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(deepspace -#10)
Thank you deepspace, for that synopsis.
It may not make it into revisionist history books
((( ... and who am I to say what is real and true? )))
It's mind boggling to the already boggled mind ...
All I can say is what you say is what I saw.
... all of that, and more ...
It's no secret. Everybody knows. OK, so Trump won - only, it wasn't fair and square ... what else is new? That's politics, right? There are so many flaws in the system, how can anyone win, fair and square, anyway?
People don't seem to know how to fix a system that has been broken from the beginning - so, he knew how to manipulate a rigged system to win. Is this the skill set America needs to cope with corruption, full spectrum?
Maybe so - at least, for some ... only, I have a problem understanding people who gloat - full of glee doing a happy dance on the graves of broken dreams and lost ideals.
This isn't fun for me. I hate to see people suffer. I honor anyone's right to disagree and/or disengage if dominant trends go against the grain (as they most likely will, given that people are not all the same.)
I want people to be able to settle differences in ways that invite mutual acceptance and harmonious resolution. I doubt that can happen so long as people are celebrating each others' losses and goading each other accordingly. Who really wins?
Right now, I am concerned for those folks standing in prayer with no weapons at Standing Rock. Donald Trump has said he will handle the problem quickly, and it will be over. Given what I've seen so far, I am not reassured of a positive outcome.
How will a President Trump handle a conflict in which he, and his associates are invested in the oppressive element being challenged?
Thom, while trmp seems obsesed with twitter while ignoring the media, Why not start a campaign to have his twitter account shut down. Surely marcket pressure could be applied.
@ Drrichardpaul # 8 & 9:
"...why democrats lost this election. Free trade agreements was one major factor, besides the other obvious cheating the Clinton campaign and DNC performed during the primaries."
Although I agree that President Obama blundered badly by taking up the torch of corporate-sponsored "free" trade agreements, as President Clinton did before him, let's not forget history. Phony free trade agreements have always been conceived, engineered, and championed by virtually all Republicans throughout the modern era (because they benefit their corporate donors), and they have always been opposed by the vast majority of Democrats in Congress.
Trump, the cold-hearted businessman, has (and still is) taken full advantage of and benefited tremendously from these one-sided agreements by bringing in foreign, low-paid workers to slave away in his exclusive clubs and by manufacturing his various trinkets and baubles in low-wage countries. He never once mouthed any opposition to this hardcore Republican policy until he saw the traction that Bernie got in the primary.
During his long and illustrious career, Bernie has always spoken out loudly against Wall Street millionaires and billionaires and their so-called "free" trade agreements and has always recommended slapping targeted tariffs on imported products that unfairly undermine domestic industries. Nowadays, "Value Added Tax" (VAT) is the preferred mechanism that most first-world manufacturing nations employ to protect their own workforce. America is the only fool out of the bunch -- throwing our borders wide open for rapacious transnational mega-corporations to exploit.
Trump saw how those two powerful issues (anti-free trade and pro-labor protection) were resonating with working people across the spectrum of the electorate, so he simply stole them from Bernie and the Democrats. He gives a lot of lip service to "his" newfound talking points, but it remains to be seen -- when corporate-friendly/anti-worker legislation hits his desk -- if he is willing to buck his own party on issues that go directly to the heart of Republican DNA.
Given his talent, and very clear record, for lying and flip-flopping, I seriously doubt it.
I also agree that certain members of the DNC blundered badly by supporting Hillary over Bernie behind the scenes. I'm shocked -- shocked I tell you! -- that politicians made political calculations in the backroom of their casino. If Putin would have instead favored Hillary over Trump, I'm sure his hack job (which he withheld) against the GOP would have shown that Republican politicians were perfect little darlings when the light wasn't shining on them. Yeah right!
Although these are a few of the contributing factors, among many (such as the Comey and FBI scandal), why the Democrats lost the Electoral College votes (not the popular), they are not the principle reasons. Millions upon millions of Democratic voters were purged from the rolls, unwarrantedly and illegally, by Republican Secretaries of State through their sham "Interstate Crosscheck" program. Millions more were disenfranchised or otherwise discouraged with ridiculous voter-suppression ID laws and through more mundane -- but just as underhanded -- well-honed tactics.
