SURVEY: Do you want Trump to finish his first term?

riclag · March 8, 2018

1 hour ago, Opl said:

"The people who write gun regulations are the very people who profit from gun sales. The NRA would like to keep it that way. Cash argues that the wholesome public relations veneer masks something deeply sinister and profoundly destructive. There is no other way to say this: The NRA funds domestic terrorism."

https://www.rollingstone.com/country/news/rosanne-cash-the-nra-funds-domestic-terrorism-w506878

The US Patriot Act encompasses Domestic Terrorism ,even the activities of organizations, "engaged in activities that could subject them to being investigated as engaging in domestic terrorism".The NRA organization made of millions of law abiding gun owners isn't engaged nor does it encourage crime against the USA. The NRA isn't under criminal investigation ,indited or under discipline for domestic terrorism .

The NRA is no terrorist organization! According to the US Patriot Act, the government would prosecute a organization in violation of domestic terrorism. .

https://www.aclu.org/other/how-usa-patriot-act-redefines-domestic-terrorism

Edited March 8, 2018 by riclag

Jingthing · March 8, 2018

How an obstruction of justice case is developing against "trump."

Quote

The gall of Trump’s potential obstruction of justice

...

But rarely do we have an example of Trump pivoting so quickly from one poorly conceived gambit right into another one. This may not take down Trump, but it is showing the mentality that’s turned a short story of potential collusion into a narrative of potential obstruction.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/the-fix/wp/2018/03/08/the-gall-of-trumps-latest-interference-in-the-russia-probe/

lannarebirth · March 8, 2018

4 hours ago, heybruce said:

The Second Amendment was written at a time when civilian arms were as good as, and sometimes better than, those used by the military. It was also a time when the United States was the only large experiment in democracy in two thousand years and was seen as a threat to the established order by the monarchies that governed most of the world.

These things are no longer true. Were you here in 2014? When soldiers with automatic weapons and armored vehicles show up, civilians hide their weapons and pretend to be obedient subjects, if not enthusiastic supporters, of the new order.

In the modern world it is very brave unarmed civilians that resist tyranny. The historical reasons for the Second Amendment are no longer valid.

I agree with you and that's why I support a Constitutional Convention to change the 2nd Amendment and modify or add a few others. I think a lot of people think laws change simply because their feelings no longer support it. That just isn't so, no matter how good our arguments or however strong our convictions.

Thakkar · March 9, 2018

7 hours ago, lannarebirth said:

12 hours ago, heybruce said:

The Second Amendment was written at a time when civilian arms were as good as, and sometimes better than, those used by the military. It was also a time when the United States was the only large experiment in democracy in two thousand years and was seen as a threat to the established order by the monarchies that governed most of the world.

These things are no longer true. Were you here in 2014? When soldiers with automatic weapons and armored vehicles show up, civilians hide their weapons and pretend to be obedient subjects, if not enthusiastic supporters, of the new order.

In the modern world it is very brave unarmed civilians that resist tyranny. The historical reasons for the Second Amendment are no longer valid.

I agree with you and that's why I support a Constitutional Convention to change the 2nd Amendment and modify or add a few others. I think a lot of people think laws change simply because their feelings no longer support it. That just isn't so, no matter how good our arguments or however strong our convictions

I agree with both of you and agree that a constitutional amendment would be *ideal* and settle the matter once and for all. But that argument is a red herring. It’s like saying we will do nothing about alleviating suffering till we can abolish all suffering.

If Congress can’t even agree to ban bump stocks, which would not violate the Second Amendment, how the heck are they going to manage a constitutional amendment? If Congress can’t pass universal background checks—a move supported by well over 90% of Americans, which would include the majority of individual NRA members (again, in compliance with the Second Amendment)—what’s the chance of a constitutional amendment?

The obstacles to sensible gun laws isn’t the Second Amendment (hough I wish it could be abolished). It’s not the American people, the vast majority of whom want those laws. It’s the NRA and the Congress people financed and cowed by the NRA.

The solution is to break the NRA stranglehold on several hundred lawmakers and, perhaps to bring back the NRA of the 1960s which, at least tacitly, supported sensible gun laws.

