Is Trump doing a good job?

[Cortopassi]

I probably used the wrong word.

I should change the wording to I am fiscally conservative and socially liberal. Republicans talk about being fiscally conservative, but only when their party isn't in power. Socially, I am generally liberal, and take issue with many conservative positions socially.

I will speak to Chicago, where I grew up. Just watched the local show on PBS call Chicago Tonight the Week in Review. There was looting all over the city, esp. the south and west sides, predominantly black. They even closed Targets in the suburbs, by me, as a safety measure. It was not good, and will not help the situation going forward.

The current mayor is Lori Lightfoot, a black lesbian lady. (from that point of view imagine such a person being elected 40 years ago. Progress!) Prior to that was Rahm Emmanuel, and pretty much a few decades of Daleys with a couple misc mayors in between. I have to give her credit, she speaks her mind and doesn't take shit. It remains to be seen whether her being black helps improve that portion of the city going forward.

"We all have the same rights under the law" Sure. Let yourself believe that. In a perfect world, maybe. Not in practice. Unless all these black men as BSing everyone, they do not get treated equally, especially by police.

"If you think Life is being unfair and your "civil rights" are being abused, it may be where you live." I agree. I don't know why some of these bad areas aren't ghost towns and why people can't or are reluctant to leave.

[WiseOne]

What do you guys think of the latest Trump tweet that's not only made the news but also our weekly medical staff meeting, for whatever reason.

I couldn't find the actual text of the tweet, only the wide-ranging condemnation of it, but I finally managed to grab it from his twitter feed:

Equal justice under the law must mean that every American receives equal treatment in every encounter with law enforcement regardless of race…Hopefully #GeorgeFloyd is looking down right now & saying this is a great thing that's happening for our country…in terms of equality"

The first sentence sounds like a pretty clear concept that almost no one will disagree with. The second sentence is what riled everyone up. He was apparently referring to the economic comeback according to the press, i.e. George Floyd is cheering the upswing in the Dow. Except that this tweet was made one hour before the tweets relating to the economic news so I'm not 100% clear on that.

If that is the case, I assume that Trump, in his mind, was thinking that a recovered economy is helpful in general to blacks and other poor minorities because it makes it easier for them to find jobs. That is, in fact, true. It's just his crappy invocation of George Floyd (as the current poster child for poor minorities) that got him in trouble here.

Anyway I hope a good illustration of why I'm not so bothered by this stuff. I'm not the style over substance type.

I interpret his statement as saying Floyd's death was not in vain, that we'll make progress going forward as a result.

I agree. Doodle, Cortopassi and others: if Xan is right (and why would he not be), then what does this tell you about mainstream media reporting??? Are you sure this isn't what's influencing you? In this case, many people are saying Trump's own words are damning, but are they really????? When they are being interpreted with this degree of latitude?

Corto, I'm socially liberal as well. That used to be pretty clearly a Democrat advantage, back in the era of the "Moral Majority" and Jerry Falwell which a dark time for the Republican party, in my view. The way I see it, the Democrats and Republicans have swapped places. The Republicans are about creating the conditions for anyone to succeed regardless of race/color etc, while refraining from advocating specifically for any particular identity group. I think that is the correct approach. The Democrats on the other hand are heading in the direction of nullifying key parts of the Constitution (e.g. the first amendment) and imposing the rule of law to create a social order in which race/ethnic identities are not treated equally. I find that to be frightening. Everything that's happened recently has only reinforced my impressions.

[Libertarian666]

I probably used the wrong word.

I should change the wording to I am fiscally conservative and socially liberal. Republicans talk about being fiscally conservative, but only when their party isn't in power. Socially, I am generally liberal, and take issue with many conservative positions socially.

I will speak to Chicago, where I grew up. Just watched the local show on PBS call Chicago Tonight the Week in Review. There was looting all over the city, esp. the south and west sides, predominantly black. They even closed Targets in the suburbs, by me, as a safety measure. It was not good, and will not help the situation going forward.

The current mayor is Lori Lightfoot, a black lesbian lady. (from that point of view imagine such a person being elected 40 years ago. Progress!) Prior to that was Rahm Emmanuel, and pretty much a few decades of Daleys with a couple misc mayors in between. I have to give her credit, she speaks her mind and doesn't take shit. It remains to be seen whether her being black helps improve that portion of the city going forward.

