Orange Duce

[MDlaxfan76]

When too many voters give up on demanding of their representatives that they govern through compromise and persuasion, competing on the basis of their willingness to do so and the strength of their performance and ideas, and limited by the rule of law and Constitution, we open ourselves up to authoritarian governance. One party rule, by any means necessary.

cradle is a perfect example of a voter who has given up.

Who else on here has given up?

I haven't.

MAGA has given up on liberal constitutional democracy and the rule of law.
And Trump offers them a path to power, by any means necessary.

I gave up a long time ago. Maybe it was when a young army private from Albany NY was making his first real airborne jump with his unit the 2/208 airborne infantry. Maybe it was a young specia;ist who welcomed him and helped him put his chute on rig up all of his gear. Maybe it was that specialist who saw him motionless on the drop zone that night. Maybe it was that specialist who held him in his arms and wiped the mud out of his face. Maybe it was that specialist who hasnt forgotten that young private. Maybe it is that specialist who cant remember his face not covered in mud. Maybe today that specialist will call someone at the VA and tell them what has bothered him for so many years Ironic that today is when that all happened... January 4 1982.

Sounds like you should make that call.

However, not sure how that has anything to do with giving up on "liberal constitutional democracy and the rule of law". Giving up on demanding and rewarding with our votes, representatives who "govern through compromise and persuasion, competing on the basis of their willingness to do so and the strength of their performance and ideas, and limited by the rule of law and Constitution."

Accidents happen. Accidents happen frequently in military training of inherently dangerous activities and with such equipment. My dad lost 3 subordinates in an amphibious training exercise in 1955 under his command, due mostly to higher ups insisting on the landing despite really bad weather conditions. My dad had totally re-written the training manual, safety protocols, and thought the weather was not ok.. but to no avail...hierarchical decision making can make bad decisions...

[cradleandshoot]

When too many voters give up on demanding of their representatives that they govern through compromise and persuasion, competing on the basis of their willingness to do so and the strength of their performance and ideas, and limited by the rule of law and Constitution, we open ourselves up to authoritarian governance. One party rule, by any means necessary.

cradle is a perfect example of a voter who has given up.

Who else on here has given up?

I haven't.

MAGA has given up on liberal constitutional democracy and the rule of law.
And Trump offers them a path to power, by any means necessary.

I gave up a long time ago. Maybe it was when a young army private from Albany NY was making his first real airborne jump with his unit the 2/208 airborne infantry. Maybe it was a young specia;ist who welcomed him and helped him put his chute on rig up all of his gear. Maybe it was that specialist who saw him motionless on the drop zone that night. Maybe it was that specialist who held him in his arms and wiped the mud out of his face. Maybe it was that specialist who hasnt forgotten that young private. Maybe it is that specialist who cant remember his face not covered in mud. Maybe today that specialist will call someone at the VA and tell them what has bothered him for so many years Ironic that today is when that all happened... January 4 1982.

Sounds like you should make that call.

However, not sure how that has anything to do with giving up on "liberal constitutional democracy and the rule of law". Giving up on demanding and rewarding with our votes, representatives who "govern through compromise and persuasion, competing on the basis of their willingness to do so and the strength of their performance and ideas, and limited by the rule of law and Constitution."

Accidents happen. Accidents happen frequently in military training of inherently dangerous activities and with such equipment. My dad lost 3 subordinates in an amphibious training exercise in 1955 under his command, due mostly to higher ups insisting on the landing despite really bad weather conditions. My dad had totally re-written the training manual, safety protocols, and thought the weather was not ok.. but to no avail...hierarchical decision making can make bad decisions...

I can't remember what he looked like, all I remember is wiping the mud off his face and holding his body in my arms until the medics arrived. I remember telling him I would see him on the ground. That's not how I wanted to see him. It wasn't a training accident it was a battalion commander trying to impress a one star who was visiting our unit. We made the jump in 35 knot winds and a steady rain. His name was Michael Ricketson and I don't know if I'm spelling his last name correctly. He was from Albany NY. If he still has family I would tell them their son was a rock solid soldier they can be proud of. And I will never forget him. The official ruling from the US Army was it was a tragic training accident. No problem making that jump at night in 35 knot winds. I hope the general was impressed. What does any of this have to do with politics? The US Army leadership just like their bosses in DC don't give a rats ass about anything other than moving up to the next pay grade. So vote for whatever party floats your boat. The song will always remain the same.

[Seacoaster(1)]

House Democrats' report on Trump swallowing $7.8 million while in office. This is the reflection back from James Comer's projection campaign:

https://www.documentcloud.org/documents ... ars-report

[dislaxxic]

The Chinese, were BY FAR, the biggest entity paying in to Mar-A Lardo's pockets. These people, Trump, Comer, Emmer, Jordan, etc., etc...are SUCH COLOSSAL HYPOCRITES.

Then, there's the people that vote for these morons...



..

[NattyBohChamps04]

Crickets on the many more lolita express flights Trump was on than initially reported. He has more photos together with Epstein than his own grandson.

Also anything about the 13 year old who said Trump and Epstein raped her, but withdrew her lawsuit due to death threats?

Thought all the trans hate and pizzagate stuff was to protect the kids. No?

