POTUS Donald Trump

[Vanimal46]

Again, someone needs to take away his Twitter account before something terrible happens.... 

[diehardtwinsfan]

Honestly, the tariff on imports shouldn't be a surprise.  We all know Mexico won't pay for the wall.  That was the next step and a no brainer... I think the wall is stupid personally, pulling out of NAFTA will do more to stem the tide of illegal immigration than that wall... and a 20% tariff will kill their exports which will exacerbate the problem.

[D. Hocking]

I saw him being interviewed on the plane yesterday.  Something about the content of his answers and look on his face reminded me of my Grandpa during his earlier stages of dementia.   I know this has been speculated a fair amount so this is no new revelation, but it would not surprise me if he is in some stage of dementia or Alzheimer.  It would explain why family members were always with him.  I have heard narcissism often gets greatly exacerbated with age related memory issues, and this man seems to have some issues. 

[Mike Sixel]

Illegal immigration at one of its lowest points in a verrrrry long time.

 

No money for flint pipes, no money for poor people needing insurance, but billions for a wall....sigh.

[jimmer]

And now they are talking about lifting Russian sanctions and cutting the EPA by half (for starters, maybe mire after that). It took less than a week for me to consider him the worst President in my lifetime.

[Craig Arko]

I think it's Bannon who is the true architect of this, and they are throwing out a bunch of smoke screens to conceal the actual plan. Which likely involves bilking the American public out of large sums of money.

[PseudoSABR]

 

I think it's Bannon who is the true architect of this, and they are throwing out a bunch of smoke screens to conceal the actual plan. Which likely involves bilking the American public out of large sums of money.

Yup, I imagine very shortly they'll start selling off federal assets and lands for pennies on the dollar.

[D. Hocking]

 

Illegal immigration at one of its lowest points in a verrrrry long time.

 

No money for flint pipes, no money for poor people needing insurance, but billions for a wall....sigh.

 

I saw a few comments about the timing of the announcement of the Flint water meeting Federal standards coming when the EPA was under a gag order to release any comments.  Their definition of being pro-life does not seem to extend to outside the uterus.  

 

It is stunning how Bannon can just lurk there and his background doing his thing, and his beliefs are rarely brought up or brought up in the most superficial fashion.

[Mike Sixel]

 

Yup, I imagine very shortly they'll start selling off federal assets and lands for pennies on the dollar.

 

No doubt of this at all. The rich will get much richer, and pollution in our Parks will get much worse. But, hey, it's not like God said we are stewards or anything....

[Squirrel]

No doubt of this at all. The rich will get much richer, and pollution in will get much worse and our Parks will be nonexistent. But, hey, it's not like God said we are stewards or anything....

Ftfy

[TheLeviathan]

Well, he's not wasting any time at least.....

[drjim]

Here's an interesting read:

http://thefederalist.com/2017/01/23/donald-trump-first-president-turn-postmodernism/

 

I'm skeptical of some of the grand conclusions of post-modernism, but I think it does explain some of the reason his support didn't collapse in the run up to the election.

 

I'm pretty sure his Administration is going to be a disaster, but the question is then now what? Will it be a doubling down of the same old, or will be this allow people to rethink their positions and methods and tactics. I suspect a whole lot of people have been turned off about much of politics for a long time (the unique talent of Obama, combined with some honorable opponents, masked it for a little bit longer). What will come out of these ashes?

[Mike Sixel]

 

Here's an interesting read:

http://thefederalist.com/2017/01/23/donald-trump-first-president-turn-postmodernism/

 

I'm skeptical of some of the grand conclusions of post-modernism, but I think it does explain some of the reason his support didn't collapse in the run up to the election.

 

I'm pretty sure his Administration is going to be a disaster, but the question is then now what? Will it be a doubling down of the same old, or will be this allow people to rethink their positions and methods and tactics. I suspect a whole lot of people have been turned off about much of politics for a long time (the unique talent of Obama, combined with some honorable opponents, masked it for a little bit longer). What will come out of these ashes?

 

that is so bad, it is sad. It takes everything to an extreme that does not reflect, imo, reality of the everyman (it might politicians, rich people, and some news people). A small group protesting halloween costumes does not reflect the huge majority of liberals on campus (according to my sons, who are, you know, on campus).

[kydoty]

https://mobile.twitter.com/DanaSchwartzzz/status/825030464037593091

 

This can't possibly be real, can it?