"We all have the same rights under the law" Sure. Let yourself believe that. In a perfect world, maybe. Not in practice. Unless all these black men as BSing everyone, they do not get treated equally, especially by police.

"If you think Life is being unfair and your "civil rights" are being abused, it may be where you live." I agree. I don't know why some of these bad areas aren't ghost towns and why people can't or are reluctant to leave.

I'm going to bet that Lori Lightfoot's reign as mayor will result in conditions worsening in Chicago, including in the poor neighborhoods, not getting better.

My reasoning is that decades of Democrat rule of major cities have resulted in worsening conditions in the poor neighborhoods in those cities.

Maybe it's different this time.

But I see no reason to believe that.

[vnatale]

I probably used the wrong word.

I should change the wording to I am fiscally conservative and socially liberal. Republicans talk about being fiscally conservative, but only when their party isn't in power. Socially, I am generally liberal, and take issue with many conservative positions socially.

I will speak to Chicago, where I grew up. Just watched the local show on PBS call Chicago Tonight the Week in Review. There was looting all over the city, esp. the south and west sides, predominantly black. They even closed Targets in the suburbs, by me, as a safety measure. It was not good, and will not help the situation going forward.

The current mayor is Lori Lightfoot, a black lesbian lady. (from that point of view imagine such a person being elected 40 years ago. Progress!) Prior to that was Rahm Emmanuel, and pretty much a few decades of Daleys with a couple misc mayors in between. I have to give her credit, she speaks her mind and doesn't take shit. It remains to be seen whether her being black helps improve that portion of the city going forward.

"We all have the same rights under the law" Sure. Let yourself believe that. In a perfect world, maybe. Not in practice. Unless all these black men as BSing everyone, they do not get treated equally, especially by police.

"If you think Life is being unfair and your "civil rights" are being abused, it may be where you live." I agree. I don't know why some of these bad areas aren't ghost towns and why people can't or are reluctant to leave.

1. I am 100% fiscally conservative. Somewhat socially liberal. Definitely don't accept the full liberal orthodoxy in this area.

2. Wouldn't the answer to your question would be a complete lack of resources to leave and re-establish elsewhere? Or, if they could leave, could they get themselves somewhere that is anything better?

Vinny

[vnatale]

Capture.JPG (187.86 KiB) Viewed 5325 times

[shekels]

I probably used the wrong word.


"We all have the same rights under the law" Sure. Let yourself believe that. In a perfect world, maybe. Not in practice. Unless all these black men as BSing everyone, they do not get treated equally, especially by police.

"If you think Life is being unfair and your "civil rights" are being abused, it may be where you live." I agree. I don't know why some of these bad areas aren't ghost towns and why people can't or are reluctant to leave.

Maybe i failed to make my point.
Sure I believe people have the same rights under the Law..
If there is a Law that gives a group more rights, I would like to hear it.
The problem I think you are referring to is WHO is, or is not enforcing/encroaching on those the rights .
That boils down to people.
The police have Rules just like everyone else.
When the Rules are violated who or what are the penalties?

Example:
I know I have The Second Amendment of the United States Constitution reads: "A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed."
So what does Infringed mean?

I do have a serious question if You or a Loved one are in a car that is being Vandalized.
Hit with bricks, clubs and people are trying to get into your car and you fear for your LIFE and that or your family.
Is it OK to drive away and possibly injure bystanders who are in the path.

[shekels]

Capture.JPG

If you look at voting by counties the map may look quite different.

[vnatale]

Capture.JPG

If you look at voting by counties the map may look quite different.

Look different in what way?

Vinny

[shekels]

Capture.JPG

If you look at voting by counties the map may look quite different.

Look different in what way?

Vinny

Here you can find maps from 2016 election.
This is not to say that Biden wont prevail. It is just to show what has taken place by counties/precincts
and what the media is pitching to us now.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/pol ... -election/

[Ad Orientem]

Capture.JPG

That map closely aligns with the polls I am seeing. That Texas and Georgia are close should be deeply alarming to team Trump.

[I Shrugged]

Couple of comments.

Trump is a poor extemporaneous speaker.
He has good, maybe excellent problem solving and decision making instincts but can't explain things very well. Think of Mayor Daley the elder. Think of how Daley would have been in the face of a relentless, hostile press, celebrities, media, mocking and all the rest. They are viciously attacking him 24/7, by the hordes. Yes, he says things that make us wince. Who wouldn't, at this point?