Thakkar · March 9, 2018

After I posted the above, a lurker friend sent me this link:

riclag · March 9, 2018

Very good for a non politician who continues to make the opposition scurry around looking for ways to oppose and resist his agenda .

"Americans’ wealth pushed further into record territory in the final quarter of last year, hitting nearly $100 trillion thanks to rising stock markets and property prices.

Household net worth—the value of all assets such as stocks and real estate minus liabilities like mortgage and credit-card debt—rose more than $2 trillion last quarter to a record $98.746 trillion".

https://www.wsj.com/articles/u-s-household-net-worth-rises-in-4th-quarter-on-higher-stock-home-values-1520528423

Edited March 9, 2018 by riclag

heybruce · March 9, 2018

2 hours ago, Thakkar said:

I agree with both of you and agree that a constitutional amendment would be *ideal* and settle the matter once and for all. But that argument is a red herring. It’s like saying we will do nothing about alleviating suffering till we can abolish all suffering.

If Congress can’t even agree to ban bump stocks, which would not violate the Second Amendment, how the heck are they going to manage a constitutional amendment? If Congress can’t pass universal background checks—a move supported by well over 90% of Americans, which would include the majority of individual NRA members (again, in compliance with the Second Amendment)—what’s the chance of a constitutional amendment?

The obstacles to sensible gun laws isn’t the Second Amendment (hough I wish it could be abolished). It’s not the American people, the vast majority of whom want those laws. It’s the NRA and the Congress people financed and cowed by the NRA.

The solution is to break the NRA stranglehold on several hundred lawmakers and, perhaps to bring back the NRA of the 1960s which, at least tacitly, supported sensible gun laws.

I agree the Second Amendment needs to be changed, and won't be changed any time soon. I was replying to the tired old argument that its was put in place to fight tyranny and still served that purpose. I pointed out the obvious, that the world in which the Second Amendment had some logical justification no longer exists.

Fortunately the Supreme Court has ruled that the Second Amendment does not preclude legal limits on the types of "arms" people can use. That's why the crazy neighbor down the street can't plant landmines in his front yard to keep out the pesky kids and experiment with chemical weapons in his garage. Sensible gun control laws are possible, but it requires removing Congress from the pockets of the gun lobby.

Edit: We're getting way off-topic, so I'll add the obvious--We won't get sensible gun control laws while Trump, the President who definitely should not stay in office any longer than legally required, caters to his minority base in order to get his fix of adulation.

Edited March 9, 2018 by heybruce

heybruce · March 9, 2018

8 minutes ago, riclag said:

Very good for a non politician who continues to make the opposition scurry around looking for ways to oppose and resist his agenda .

"Americans’ wealth pushed further into record territory in the final quarter of last year, hitting nearly $100 trillion thanks to rising stock markets and property prices.

Household net worth—the value of all assets such as stocks and real estate minus liabilities like mortgage and credit-card debt—rose more than $2 trillion last quarter to a record $98.746 trillion".

https://www.wsj.com/articles/u-s-household-net-worth-rises-in-4th-quarter-on-higher-stock-home-values-1520528423

You still give Trump credit for the economic trends established during the Obama years. Well, if that's all you've got...

mikebike · March 9, 2018

21 minutes ago, riclag said:

Very good for a non politician who continues to make the opposition scurry around looking for ways to oppose and resist his agenda .

"Americans’ wealth pushed further into record territory in the final quarter of last year, hitting nearly $100 trillion thanks to rising stock markets and property prices.

Household net worth—the value of all assets such as stocks and real estate minus liabilities like mortgage and credit-card debt—rose more than $2 trillion last quarter to a record $98.746 trillion".

https://www.wsj.com/articles/u-s-household-net-worth-rises-in-4th-quarter-on-higher-stock-home-values-1520528423

Yep, and since almost all of that wealth is in the hands of a very few it looks alarmingly like the USA is France before the revolution.

tirekicker · March 9, 2018

Absolutely, and hope he gets a second term in office.

soalbundy · March 9, 2018

19 hours ago, UncleTouchyFingers said:

Nah, there’s millions and millions of educated and trained firearm owners in the USA - both religious and non-religious, male and female. That’s an unoquivical fact.