[drjim]

 

that is so bad, it is sad. It takes everything to an extreme that does not reflect, imo, reality of the everyman (it might politicians, rich people, and some news people). A small group protesting halloween costumes does not reflect the huge majority of liberals on campus (according to my sons, who are, you know, on campus).

 

But it is very real. It's not like the opinions and actions of the vast majority of people are under consideration in our political culture. It's the extremes that inflated and then bludgeoned. Boring moderation doesn't sell anything.

 

While appreciating that some things are not perfect in our country, people have really underestimated the risk of taking a blowtorch to what we have. They'll find out when The Thing happens.

[Mike Sixel]

 

https://mobile.twitter.com/DanaSchwartzzz/status/825030464037593091

This can't possibly be real, can it?

 

seems hard to believe.

[Vanimal46]

 

https://mobile.twitter.com/DanaSchwartzzz/status/825030464037593091

This can't possibly be real, can it?

Lol... Looks like they had to photoshop some orange off his face to match the new photoshopped hand. 

[TheLeviathan]

 

Here's an interesting read:

http://thefederalist.com/2017/01/23/donald-trump-first-president-turn-postmodernism/

 

I'm skeptical of some of the grand conclusions of post-modernism, but I think it does explain some of the reason his support didn't collapse in the run up to the election.

 

I'm pretty sure his Administration is going to be a disaster, but the question is then now what? Will it be a doubling down of the same old, or will be this allow people to rethink their positions and methods and tactics. I suspect a whole lot of people have been turned off about much of politics for a long time (the unique talent of Obama, combined with some honorable opponents, masked it for a little bit longer). What will come out of these ashes?

 

Bill Maher has been trying to hit back at this as well.  I think there is something to Trump's rise as a rejection of some of the Melissa Harris-Perry types and the barrage of stupidity like it out there on social media.

 

It doesn't justify electing this clown, but i think it is an important part of the emotion.

[Mike Sixel]

I'm not denying he used it....I'm denying it is a reflection of what most liberals are really like.

[diehardtwinsfan]

 

I think it's Bannon who is the true architect of this, and they are throwing out a bunch of smoke screens to conceal the actual plan. Which likely involves bilking the American public out of large sums of money.

 

That's a given no matter who is President.  The real question is who is getting the money.

[diehardtwinsfan]

 

Here's an interesting read:

http://thefederalist.com/2017/01/23/donald-trump-first-president-turn-postmodernism/

 

I'm skeptical of some of the grand conclusions of post-modernism, but I think it does explain some of the reason his support didn't collapse in the run up to the election.

 

I'm pretty sure his Administration is going to be a disaster, but the question is then now what? Will it be a doubling down of the same old, or will be this allow people to rethink their positions and methods and tactics. I suspect a whole lot of people have been turned off about much of politics for a long time (the unique talent of Obama, combined with some honorable opponents, masked it for a little bit longer). What will come out of these ashes?

 

That was a good read.  Very interesting perspective.

[drjim]

 

I'm not denying he used it....I'm denying it is a reflection of what most liberals are really like.

 

While this is true, for better or worse it doesn't matter. In many ways you represent whatever the narrative says you are. I'm an Evangelical Christian, I live with this all the time.

[Doomtints]

 

Here's an interesting read:

http://thefederalist.com/2017/01/23/donald-trump-first-president-turn-postmodernism/

 

I'm skeptical of some of the grand conclusions of post-modernism, but I think it does explain some of the reason his support didn't collapse in the run up to the election.

 

I'm pretty sure his Administration is going to be a disaster, but the question is then now what? Will it be a doubling down of the same old, or will be this allow people to rethink their positions and methods and tactics. I suspect a whole lot of people have been turned off about much of politics for a long time (the unique talent of Obama, combined with some honorable opponents, masked it for a little bit longer). What will come out of these ashes?

 

Though Trump voters would fight against what they believe to be postmodernism to the tooth and nail ... yes, they are the group who live in that realm the most.  But that's because they don't know what it means, they just see it as a vague term thrown around by those icky smart people or perhaps as a bizarre art form.

[TheLeviathan]

 

I'm not denying he used it....I'm denying it is a reflection of what most liberals are really like.

 

That's sort of hard to gauge though.  We know whatever percentage is vocal and relentless.  And, much like the right did with the worst parts of the Tea Party, if you give them enough cover for their absurdity pretty soon you don't get to argue they don't represent you.

 

You coddled it and let it foster, now you have to own that.