Damn I forgot the other one. Something that Cortopassi said. Enjoy some elevator music................

Okay, yes!
I think there has been a lot of progress in race relations. Just look back over the decades. And it will continue, but it takes time. Quite a bit of time. You can't shout or protest your way to better race relations. In fact I think that sets back the progress. Not even mentioning riots and looting. Now, all of those actions can change laws. Policing will change as a result of all of the unrest. As to how to improve relations, I think MLK and Gandhi had the right ideas.

For extra credit:
Let's realize that a lot of the violence has been instigated by the radical left, the types who want to overthrow the government, etc. They are always looking for a vehicle to hijack, and this one has been what they dream of. My point being, they've set back race relations and don't care. For them, worsening race relations is probably a net positive. Black people are often pawns in other peoples' chess games. I think it's happening now.

[Kriegsspiel]

Couple of comments.

Trump is a poor extemporaneous speaker.
He has good, maybe excellent problem solving and decision making instincts but can't explain things very well.

Seems like a fair criticism.

You can't shout or protest your way to better race relations. In fact I think that sets back the progress. Not even mentioning riots and looting. Now, all of those actions can change laws. Policing will change as a result of all of the unrest. As to how to improve relations, I think MLK and Gandhi had the right ideas.

For extra credit:
Let's realize that a lot of the violence has been instigated by the radical left, the types who want to overthrow the government, etc. They are always looking for a vehicle to hijack, and this one has been what they dream of. My point being, they've set back race relations and don't care. For them, worsening race relations is probably a net positive. Black people are often pawns in other peoples' chess games. I think it's happening now.

I've been doing a bit of reading lately, and it was pretty wild to me how many similarities there are between 2020 and the peri-World War I years. Would you have guessed that suffragettes in Britain prior to WW I were bombing buildings and committing a ton of arson? I'd never heard about this little piece of history. And it was just like you said, the activists' violence was not effective; they changed the laws later on as their entire society was transformed by the war. Some of them assisted draft dodgers and remained pacifists, but some totally changed once the war started and became pretty big nationalists.

Another thing you can see similarities in is the Bolshevik revolution in Russia. It started with popular protests and looting and police unable to get it under control, and the Bolsheviks took advantage of the unrest (as Antifa is trying to do vis-à-vis the BLM protesters), began establishing councils (soviets) for trade unions, soldiers, and police (as BLM recently accomplished in Flint). Then of course they simply took over the government from the unpopular one and then began the bloody civil war, then they started disappearing people(including the son of one of the pacifists who had optimistically moved to the USSR after the war). Recall the PV reporting on Bernie Sanders' campaign staff musing about putting conservatives in gulags.

[Kriegsspiel]

I don't think so, no.

[doodle]

Unfortunately humans don't compare their relative wealth and well being to their ancestors, or the world at large. I think many Americans are at least subconsciously cognizant that we have a pretty big disparity between the top and the bottom. I think the recent covid situation also touched on some nerves being that those on the frontlines in "essential" worker positions...namely retail and grocery workers are among some of the lowest paid positions. It's ironic that our economic system compensates the most essential workers the worst. So these demonstrations and their ensuing violence are not just an expression of frustration with police but with our larger system...and whether one disagrees or not it is at least understandable why some people might feel frustrated. The comparison to Bolshevik revolution isn't that far sstretched

[doodle]

Interesting short interview with Penn Jillette about his times working with Trump.



https://youtu.be/A-UK40_XkWw

[shekels]

Couple of comments.

Trump is a poor extemporaneous speaker.
He has good, maybe excellent problem solving and decision making instincts but can't explain things very well.

Seems like a fair criticism.

You can't shout or protest your way to better race relations. In fact I think that sets back the progress. Not even mentioning riots and looting. Now, all of those actions can change laws. Policing will change as a result of all of the unrest. As to how to improve relations, I think MLK and Gandhi had the right ideas.

For extra credit:
Let's realize that a lot of the violence has been instigated by the radical left, the types who want to overthrow the government, etc. They are always looking for a vehicle to hijack, and this one has been what they dream of. My point being, they've set back race relations and don't care. For them, worsening race relations is probably a net positive. Black people are often pawns in other peoples' chess games. I think it's happening now.

I've been doing a bit of reading lately, and it was pretty wild to me how many similarities there are between 2020 and the peri-World War I years. Would you have guessed that suffragettes in Britain prior to WW I were bombing buildings and committing a ton of arson? I'd never heard about this little piece of history. And it was just like you said, the activists' violence was not effective; they changed the laws later on as their entire society was transformed by the war. Some of them assisted draft dodgers and remained pacifists, but some totally changed once the war started and became pretty big nationalists.