The NRA has more members alone than any standing army on planet earth.

In a civilized country gun ownership shouldn't be necessary but we are talking about America here

heybruce · March 9, 2018

1 hour ago, soalbundy said:

In a civilized country gun ownership shouldn't be necessary but we are talking about America here

In the US I have friends who hunt to put food on the table and I know farmers who shoot wild hogs (actually feral European pigs, an invasive species with a high reproductive rate and no natural predators) that tear up their fields.

I recognize that guns have their uses and I don't advocate eliminating them from society. I just think there should be minimum standards applied to those who own guns, and that assault rifles are unnecessary and don't belong in civilian hands.

Andaman Al · March 9, 2018

5 hours ago, riclag said:

Very good for a non politician who continues to make the opposition scurry around looking for ways to oppose and resist his agenda .

"Americans’ wealth pushed further into record territory in the final quarter of last year, hitting nearly $100 trillion thanks to rising stock markets and property prices.

Household net worth—the value of all assets such as stocks and real estate minus liabilities like mortgage and credit-card debt—rose more than $2 trillion last quarter to a record $98.746 trillion".

https://www.wsj.com/articles/u-s-household-net-worth-rises-in-4th-quarter-on-higher-stock-home-values-1520528423

Wow! Great point! It's a good job that 'non-politician' is not a real estate developer that could vastly increase the value of his property empire.. Oh...wait a minute...Doh!

Skywalker69 · March 9, 2018

19 hours ago, riclag said:

The NRA,promotes gun safety and responsible gun ownership ,it adheres to laws that are mostly enacted by the federal government, it is made up of millions of law abiding American's ,who use guns for recreation and for protection.

NRA promotes the Gun Industry!

How The Gun Industry Funnels Tens Of Millions Of Dollars To The NRA

http://www.businessinsider.com/gun-industry-funds-nra-2013-1?r=US&IR=T&IR=T

Thakkar · March 9, 2018

5 hours ago, mikebike said:

Yep, and since almost all of that wealth is in the hands of a very few it looks alarmingly like the USA is France before the revolution.

Agreed.

Fortune magazine said America is “the richest, most unequal country” in the world.

- -

From an academic paper:

95% of the financial wealth is held by 20% of Americans.

The top 5% own 81% of the financial wealth.

https://www2.ucsc.edu/whorulesamerica/power/wealth.html

Those are 2013 figures. All indications are that things have gotten worse since, and will get EVEN worse once Trump’s tax cuts fully kick in.

So, yes, wealth has increased—but mostly for the people who need it least. For the people who actually need it, not so much. Since the days of Reagan’s trickle down theory, their day in the sun is perpetually just over the horizon.

riclag · March 9, 2018

6 hours ago, Andaman Al said:

Wow! Great point! It's a good job that 'non-politician' is not a real estate developer that could vastly increase the value of his property empire.. Oh...wait a minute...Doh!

I detest politicians ,have almost all my entire adult life. A politician has been around for hundred's of years, and have a license to steal,while they think everybody should pay attention to them because they are so righteous and think they deserve respect with their false smiles and promises. .What have they done to earn my respect,go to college and become a lawyer(another diploma for theft) and then run for office.Mr. Trump's ego is soooooooo flamin obvious, he reaps of I want to do better than god and the politicians before him . Now that's balls,that's courage ! Haters say he is building a empire,I say good for him, he's different,been there done that and got nothing to lose,only his ego,in fact when he gets knocked down he comes back twice as hard.If he can tweet tape over a PC liberal's mouth that's ready to spew ,please take care of the world while at the same time trying to tell me how to think.I'm for someone so high and mighty, high on ego.

Edited March 9, 2018 by riclag

heybruce · March 9, 2018

13 minutes ago, riclag said:

I detest politicians ,have almost all my entire adult life. A politician has been around for hundred's of years, and have a license to steal,while they think everybody should pay attention to them because they are so righteous and think they deserve respect with their false smiles and promises. .What have they done to earn my respect,go to college and become a lawyer(another diploma for theft) and then run for office.Mr. Trump's ego is soooooooo flamin obvious, he reaps of I want to do better than god and the politicians before him . Now that's balls,that's courage ! Haters say he is building a empire,I say good for him, he's different,been their done that and got nothing to lose,only his ego,in fact when he gets knocked down he comes back twice as hard.If he can tweet tape over a PC liberal's mouth that's ready to spew ,please take care of the world while at the same time trying to tell me how to think.I'm for someone so high and mighty, high on ego.