[diehardtwinsfan]

 

Though Trump voters would fight against what they believe to be postmodernism to the tooth and nail ... yes, they are the group who live in that realm the most.  But that's because they don't know what it means, they just see it as a vague term thrown around by those icky smart people or perhaps as a bizarre art form.

 

I'm so tired of the "the other side is just stupid" arguments. It pretty much ends any real discussion on real issues, not to mention the irony of such statements from a crowd that prides itself on being open minded. It's precisely what the author of drjim's article was saying.

 

The right's rejection of postmodernity has a whole lot more to do with their beliefs that there is truth that isn't relative. It has nothing to do with icky smart people or bizarre artists. You may not agree, and that's fine, but failing to understand is a much bigger problem.

[drjim]

I'm so tired of the "the other side is just stupid" arguments. It pretty much ends any real discussion on real issues, not to mention the irony of such statements from a crowd that prides itself on being open minded. It's precisely what the author of drjim's article was saying.

 

The right's rejection of postmodernity has a whole lot more to do with their beliefs that there is truth that isn't relative. It has nothing to do with icky smart people or bizarre artists. You may not agree, and that's fine, but failing to understand is a much bigger problem.

I do think the instinct to call people who aren't on the same page stupid or a bigot needs to be curtailed.

[Doomtints]

 

I'm so tired of the "the other side is just stupid" arguments.

 

It's not much of an argument. Look at the data. Once side holds more intellectual capacity than the other. This is a fact. The less intelligent half feels like they are being attacked by the smarter half, even though this has never happened. Propaganda only works when a scapegoat is created. The right hates their base so much that they have tricked them into voting for them and tricked them into hating the only group who has ever stood up for them.

 

We definitely do not need to be open to hearing opinions that history has proven to be dangerous and irresponsible. It's often (and accurately) said that it's not the people on the fringe who are dangerous, but the people in the middle who want to play nice and let the fringes do what they want. This is what you are advocating.

 

There is a group who have been consuming propaganda for 20 years. They need to be deprogrammed. Pandering to their inaccurate view of the world will only make their illness worse and give those who want to harm them and the rest of us more power.

 

Take a stand, man. A lot depends on it.

[Mike Sixel]

 

That's sort of hard to gauge though.  We know whatever percentage is vocal and relentless.  And, much like the right did with the worst parts of the Tea Party, if you give them enough cover for their absurdity pretty soon you don't get to argue they don't represent you.

 

You coddled it and let it foster, now you have to own that.

 

i don't think I've coddled it, or let it fester. What would you like me to do about overly PC media, exactly? I think most people have very little influence on stuff outsider their circle of friends, saying anyone coddled it is specious at best. 

 

If you mean the political elite of the left did, that may or may not be true. I don't see Clinton or Obama acting that way in office, for example.

[PseudoSABR]

 

https://mobile.twitter.com/DanaSchwartzzz/status/825030464037593091

This can't possibly be real, can it?

https://mobile.twitter.com/DanaSchwartzzz/status/825087958550196225

 

Looks like she deleted whatever was there.  I didn't get to see it, what was it?

[diehardtwinsfan]

 

It's not much of an argument. Look at the data. Once side holds more intellectual capacity than the other. This is a fact. The less intelligent half feels like they are being attacked by the smarter half, even though this has never happened. Propaganda only works when a scapegoat is created. The right hates their base so much that they have tricked them into voting for them and tricked them into hating the only group who has ever stood up for them.

 

We definitely do not need to be open to hearing opinions that history has proven to be dangerous and irresponsible. It's often (and accurately) said that it's not the people on the fringe who are dangerous, but the people in the middle who want to play nice and let the fringes do what they want. This is what you are advocating.

 

There is a group who have been consuming propaganda for 20 years. They need to be deprogrammed. Pandering to their inaccurate view of the world will only make their illness worse and give those who want to harm them and the rest of us more power.

 

Take a stand, man. A lot depends on it.

 

You can tell yourself that all day long.  Your statement is just another form of Scientific racism, which has existed for hundreds of years.  And I'd add that it should be given even less merit given that the people producing said data are the same ones claiming to have more intellectual capacity.  Seriously, you can do better than that.

 

The left consumes propaganda just as much as the right, and I sure as hell not going to allow you or anyone else to decide what is 'dangerous', 'irresponsible', or who should be 'reprogrammed'.  Some guy named Hilter already tried that. I'd rather not repeat it.

 

I am very much taking a stand.