These include, but are not limited to, reducing the number of voting machines in heavily populated Democratic districts, and reducing the number of early voting days, polling stations, and poll workers, thereby creating long, discouraging lines. Then, add into the mix old, error-prone, poorly maintained voting machines and scanners that spit out significant percentages of "unreadable" ballots, and that still have easily-hacked outdated software. Predictably, wealthier and whiter Republican districts in the key states were awarded newer equipment with more polling stations and workers, ensuring shorter lines and more reliable results. Go figure.
In short, it all adds up to a stolen election and an illegitimate President. Neither would Republicans have retained a Senate majority, considering that disenfranchised Democrats also would have voted mostly for their own party in the down-ballot races. That is the real story of this election, one for the history books!
I'm glad to see you don't have a brain. You people really need to update your argument. You people are programmed to believe that the DNC didn't lose the election. They in fact did. It wasn't Russia. It was cheating and discouraging would-be allies in the first place, but you sycophants demanded fealty to a cheater.
If you think Trump was always wrong, you've missed an opportunity to find common ground, and understanding as to why democrats lost this election. Free trade agreements was one major factor, besides the other obvious cheating the Clinton campaign and DNC performed during the primaries. The Midwest is bleeding, but you sycophants don't care about anything else but your own desires. The current path is unsustainable in the Midwest and Rust Belt. It must be changed. If we don't get something to stop the bleeding, we'll cause as much pain as it takes for everyone to suffer what we are. It isn't just lower incomes, it's the cost of living is artificially higher due directly to urbanites and their involvement in our workforces. They, urbanites, demand lower costs for goods and services, at the cost of lives in the working class communities.
When Mitch McConnell sets it on Putins Puppet desk he will sign it.
Relax deepspace, I have already sought help and the diagnosis was, plastic surgery or a belt sander would be needed to wipe the smile off my face.
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IMPUNITY {1.60 limericks}
How long can the Right with impunity
continue to wreck our community
of citizens with stakes
in avoiding the mistakes
of the Trump-AltRight-Plutocrat triunity?
Are there no brakes,
for goodness’ sakes?
Has the Left lost all opportunity?
================================
I love that deceived democrats are starting to wake up in droves
And he's not even president yet.
To discuss Trade policy, it is pertinent to remeber that those who promote it have other agendas, primarily to neuter the involved sovereign states of policy making and enforcing powers as well as greatly enhance the powers of the world wide rentier classes. Clauses pertaining to these items have formed major portions of the 'trade' agreements and are never brought to light in any public forums.
It is for this reason that I oppose all trade deals - the corruption of politcal process to the detriment of the common people by the rentier classes. Well, well, well, what else is new?
Trade deals can not be fair. Countries have varying degrees of protections for workers, environment, business cheating etc. Even if the deals were to specify improvements in these areas, the costs cannot be evened out. So should we abandon trade deals? I think yes. The first order of any government's business should be to protect its own citizens, especially the most vulnerable ones. If that means tariffs, so be it. I would also like to see the link between work and income destroyed now that robots and other automation is looming supreme. When all the world has supremely intelligent automation, the whole issue of trade and tariffs will be pointless anyway.
Earthstarman - that is pure common sense... well said
Sadly, institutions continue to ignore in preference to self interest
tariffs should be a UN matter determined by holding all member nations to the highest standard of environmental & labor laws; this would make global trade a better deal for all citizens and the environment on which we all depend.
It matters not a whit what Trump says: he's a proven pathological liar.
Shrill cackling and clucking is not the same as laughing.
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To Preserve Our Democracy:
Call on President Obama to acknowledge that the 2016 election was rigged, declare Marshall Law, suspend the inauguration of Donald Trump and hold a new election for President and Congress in 2018, for the following reasons:
The 2016 national elections were rigged as Donald Trump accurately stated. The Republican orchestrated Interstate Voter Registration Crosscheck denied over 7,000,000 voters, mostly black and Hispanic registered voters from having their votes counted as discovered and reported by Greg Palast.
The interference in our nation's elections by the Russian government was acknowledged by our nations top intelligence agencies.
The inappropriate disclosure of misleading accusations by the FBI Director.
The failure of over 50 elected officials of the Electoral College members who voted for Donald Trump to comply with applicable laws because they did not live in the congressional districts they represented or they held elective office in states legally barring dual officeholders.