Summary: You like Trump's obnoxious, arrogant personality, don't care about his lack of qualifications, lack of ethics, and self-serving opportunism, and don't like well-behaved politicians with degrees.

Got it.

riclag · March 9, 2018

Nonfarm payrolls increase by 313,000 in February vs. 200,000 est.

https://www.cnbc.com/2018/03/09/nonfarm-payrolls-february.html

Red Alert Politics

Black unemployment falls to second-lowest level on record in February

http://www.washingtonexaminer.com/black-unemployment-falls-to-second-lowest-level-on-record-in-february/article/2651148

Nasdaq hits record high, Dow surges 300 points after strong jobs report

https://www.cnbc.com/2018/03/09/us-stock-futures-dow-data-nonfarm-payrolls-and-politics-on-the-agenda.html

Thanks PT for your help ,despite what they say about you

heybruce · March 9, 2018

6 minutes ago, riclag said:

Nonfarm payrolls increase by 313,000 in February vs. 200,000 est.

https://www.cnbc.com/2018/03/09/nonfarm-payrolls-february.html

Red Alert Politics

Black unemployment falls to second-lowest level on record in February

http://www.washingtonexaminer.com/black-unemployment-falls-to-second-lowest-level-on-record-in-february/article/2651148

Nasdaq hits record high, Dow surges 300 points after strong jobs report

https://www.cnbc.com/2018/03/09/us-stock-futures-dow-data-nonfarm-payrolls-and-politics-on-the-agenda.html

Thanks PT for your help ,despite what they say about you

I'll just recycle an earlier reply.

11 hours ago, heybruce said:

You still give Trump credit for the economic trends established during the Obama years. Well, if that's all you've got...

Opl · March 9, 2018

13 minutes ago, riclag said:

Nonfarm payrolls increase by 313,000 in February vs. 200,000 est.

https://www.cnbc.com/2018/03/09/nonfarm-payrolls-february.html

Red Alert Politics

Black unemployment falls to second-lowest level on record in February

http://www.washingtonexaminer.com/black-unemployment-falls-to-second-lowest-level-on-record-in-february/article/2651148

Nasdaq hits record high, Dow surges 300 points after strong jobs report

https://www.cnbc.com/2018/03/09/us-stock-futures-dow-data-nonfarm-payrolls-and-politics-on-the-agenda.html

Thanks PT for your help ,despite what they say about you

Don't be shy, you forgot to mention

Tax bill: How President Trump’s real estate investments may benefit

2 comments

A certain family business stands to gain from provisions of the tax reform package

" https://www.curbed.com/2017/12/7/16747632/tax-bill-president-trump-real-estate-development"

my pleasure,

riclag · March 9, 2018

1 minute ago, Opl said:

Don't be shy, you forgot to mention

Tax bill: How President Trump’s real estate investments may benefit

2 comments

A certain family business stands to gain from provisions of the tax reform package

" https://www.curbed.com/2017/12/7/16747632/tax-bill-president-trump-real-estate-development"

my pleasure,

Thanks . Your reminding the wrong guy.You see, when my boss makes money I don't get jealous or envious or angry!! Why, because he shares the crumbs.

heybruce · March 9, 2018

7 minutes ago, riclag said:

Thanks . Your reminding the wrong guy.You see, when my boss makes money I don't get jealous or envious or angry!! Why, because he shares the crumbs.

When your boss bankrupts the company (country), do you think he'll share his golden parachute with you?

riclag · March 9, 2018

Labor Department figures showed Friday. The jobless rate held at 4.1 percent, the fifth straight month at that level. Average hourly earnings increased 2.6 percent from a year earlier following a downwardly revised 2.8 percent gain.

