The Trump Presidency VII

[Minoosh]

I know I said "packing the Supreme Court, period." But to elaborate, I see 3 major issues in right vs. left. The right wants:

1. No abortion rights
2. Unlimited gun rights
3. The U.S. identifying as a "Christian" nation.

The left wants:
1. Abortion rights
2. Limited gun rights
3. The U.S. identifying as a secular nation.

I put "Christian" in quote marks because it is not all kinds of Christians but the evangelical, socially conservative ones who may believe 1. That they are born again, no sin will taint them, they are going to heaven no matter what or 2. The world may end soon, per prophecy, meaning anyone who wants a sustainable planet or a (somewhat) peaceful Middle East is out of the club. Turmoil is just what some folks want. Fundamentalists of all stripes - Christian, Muslim, atheistic nationalists - want to play out the end-times script, because that's how they will stay in power.

I live on a Congregational campus, a much different kettle of fish. Almost all white, but with a fair sprinkling of older gay couples. There is a Christian left. Those are *not* the people that the Christian right wants to see prevail.

 

[Minoosh]

So instead he just call us names like liberals.

lol.

I like to think I'm above name-calling, but I'm probably not, having just used a very broad brush to paint a picture of the forces now preying on the America many of us grew up with.

When you try and drill down it's generalizations like big government and democrats are weak. Neither of which is saying a damn thing.

Also, they were raised by women - for some reason this is considered a potent insult - and that they wear mom jeans.

 

[Lambchops]

Also, they were raised by women - for some reason this is considered a potent insult - and that they wear mom jeans.

This is just so weird. Religious right wingers would love all women being stay at home moms.

But being raised by a woman is an insult? Uhm... What?

 

[Lambchops]

That's not an ad hominem. It simply is an accurate description of the discourse. I want more and more details and Logger simply doesn't provide them. I've asked him many times and the response is usually, 'well, if you don't know or some form of mockery. I try not to mock him. But Trump is fair game as long as I'm being truthful.

Sure, it's a simple statement of facts, but it's still going to be leveraged against us.

"Ooh, personal attacks are all the left has got, so now I don't need to actually adress the argument". It's gonna happen. Guaranteed.

 

[Lambchops]

I'd love to hear about this one party state Utopia, though. All the juicy details.

 

[The Don]

I'd love to hear about this one party state Utopia, though. All the juicy details.

I'm not entirely sure that a one-party state is what certain people on the right want, more like a two (or more) party state where one party is largely in charge and the other party has just enough power and influence to be a useful scapegoat and whipping boy without wielding power nationally or in any jurisdiction that the person cares about, so sentiments like:

"We got out tax bill through but those leftists have somehow managed to ruin the results and have made the deficit so much larger"

"I'm glad that the GOP is permanently in power at a federal level and here in name_of_state, look at the mess the leftists are making of California".

 

[pgwenthold]

The answer will seem to skirt the line, without him actually saying he wants a one party fascist state.

No, you don't understand. He wants two parties: the right wing and the far right wing. Let them battle it out.

 

[ponderingturtle]

Unless someone is a violent criminal or the like the whole pardon issue doesn't bother me much. People who have been found guilty and have done the time/paid the fine/whatever have already been punished. As far as Trump pardoning people to signal that he'll be loyal to people like Paul Manafort, meh. His loyalty does not really count for much and it's a pretty slender thread to hold on to if someone used as a reason not to cooperate in an investigation.

There may come a time when being pardoned by Trump will be worse PR than just letting the conviction stand.

Yea it is great to undercut the courts. Pardon sheriff joe and show that the courts rulings of violating peoples constitutional rights don't matter because courts have no power to enforce any of their findings.

 

[NoahFence]

Apparently he's commuted the sentence of Alice Johnson. Probably after Kardashian did the same crap she did to him that got her famous to begin with.

 

[Lurch]

Here's something of a double standard that's a bit of a head-shaker...

Trump supporters defend his blaring from his very prominent bully pulpit his first amendment right to 'protest' NFL kneelers by calling them SOBs that must adhere to *his* protocol for demonstrating patriotism, suggesting they should be fired or even leave the country. But they decry the first amendment right of those players to protest in a way *they* most visibly can.

And on this matter. Last night on Cuomo Prime Time the Mooch several times made the assertion that the NFL was quite relationally intertwined with the military, in a way that seems to make the NFL almost like a cohort or sub-service branch of the military. I got the impression that what was being asserted was that military members would be particularly aggrieved by the player protests. As though the NFL is to be considered as some sacred cow to be elevated along with the armed forces.

 

[The Big Dog]

Apparently he's commuted the sentence of Alice Johnson. Probably after Kardashian did the same crap she did to him that got her famous to begin with.

For commenters actually interested in rational analysis of the commutation, here is a link to the ACLU's release from this morning:

ACLU STATEMENT

 

[Mumbles]

Here's something of a double standard that's a bit of a head-shaker...

Trump supporters defend his blaring from his very prominent bully pulpit his first amendment right to 'protest' NFL kneelers by calling them SOBs that must adhere to *his* protocol for demonstrating patriotism, suggesting they should be fired or even leave the country. But they decry the first amendment right of those players to protest in a way *they* most visibly can.

