act as a moderating voice, but it looks like i'm running out of moderating arguments in what is considered a very slippery slope (i recently read the German drift to Revolution, written in 1933, and...it rhymes...).

You don't think your army could be used to influence the next election cycle?

I admire the US and continue to marvel at its Constitution. The founders were obssessed to avoid the concentration of power into the hands of one person. Washington, when he retired (under no obligation to do so, to the contrary) described the necessity to promote virtue in the common man. What did he mean by virtue? Who decides if there is a rebellion, an invasion or an economic emergency? The angry mob?

It has been said that Jefferson had a particular attachment to two books: Montesquieu's treaty about the separation of power and Gibbon's history of Roman decline.

 

 

Some of the things you mention under Question 1 are very concerning to me while others are more debateable and closer to normal disputes about the extent of executive power.  See, e.g., Youngstown Sheet & Tube Co. v. Sawyer, 343 U.S. 579 (1952); Biden v. Nebraska, 600 U.S. 477 (2023).  

 

Also, I don't think you answered my question, which is a difficult one:  In the context of a republic that is going to have a federal election in 2026, can you describe specifically what you believe the "good people" could or should be doing that they are not?  What actions are your conversation partners suggesting that are causing you to counsel moderation?  Or are they just concerned that things could turn out badly?  

 

Finally, no, I don't think Trump will use the armed forces to seize power in connection with the 2026 elections nor do I think he would be successful if he tried.  I suppose there's some possibility it could happen, but see my prior question.

 

 

[Castanza]

17 minutes ago, LC said:

An old mentor used to say, "There is no Switzerland"

Anyone can say how "both sides are bad" and "all politicians are terrible". Of course they are right. 

But we live in the real world, it's almost worse not picking a side.

 

It's even easier to say "my side is better" when they are not in office. Remind me, wtf did Biden accomplish when he was in office? All he did was further erode societal trust in our institutions. It's not playing Switzerland to say both sides are bad. It's extending an olive branch and saying...perhaps we should examine the good and bad on both sides and come to sensible solutions. There is a reason the founding fathers were so afraid of a two party system...

 

Real world is highly selective and subjective...

 

Example: Netanyahu (agreed he is highly corrupt) ... insert XYZ politician into his position and the approach/outcome of October 7th likely would be no different..

[Parsad]

8 hours ago, cwericb said:

 

And that is the state to which society in the US has devolved? That is now acceptable?  Not much wonder visits to the US from other countries is dropping. Good luck to all.  

 

 

C'mon guys...you're not being fair at all! 

 

You know what the Foodies have been up to...it's ridiculous in Portland!  They are Instagramming their food everywhere they go.  Breakfast, brunch, lunch, dinner, cocktails...just out of hand in Portland!

 

Plus that guy was wearing tye-dye...anyone who wears tye-dye is part of Antifa for sure!  Cheers!

[Parsad]

8 hours ago, cubsfan said:

 

It's perfectly acceptable.

 

There is a fight for Law & Order in the US. The anarchists will lose this one.

 

The hyperbole is making me die laughing!   

 

Cubs, you must have tackled any kid who took more than one candy piece from your bowl at Halloween!  Cheers!

 

[cubsfan]

^^^   Nah, I let them have all they want. Then I won't eat it.

[DooDiligence]

4 minutes ago, Parsad said:

 

The hyperbole is making me die laughing!   

 

Cubs, you must have tackled any kid who took more than one candy piece from your bowl at Halloween!  Cheers!

 

 

[Parsad]

Just now, DooDiligence said:

 

 

Yes, generational candy just isn't in anyone's best interest...especially society! 

 

Generational anything generally isn't in society's best interest...yet when it comes to wealth...that seems to be the exception.  Cheers!

[Sweet]

MSM in a nutshell, from an organisation that once regarded itself as the best in the world:

 

Long past time to remove the rot.

 

 

[Parsad]

Trump bullshit during 60 Minutes interview:

 

https://www.cnn.com/2025/11/03/politics/fact-check-trump-cbs-interview

 

Cheers!

[DooDiligence]

This act really is getting old.

 

https://newrepublic.com/post/202609/mike-johnson-donald-trump-know-who-pardon

 

 

 

Edited November 4, 2025 by DooDiligence

[cubsfan]

1 hour ago, Sweet said:

MSM in a nutshell, from an organisation that once regarded itself as the best in the world:

 

Long past time to remove the rot.

 

 

 

Damn, that is bad.

[cwericb]

1 hour ago, Parsad said:

Trump bullshit during 60 Minutes interview:

 

https://www.cnn.com/2025/11/03/politics/fact-check-trump-cbs-interview

 

Cheers!

 

Just finished the same article and then saw your post. How can his supporters continue to swallow his bullshit and yet to keep defending him? Are his supporters really that gullible? Yet you only have to read back pages of this thread to see how his die hard supporters staunchly defend his lies and make excuses for his ever increasing unhinged behaviour. 

[LC]

2 hours ago, Castanza said:

It's even easier to say "my side is better" when they are not in office. Remind me, wtf did Biden accomplish when he was in office?