Donald Trump claims that climate change is a hoax and has selected crucial members of his cabinet who hold similar opinions threatening the security of our nation's future as warned by the Pentagon and confirmed by the leaders of every other nation.
During the next two years investigate and prosecute all those involved in voter suppression activities such as crosschecking. Require demonstrated compliance of applicable laws by the members of the Electoral College before they are seated.
... because you're a paragon of mental health, privileged to define the sanity of all those less enlightened poor souls. Well, ahem, other than being enamored with a creepy old man who likes to grab the pussies of young ladies without their permission.
There may be a good reason you are obsessed with therapy. Unrequited desire can overwhelm good judgment. Please seek help.
Glad you are becoming a Trump supporter.
At this point in time all I can do is laugh at your frustration. You have had weeks to accept President Trump and you continue to spiral deeper into depression. I wish you luck in your sessions.
If anybody doubts my "you're going to need eight years of therapy" comments, just re-read this entire thread.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Psychotherapy
You ignore the man's genitals (which are actually the part of him calling for pussy), and credit him with having a heart.
Tsk, Tsk, Tsk - You flunk biology, and Trump 101.
Hi Jackie,
The error is not in the stars, it is in ourselves for allowing this state of affairs to come to pass. It has been a long time coming; George Orwell saw it clearly seventy years ago. It has been over thirty years since Rayguns encouraged monopoly consolidation of the press and forty years since Milhaus started the culture war. The Battle of Britian was not the beginning of WWII. Democrats cheerfully allowed PantsuitonFire and Devious Debbie to take over the party of Jefferson and FDR. Before we can do anything to turn things around, restore democracy and prevent our suicide, we must acknowledge our own responsibility for this mess.
Roland
Three threads of reality, which nobody can honestly deny, weave through virtually everything this man-child has ever said or done in response to almost every situation he has ever encountered, no matter how petty or how serious: he has no empathy, no self-awareness, and is not very bright.
Republicans in Congress will probably never impeach him for his inevitable violations of the Emoluments Clause in Article I, Section 9 of the Constitution, as long as he serves as their useful idiot and can hold a pen in his little hand to sign regressive bills.
He will undoubtedly cede the domestic agenda to Congress and therefore be free to muddle through the intricacies and pitfalls of a hopelessly complex foreign policy, of which he understands little, other than how it might affect an overseas business empire leveraged up to his shifty, puffy eyeballs.
God only knows to whom he is indebted, which conflict of interest will explode first, or when terrorists will attack the many soft targets displaying his pompous name front and center. Do not expect the aggressive generals and greedy billionaires surrounding him, championing their own radical agendas, to approach the world with any more sense of humility, compassion, or caution than the imprudent king who chose them for his court.
The confluence of events unfolding does not bode well ...
"For hate is strong,
And mocks the song
Of peace on earth, good-will to men!"
Kelly Ann - "You shouldn't listen to what President-Elect Trump (-2,864,974) says.
You should listen to his heart."
President-Elect Trump's (-2,864974) Heart - "Pussy! Pussy! I want to grab some Pussy!"
Seems to me there is no difference between Trump's business dealings and our other representatives who hold interest in insurance companies and pharma putting forth legislation about health insurance and drug coverage for we the people. LOL. this country has become a farce.
I think the GOP is letting Donald go wild and Pence is pretending to go along with him -- all the while compiling articles of Impeachment with his every move and with very little attention passing hundreds of bills in their vote-a-rama. They have ethics and conflict of interest issues, colluding with an enemy, conducting business with Countries under U.S. sanctions, Treason, conspiracy to hack into the DNC (remember Nixon was told by the GOP to resign or be impeached for the physical break in of the DNC Office -- conspiring with Russia to hack in is even worse).
And this week some of Trump's cabinet nominees are distancing themselves from him on a number of issues -- Russia as an enemy, support of NATO, no support of torture, etc. They will still be acceptable when Trump is impeached and President Pence steps in (maybe even worse for us but at least predictable).
And poor Trump, holding his first "Press Conference" so strategically on a day when he would draw attention away from confirmation hearings of his most contentious nominees. Instead it drew National attention to the salacious spy report of his sexual escapades in Moscow and made him look like a crazy tyrant in his attack on CNN and a free press.
I think the GOP loves it -- it's taking the pressure off of them while they pass all their bills under the radar and builds up the case for Impeachment of the crazy man and installation of their guy Pence.