[OuttaNowhereWregget]

The Chinese, were BY FAR, the biggest entity paying in to Mar-A Lardo's pockets. These people, Trump, Comer, Emmer, Jordan, etc., etc...are SUCH COLOSSAL HYPOCRITES.

Then, there's the people that vote for these morons...

Hillary Clinton characterized half of those who supported Trump during the 2016 campaign as a "basket of deplorables". I gather from your post you throw all who voted for Trump, or who intend to vote for Trump again if he makes the '24 ballot, in said basket. This kind of broad stroke characterization is what sours me on discussing politics--regardless of which party/ideology is recklessly swinging the brush and slopping paint on the canvas, wall, ceiling and floor.

[dislaxxic]

Hillary Clinton characterized half of those who supported Trump during the 2016 campaign as a "basket of deplorables". I gather from your post you throw all who voted for Trump, or who intend to vote for Trump again if he makes the '24 ballot, in said basket. This kind of broad stroke characterization is what sours me on discussing politics--regardless of which party/ideology is recklessly swinging the brush and slopping paint on the canvas, wall, ceiling and floor.

You "gathered from my post" what you will. If memory serves, Clinton made the comment shortly after the Access Hollywood tape came out. At that point in this whole sordid affair, we only had suspicions about Trump...his suspect business acumen and tactics, his lack of any public service or policy experience, and after Access, his suspect character was pretty well cemented as that of a deplorable person himself.

In 2024, there is NO doubt of his utter lack of qualification, his deplorable, yes deplorable character and motivation. Say you support his "policies" all you want, the fact that his only real "policy" is to stay in power, avoid actual jailtime and exact revenge on the numerous people, R AND D, that have "wronged" him over the years...and...IMHO...supporting him for the presidency makes very little sense whatsoever and is in fact a bit bonkers. There are several electorally viable Republican alternatives to support, all of whom would also likely support whatever conservative agenda you and your fellow GOPers believe in...supporting THIS guy to continue to lead the GOP is, well...yeah: deplorable.

Sorry. Not sorry.

..

[Seacoaster(1)]

The Chinese, were BY FAR, the biggest entity paying in to Mar-A Lardo's pockets. These people, Trump, Comer, Emmer, Jordan, etc., etc...are SUCH COLOSSAL HYPOCRITES.

Then, there's the people that vote for these morons...

Hillary Clinton characterized half of those who supported Trump during the 2016 campaign as a "basket of deplorables". I gather from your post you throw all who voted for Trump, or who intend to vote for Trump again if he makes the '24 ballot, in said basket. This kind of broad stroke characterization is what sours me on discussing politics--regardless of which party/ideology is recklessly swinging the brush and slopping paint on the canvas, wall, ceiling and floor.

I think Clinton's comment was, politically, unbearably stupid in the middle of a campaign. But I think it is important to remember what exactly she actually said. Here it is:

“You know, to just be grossly generalistic, you could put half of Trump’s supporters into what I call the basket of deplorables. Right? The racist, sexist, homophobic, xenophobic, Islamophobic – you name it. And unfortunately, there are people like that. And he has lifted them up. He tweets and retweets their offensive hateful mean-spirited rhetoric. Now, some of those folks – they are irredeemable, but thankfully they are not America.”

First, she was generalizing; as you say, she wasn't extending the comment to everyone who then-supported Trump. I have plenty of business associates, who I like and admire, who voted for Trump in 2016 (and who, to a man and woman, voted for the other guy in 2020). But she's been proved right to the extent that a material percentage of Trump's ardent base in fact support an ethos that is at odds with what most of us would characterize the American ideal. Her comment "and he has lifted them up" is unambiguously true. His comments about Charlottesville and elsewhere have mainstreamed the type of talk and language and action that was unthinkable for most of my adult life. And, I would suggest, his administration tried with some ardor to carry into place policies that are homophobic, xenophobic and Islamophobic.

But now we know. Trump's base of support includes really vile people; his commitments of policies and actions curry favor with really vile people. He has promised any January 6 participants convicted of a crime a blanket pardon -- people who acted on his orders to impede the peaceful transfer of power in our government for the first time. He has utterly normalized speech that no one would ever have condoned in a Selectman no less the President of the United States. He has completely desensitized the country and much of the media to the prospect of political violence. His foes are "vermin." Immigrants taint and poison "our blood."

Racism, sexism, homophobia, xenophobia, and Islamophobia are deplorable. Supporting a person for the Presidency who gives aid and comfort and a place at the table in the White House to such people is deplorable. Whatever "his policies" otherwise might be, his leadership of the country advances with shock troops made up of such people, whose views now are in the mainstream. Voting for Trump means supporting these things every bit as much as supporting, well, lower taxes and disengagement from world affairs, if those are your things. Trump is not an a la carte menu; you get all the other stuff too, and it is a cancer that will only grow if we let it go any further.

[DMac]

Hear, hear!! That sums it all up rather nicely.

I have plenty of business associates, who I like and admire, who voted for Trump in 2016 (and who, to a man and woman, voted for the other guy in 2020).

Yes sir, I get it the first time around, gonna get the non-politician in there to shake things up. