POTUS Donald Trump

[TheLeviathan]

 

As for the article, it was an opinion piece by a democratic socialist, so I'm not sure it's really all that unbiased.....

 

Right, it felt like reading "Breitbart posts article about Hillary Clinton".  I guess I wasn't shocked to hear his conclusion given the setup.

 

I'm going to need a bit more than two city council races (one of which is in a pretty liberal part of Chicago) and a primary as evidence of his point.  Most of that opinion piece was bluster and feel-goodisms.  

 

And again, before I get attacked for "cowing" - I'm all for a hard left pitch on healthcare.  Make your policies hard left, but remember your messaging needs to reach a wider audience than that.

[Mr. Brooks]

Spot on. My father is still a farmer in southern Minnesota and I have several cousins who voted for Trump. Every one of them now say they regret the vote because, while they liked the estate tax roll back, the trade war is crushing them. They felt suckered by Trump and have turned on him. My father was a Hillary voter, but he says the tune on Trump has shifted dramatically.

 

There is a huge opening there. You know what else a lot of rural Americans have to do? Pay for healthcare out of their own pocket, no employer subsidies. Healthcare and trade war and you can sweep the Midwest.

If they are wealthy enough that the estate tax affected them, then they can't be doing too bad. It didn't apply for estates under $5.5 million, and that's net taxable assets, not gross.

[ashbury]

If they are wealthy enough that the estate tax affected them, then they can't be doing too bad. It didn't apply for estates under $5.5 million, and that's net taxable assets, not gross.

The devil's in the details, and often farming has different treatment under the law moreso than practically any other walk of life, but without planning to do any research that was my reaction too. The whole Death Tax thing was always a red herring for 95% of the public. Make that, 99+.

[Mike Sixel]

 

The devil's in the details, and often farming has different treatment under the law moreso than practically any other walk of life, but without planning to do any research that was my reaction too. The whole Death Tax thing was always a red herring for 95% of the public.

 

95?

 

 

another great example of how Dems are VERY bad at conceding messaging.

[ashbury]

95?

 

 

another great example of how Dems are VERY bad at conceding messaging.

Yeah, I modified that while you were responding.

[TheLeviathan]

 

If they are wealthy enough that the estate tax affected them, then they can't be doing too bad. It didn't apply for estates under $5.5 million, and that's net taxable assets, not gross.

 

I don't think it's that simple.  

 

There aren't many families that are farming that are doing well, even if their assets might be highly valued.  For example, in south central MN all you have to have is about 800 acres to cross that threshold.  That doesn't include building sites, equipment, or anything else.  

 

Farming 800-1500 acres is not what it once was.  You might be surprised how little money a family farm operation makes even with that much acreage.  Especially when you factor in health care costs for the aging farming population.

[ashbury]

 

I don't think it's that simple.  

 

There aren't many families that are farming that are doing well, even if their assets might be highly valued.  For example, in south central MN all you have to have is about 800 acres to cross that threshold.  That doesn't include building sites, equipment, or anything else.  

 

Farming 800-1500 acres is not what it once was.  You might be surprised how little money a family farm operation makes even with that much acreage.  Especially when you factor in health care costs for the aging farming population.

Honest question, who is bidding up the prices of land then? Because smart folks with MBAs who know how to compute ROI would not accept sub-1% dividends when acquiring a deceased person's acreage for their conglomerate, for instance.

[TheLeviathan]

 

Honest question, who is bidding up the prices of land then? Because smart folks with MBAs who know how to compute ROI would not accept sub-1% dividends when acquiring a deceased person's acreage for their conglomerate, for instance.

 

Larger corporations, corporate farming.  Bad decision making.  Desperation.  I thought this was a good piece to explain the mentaility.

 

I'm not even saying that many people who fear the estate tax do so with valid cause, but it's out there.  And people often don't understand just how valuable land it.  

[PseudoSABR]

Brett Kavanaugh it is.

 

"Having observed the weighty issues that can consume a president, Kavanaugh wrote, the nation’s chief executive should be exempt from “time-consuming and distracting” lawsuits and investigations, which “would ill serve the public interest, especially in times of financial or national security crisis.”

 

Source.

[ashbury]

Brett Kavanaugh it is.

 

"Having observed the weighty issues that can consume a president, Kavanaugh wrote, the nation’s chief executive should be exempt from “time-consuming and distracting” lawsuits and investigations, which “would ill serve the public interest, especially in times of financial or national security crisis.”

 

Source.

“He likes to play basketball and drink beer. . . . It’s very refreshing in a town like Washington.” Gee, that bought Obama a lot of Republican support during his terms in office.

[D. Hocking]

Kavanaugh wrote, the nation’s chief executive should be exempt from “time-consuming and distracting” lawsuits and investigations, which “would ill serve the public interest, especially in times of financial or national security crisis.”

 

 

I am sure that had nothing to do with his being chosen.  Although, I am sure in order not to appear biased, he will recuse himself from any legal matters involving Trump.

 

And again, the effusive praise for dear leader "no one has done as a thorough review for a Supreme Court justice."  He got a short list from a conservative group and interview four people.

 

Now Trump is going to go and insult NATO and praise Putin.  Melania will get praise for standing with good posture and saying an introduction or two.

[gunnarthor]

Kavanaugh might be the Dems best chance to stall his nomination. The Post reported that he has literally "millions" of pages of paper he's compiled over the last 12 years on the DC Circuit. It takes a lot of time to get all that together and the Dems can try to slow things. Not sure if they can slow this for four months but I'm sure they'll try. 

 

It also turns out that Rand Paul might have some issues with Kavanaugh, going back to the Bush administration. I doubt Paul has the balls to actually vote against him but he could support stalling measures. (All that said, I expect Kavanaugh will be confirmed before November).

[PseudoSABR]

 

I am sure that had nothing to do with his being chosen.  Although, I am sure in order not to appear biased, he will recuse himself from any legal matters involving Trump.

 

And again, the effusive praise for dear leader "no one has done as a thorough review for a Supreme Court justice."  He got a short list from a conservative group and interview four people.

 

Now Trump is going to go and insult NATO and praise Putin.  Melania will get praise for standing with good posture and saying an introduction or two.

It will be interesting to see how Kavanaugh responds to questions about his law review article and the idea of recusing himself.  I don't think he'd be amenable to recusing himself, and I imagine he'll have to dance around that fact at the confirmation hearings.

[Mr. Brooks]

So Trump is okay with willfully destroying public land to protest rich ranchers actually having to pay to use land for grazing, but taking a knee to silently protest for civil rights makes one a "son of a bitch".

Not that I'm surprised, of course.

[TheLeviathan]

 

So Trump is okay with willfully destroying public land to protest rich ranchers actually having to pay to use land for grazing, but taking a knee to silently protest for civil rights makes one a "son of a bitch".
Not that I'm surprised, of course.

 

Rule of Law, zero tolerance, and whatnot.  (Mumbling incoherently)

[gunnarthor]

 

So Trump is okay with willfully destroying public land to protest rich ranchers actually having to pay to use land for grazing, but taking a knee to silently protest for civil rights makes one a "son of a bitch".
Not that I'm surprised, of course.

As simple as black and white.

[Squirrel]

So, I have a few FB 'friends' who are pro-Trump and post pro-Trump garbage ad nauseum. (I usually hide the sources so I see less and less of those quick-share memes.) This one person in particular, who posts this stuff, and posts all this 'Pray for Trump' stuff as well, posts this petition on saving the bees, and how the EPA won't ban particularly bad pesticides that kill bees, or something (I didn't read it all), but I'm thinking ... okay ... does she know who leads the EPA and who put that person in charge of the EPA? I almost responded to her post to ask her ... do you know how ironic this is? But it would completely pass over her head ... or she'd come back with 'Trump has nothing to do with the EPA. It's all the Democrats doing.' I really hate this level of stupid.