Another thing you can see similarities in is the Bolshevik revolution in Russia. It started with popular protests and looting and police unable to get it under control, and the Bolsheviks took advantage of the unrest (as Antifa is trying to do vis-à-vis the BLM protesters), began establishing councils (soviets) for trade unions, soldiers, and police (as BLM recently accomplished in Flint). Then of course they simply took over the government from the unpopular one and then began the bloody civil war, then they started disappearing people(including the son of one of the pacifists who had optimistically moved to the USSR after the war). Recall the PV reporting on Bernie Sanders' campaign staff musing about putting conservatives in gulags.

Flint has been Understaffed for YEARS.
It came to the point where I had 100,00 citizens in this city that we had to try to protect and I had five officers on any give shift to protect them," Johnson said. "If one of those officers called off sick or took a day off, then I had to hold somebody on overtime."

Flint city population has shrank along with it's size.
Flint MI Crime Rate

[shekels]

For extra credit:
Let's realize that a lot of the violence has been instigated by the radical left, the types who want to overthrow the government, etc. They are always looking for a vehicle to hijack, and this one has been what they dream of. My point being, they've set back race relations and don't care. For them, worsening race relations is probably a net positive. Black people are often pawns in other peoples' chess games. I think it's happening now.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I9NBscCE8Ac

[dualstow]

Another thing you can see similarities in is the Bolshevik revolution in Russia. It started with popular protests and looting and police unable to get it under control, and the Bolsheviks took advantage of the unrest
...

There’s a great piece on that in the WSJ’s opinion section (where my current sig comes from).

{One striking difference from LA ‘92} is the rationalization, and sometimes full-throated defense, of violence from left-wing elites: the glorification of havoc, the vilification of cops and their middle-class admirers, highfalutin defenses of vandalism. The sense of revolution and class warfare was everywhere this week: the cognoscenti and underclass arrayed against the petty bourgeois shop owners; the elite and those they claim to represent against everybody else.

https://www.wsj.com/articles/violent-pr ... 1591400422

[Tortoise]

It's ironic that our economic system compensates the most essential workers the worst.

That’s because compensation, like most goods and services, is generally based on supply and demand, not the distinction of “essential” vs. “non-essential.”

Many “essential” workers don’t make much money because they are so easily replaced by other workers with the same skill set.

Water is one of the most essential substances on this planet, yet it’s very cheap for us because it’s very plentiful. Should we raise its price significantly to reflect the fact that it’s so essential?

[vnatale]

Do you approve or disapprove of the way Donald Trump is handling his job as president?

https://civiqs.com/results/approve_pres ... ign=ticker

[vnatale]

Colin Powell: Trump lies 'all the time'
Microsoft News · 1 hr ago · by CNN



https://www.msn.com/en-us/video/other/c ... i-BB15a46D

[doodle]

Colin Powell: Trump lies 'all the time'
Microsoft News · 1 hr ago · by CNN

https://www.msn.com/en-us/video/other/c ... i-BB15a46D

Imagine my shock that a Democrat general would claim that Trump lies!
And next time, maybe you should quote Pravda instead of the Cartoon News Network. They're probably much more objective about Trump.

He was career long Republican until the party lost its mind

[doodle]

Trump does lie alot.(or is horribly misinformed)..that is an objective statistic.

[stuper1]

Colin Powell: Trump lies 'all the time'
Microsoft News · 1 hr ago · by CNN

https://www.msn.com/en-us/video/other/c ... i-BB15a46D

That's very rich coming from a guy who could get up in front of the UN and completely mangle the truth with a straight face, taking us into a ridiculous war with Iraq.

Sure, Powell can get up and give a very grave performance, but that doesn't mean he's trustworthy at all. Have you read the book "War Is a Racket"? Anyone involved with that racket at the highest levels is likely an excellent liar. But we all trust him because he looks and sounds so trustworthy when he appears on TV, so if he says that Trump is a liar, then it must be true.

[doodle]

Not sure where you guys get your news. Powell has spoken repeatedly about his presentation to UN calling it one of the most regrettable moments of his career. He was given bad data and presented it.

Where to start with Trump and his lies...lol. give me a minute...this going to be a loonnggg list