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2018-03-09/u-s-added-313-000-jobs-in-february-wage-gains-slow-to-2-6

heybruce · March 9, 2018

12 minutes ago, riclag said:

Labor Department figures showed Friday. The jobless rate held at 4.1 percent, the fifth straight month at that level. Average hourly earnings increased 2.6 percent from a year earlier following a downwardly revised 2.8 percent gain.

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2018-03-09/u-s-added-313-000-jobs-in-february-wage-gains-slow-to-2-6

Once again:

12 hours ago, heybruce said:

You still give Trump credit for the economic trends established during the Obama years. Well, if that's all you've got...

Jingthing · March 9, 2018

"trump" doesn't hire the best people.

But he loses the best people.

Here is one of them:

Quote

Opinion: Why I could no longer serve this president

I resigned because the traditional core values of the United States, as manifested in the president's National Security Strategy and his foreign policies, have been warped and betrayed. I could no longer represent him personally and remain faithful to my beliefs about what makes America truly great.

https://www.sfgate.com/opinion/article/Why-I-could-no-longer-serve-this-president-12740796.php

lannarebirth · March 9, 2018

54 minutes ago, Jingthing said:

"trump" doesn't hire the best people.

But he loses the best people.

Here is one of them:

https://www.sfgate.com/opinion/article/Why-I-could-no-longer-serve-this-president-12740796.php

A more interesting article IMO is why the long time envoy to NK stepped down last week. He received accolades from every quarter as North Korea stepped up it's re-nuclearization and belligerance. Was he the "good cop" to Trump's "bad cop"? Did he see NK's increasing nuclearization as a fait accompli? That's the story I'd like to read.

metisdead · March 10, 2018

An off topic post has been removed.

riclag · March 10, 2018

8 hours ago, Jingthing said:

Opinion: Why I could no longer serve this president

I resigned because the traditional core values of the United States, as manifested in the president's National Security Strategy and his foreign policies, have been warped and betrayed. I could no longer represent him personally and remain faithful to my beliefs about what makes America truly great.

John Feeley was a past administration appointee to be AMB to Panama.

He obviously didn't share the core policies of the current President of the USA according to this article.

"The amateurish promulgation of a country-specific travel ban, the push to build a "big, beautiful wall" and to expel the "dreamers" beyond it, the withdrawal from the Paris climate accord and the Trans-Pacific Partnership, and the belligerent renegotiating of the North American Free Trade Agreement and counterproductive steel and aluminum tariffs are all making the United States weaker and less prosperous. America is undoubtedly less welcome in the world today, as the president pursues a unilateral and isolationist path"

It sounds like Feeley had a different agenda!He resigned and went to work for Fusion media group,who is owned by "Haim Saban ".

heybruce · March 10, 2018

8 hours ago, lannarebirth said:

A more interesting article IMO is why the long time envoy to NK stepped down last week. He received accolades from every quarter as North Korea stepped up it's re-nuclearization and belligerance. Was he the "good cop" to Trump's "bad cop"? Did he see NK's increasing nuclearization as a fait accompli? That's the story I'd like to read.

Now Trump is planning to meet with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un without the help of his main NK expert and without an ambassador to South Korea.

Just the announcement of a possible meeting is a tremendous victory for Kim. If the meeting falls through he will blame Trump and use it to argue for sanctions relief. If the meeting happens but NK offers no significant concessions or makes unacceptable demands, Kim will argue that the US is responsible for the lack of agreement. In either situation, Kim Jong-un doesn't have to convince the west that the failure is the fault of the US, he just needs to give China and Russia an excuse to relax sanctions.

A worse outcome would be if Trump agrees to something without understanding the consequences; a likely outcome given his lack of knowledge of geopolitics and nuclear issues, his aversion to reading and study, his notoriously short attention span, and his habit of doing anything that he thinks will give him favorable press. Forget the "Art of the Deal" BS, I'm afraid Kim will play Trump like a fiddle.

UncleTouchyFingers · March 10, 2018

North Koreas Kim Jong Un, the biggest skid-mark communist dictator in modern times, is more willing to talk/negotiate with Donald Trump than Democrats are.

Democrats and their constituents are too busy calling other Americans and opposing-view politicians “terrorists” and “racists” to see past their own nose.

Liberalism.... The party of rabid hypocrisy.

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SURVEY: Do you want Trump to finish his first term?