 

Fair point, I mean my favorite example is the bipartisan border control bill that gave Republicans everything they wanted, except for the fact that Biden proposed it. Not that I particularly like that example as ultimately what counts is getting good things done. Biden tried to do good but didn't get it done. Trump is getting stuff done but none of it is good  

 

It's the one thing I''ll give Obama credit for: Obamacare was IMO the first major piece of societal legislation seen since the Patriot act. Love it or hate it, he got it done. You can imagine I am a proponent, other may not be - but at least it isn't blatantly unconstitutional.

[Sweet]

7 hours ago, cwericb said:

 

Just finished the same article and then saw your post. How can his supporters continue to swallow his bullshit and yet to keep defending him? Are his supporters really that gullible? Yet you only have to read back pages of this thread to see how his die hard supporters staunchly defend his lies and make excuses for his ever increasing unhinged behaviour. 

Well you guys continue to take Trump literally.  Trump’s a salesman.

 

How many Trump supporters do you think watched 60 minutes or read the CNN article?

 

Separately I laughed at this fact check:

• He falsely claimed CBS aired an edited interview with Trump’s 2024 opponent Kamala Harris “two days” before the election, though it was actually more than four full weeks before Election Day.

Ya, it was aired 4 weeks before the election - nothing at all about the editing - “gotcha”.

 

Edited November 4, 2025 by Sweet

[cwericb]

7 hours ago, Sweet said:

Well you guys continue to take Trump literally.  Trump’s a salesman.

 

How many Trump supporters do you think watched 60 minutes or read the CNN article?

 

Separately I laughed at this fact check:

• He falsely claimed CBS aired an edited interview with Trump’s 2024 opponent Kamala Harris “two days” before the election, though it was actually more than four full weeks before Election Day.

Ya, it was aired 4 weeks before the election - nothing at all about the editing - “gotcha”.

 

 

"Well you guys continue to take Trump literally.  Trump’s a salesman."

 

Are you seriously suggesting that all salespeople are liars?

Your experience is far different than mine or you have been dealing with the wrong people.

PS. Trump is not a salesman. Donald Trump is the President of the United States. One would expect better.

 

 

 

 

 

Edited November 4, 2025 by cwericb

[Charlie]

11 minutes ago, cwericb said:

7 hours ago, Sweet said:

Well you guys continue to take Trump literally.  Trump’s a salesman.

 

How many Trump supporters do you think watched 60 minutes or read the CNN article?

 

Separately I laughed at this fact check:

• He falsely claimed CBS aired an edited interview with Trump’s 2024 opponent Kamala Harris “two days” before the election, though it was actually more than four full weeks before Election Day.

Ya, it was aired 4 weeks before the election - nothing at all about the editing - “gotcha”.

 

Expand  

 

"Well you guys continue to take Trump literally.  Trump’s a salesman."

 

Are you seriously suggesting that all salespeople are liars?

Your experience is far different than mine or you have been dealing with the wrong people.

PS. Trump is not a salesman. Donald Trump is the President of the United States. One would expect better.

 

“If you rise in life, you have to behave in a certain way. You can go to a strip club if you’re a beer-swilling sand shoveler, but if you’re the Bishop of Boston, you shouldn’t go.”

 

Charlie Munger

 

[DooDiligence]

15 minutes ago, cwericb said:

 

"Well you guys continue to take Trump literally.  Trump’s a sales conman."

 

 

 

Edited November 4, 2025 by DooDiligence

[cubsfan]

5 minutes ago, Charlie said:

 

“If you rise in life, you have to behave in a certain way. You can go to a strip club if you’re a beer-swilling sand shoveler, but if you’re the Bishop of Boston, you shouldn’t go.”

 

Charlie Munger

 

 

Yeah, like Joe Biden - you shouldn't take bribes from Ukraine and China, let alone take your crackhead son with you on Air Force One so he can feast on all the hookers and coke!

 

That is showing some respect for the Presidency!

[Sweet]

50 minutes ago, cwericb said:

 

"Well you guys continue to take Trump literally.  Trump’s a salesman."

 

Are you seriously suggesting that all salespeople are liars?

Your experience is far different than mine or you have been dealing with the wrong people.

PS. Trump is not a salesman. Donald Trump is the President of the United States. One would expect better.

 

 

 

 

 

So much of the arguments from the left start with them pretending to not understand things.  Case in point above.

[Gregmal]

Yup LOL. OK with all these things til Trump showed up basically. The "I hate Trump, been long Biden and Brookfield" complex.....

[John Hjorth]

2 minutes ago, Gregmal said:

Yup LOL. OK with all these things til Trump showed up basically. The "I hate Trump, been long Biden and Brookfield" complex.....

 

The posts in this topic now seems to me to escalate again, after a period relatively calme and balanced. What has Brookfield to do with this?

[cwericb]

22 minutes ago, John Hjorth said:

 

The posts in this topic now seems to me to escalate again, after a period relatively calme and balanced. What has Brookfield to do with this?

 

Yeah? Brookfield? a successful Canadian company. Perhaps that's the problem? And anyone who tries to equate Trump with the actions of any previous President probably (intentionally) hasn't been paying attention. Yeah I know, some here still believe the 2016 election was stolen and the earth is flat.

 

 

Edited November 4, 2025 by cwericb