As I've said before, if you're surprised by this, then you've likely avoided AM sports radio. There's a very clear line of thinking that nonwhite players in particular should be "grateful" for what they've been "given", and they're horrible if they ask for more money/protest what is perceived as the US in any way, and so forth.

Now, in reality, pretty much every pro player works a *lot* harder than the fans do (as well as those of us who aren't), but there it is. And I've never heard this about, say, a white hockey player. they may be remembered fondly a few decades down the line, much like Jackie Robinson or Muhammed Ali are now.

Now, consider one of the last few people Dolt 45 pardoned, and compare it to his hissy fits over the NFL. The idiot's nothing new.

 

[dudalb]

I think it goes beyond merely no understanding.

I think he is actively contemptuous of the concept.

All "deals" (and everything is a "deal") must be approached as zero sum, where there are clear "winners" and clear "losers".

And he, of course, must be seen as the winner (in his own mind, at the very least), no matter what the actual facts might be.

If there are examples of him using any other approach to any sort of negotiation, I haven't heard about it.

Which is a major reason why Trump has found it almost impossible to find Amewrican investors for his company over the past 20 years.Would you trust a partner who feels that way.

 

[Hlafordlaes]

Here's something of a double standard that's a bit of a head-shaker...

Trump supporters defend his blaring from his very prominent bully pulpit his first amendment right to 'protest' NFL kneelers by calling them SOBs that must adhere to *his* protocol for demonstrating patriotism, suggesting they should be fired or even leave the country. But they decry the first amendment right of those players to protest in a way *they* most visibly can.

And on this matter. Last night on Cuomo Prime Time the Mooch several times made the assertion that the NFL was quite relationally intertwined with the military, in a way that seems to make the NFL almost like a cohort or sub-service branch of the military. I got the impression that what was being asserted was that military members would be particularly aggrieved by the player protests. As though the NFL is to be considered as some sacred cow to be elevated along with the armed forces.

Seriously, think "ring-kissing Redcoat," and it all falls into place culturally and politically, up to and including imperial bullying domestically and abroad, the imperial "absolute right" presidency and its love for military parades, pomp, and glitter, and worst of all, royal whim masquerading as sound leadership.

When I warned Libertarians about what they were helping to usher in with their "enlightened callous hero" nonsense, I had no idea that, along with the consequences of the blatant puppetry of the "normal" GOP for elite economic interests, oligarchical monarchy would arrive so openly, so soon.

 

[Skeptic Ginger]

Apparently he's commuted the sentence of Alice Johnson. Probably after Kardashian did the same crap she did to him that got her famous to begin with.

Johnson deserved it. Her sentence was too harsh, she already did more than 20 years.

But notice Trump commuted it rather than granting a pardon? Not white enough for a pardon? A pardon would restore her voting rights? Once a demonized black drug dealer always a demon?

 

[Andy_Ross]

(CNN)President Donald Trump and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau had a testy phone call on May 25 over new tariffs imposed by the Trump administration targeting steel and aluminum imports coming from Canada, including one moment during the conversation in which Trump made an erroneous historical reference, sources familiar with the discussion told CNN.

According to the sources, Trudeau pressed Trump on how he could justify the tariffs as a "national security" issue. In response, Trump quipped to Trudeau, "Didn't you guys burn down the White House?" referring to the War of 1812.

https://edition.cnn.com/2018/06/06/...donald-trump-justin-trudeau-tariff/index.html

 

[Skeptic Ginger]

Here's something of a double standard that's a bit of a head-shaker...

Trump supporters defend his blaring from his very prominent bully pulpit his first amendment right to 'protest' NFL kneelers by calling them SOBs that must adhere to *his* protocol for demonstrating patriotism, suggesting they should be fired or even leave the country. But they decry the first amendment right of those players to protest in a way *they* most visibly can.

And on this matter. Last night on Cuomo Prime Time the Mooch several times made the assertion that the NFL was quite relationally intertwined with the military, in a way that seems to make the NFL almost like a cohort or sub-service branch of the military. I got the impression that what was being asserted was that military members would be particularly aggrieved by the player protests. As though the NFL is to be considered as some sacred cow to be elevated along with the armed forces.

I didn't see it but the Mooch is a lesson in classic Trump apologetics.

 

[Segnosaur]

Johnson deserved it. Her sentence was too harsh, she already did more than 20 years.

But notice Trump commuted it rather than granting a pardon? Not white enough for a pardon? A pardon would restore her voting rights? Once a demonized black drug dealer always a demon?

More importantly...

The U.S. prisons are filled with people convicted of drug crimes (in some cases just possession). Ok, great... one person got their sentence commuted. What about the other hundreds of people in similar circumstances? Commuting just one case (due to the actions of someone who may have gained Trump's favor due to the Kanye West connection) while others remain imprisoned smacks of favoritism.

Perhaps if Trump released her, and immediately set about liberalizing various drug laws it would be understandable. But that doesn't seem to be what's happened here.

 

[acbytesla]

Johnson deserved it. Her sentence was too harsh, she already did more than 20 years.

But notice Trump commuted it rather than granting a pardon? Not white enough for a pardon? A pardon would restore her voting rights? Once a demonized black drug dealer always a demon?

You have to wonder though if it wasn't Kardashian asking whether he would have given it. It should be noted that the DOJ has processed thousands of applications for clemency and pardons. Virtually all, non-violent offenders and Trump hasn't issued a single pardon to any of them.

 

[applecorped]