[Badsmerf]

So, I have a few FB 'friends' who are pro-Trump and post pro-Trump garbage ad nauseum. (I usually hide the sources so I see less and less of those quick-share memes.) This one person in particular, who posts this stuff, and posts all this 'Pray for Trump' stuff as well, posts this petition on saving the bees, and how the EPA won't ban particularly bad pesticides that kill bees, or something (I didn't read it all), but I'm thinking ... okay ... does she know who leads the EPA and who put that person in charge of the EPA? I almost responded to her post to ask her ... do you know how ironic this is? But it would completely pass over her head ... or she'd come back with 'Trump has nothing to do with the EPA. It's all the Democrats doing.' I really hate this level of stupid.

You should have. I engage occasionally on egregious topics like that.

[Squirrel]

 

You should have. I engage occasionally on egregious topics like that.

I would for some ... but not for this person.

[jimmer]

There is zero point in engaging people who are so overwhelmingly Pro-Trump. It's the definition of an exercise in futility.

[PseudoSABR]

 

There is zero point in engaging people who are so overwhelmingly Pro-Trump. It's the definition of an exercise in futility.

Agreed, but we may appeal to their children and family members through not totally dismissing them, and their perceived plight.  

Especially on social media, it's rarely for the person being engaged, but for the audience at large.  

[PseudoSABR]

[TheLeviathan]

 

There is zero point in engaging people who are so overwhelmingly Pro-Trump. It's the definition of an exercise in futility.

 

I've determined any kind of engagement on social media, even about what you might think is mundane, is walking into a trap.  There's just no upside.

[Squirrel]

I've determined any kind of engagement on social media, even about what you might think is mundane, is walking into a trap. There's just no upside.

I’m sure I’ve been unfollowed/unfriended on FB for my more liberal stances and posts on various subjects by my pro-Trump, pro-white agenda friends. And while I have unfollowed very few I do hide the sources of their memes and fake news and ultra-right websites. It also drives me nuts to hear them spout such hateful rhetoric about refugees, immigrants, anyone non-White, poor and homeless, chronically ill and barely or un-insured, and then start screaming judgement on murdering abortionists because they are so self-righteously pro-life and I’m damned to hell because I don’t think the personal aspects of my body is the government’s business.

[TheLeviathan]

It is my ardent belief that someday another alien civilization will deem us expendable as a lifeform based solely on the content of Twitter and Facebook.

 

And deservedly so.

[PseudoSABR]

 

It is my ardent belief that someday another alien civilization will deem us expendable as a lifeform based solely on the content of Twitter and Facebook.

 

And deservedly so.

Or perhaps, they will look closer to see those of us who retain our dignity.  Indeed, it is only in the face of the now common deplorable behavior, that our common decency rings with something hard won.  

 

In any case, I don't expect an invite to the Federation of Planets any time soon.  (Thanks Trump!)

[Badsmerf]

It is my ardent belief that someday another alien civilization will deem us expendable as a lifeform based solely on the content of Twitter and Facebook.

 

And deservedly so.

I'm sure the space force will deal with them. You think Republicans hate immigrants now? Just wait until you hear them talk about those illegal aliens.

[D. Hocking]

You know there are certain alien leaders he would relate to and praise.  He would love the Klingons (pre-joining the Federation), the Ferengi, and the Borg.  Certain leaders he would have an almost school boy crush on as he compliments them and tries to emulate them.

 

http://www.nydailynews.com/resizer/sbjb7QiNz9ev1Gcz5hm4we0vhJI=/1400x0/arc-anglerfish-arc2-prod-tronc.s3.amazonaws.com/public/2TPTWQYZG3FMPWIAESHKSQCQW4.jpg

[Badsmerf]

I really like where this thread is going right now.

[Badsmerf]

I other news, Trump is making a mockery of the presidency in Europe this week. American idiot is in the top 20 in the UK right now. He called the Russia investigation a witch hunt again.... after being briefed that 12 Russians were going to be indicted. He still thinks Russia is our friend. Well, they are oblivious his friend since they helped get him elected.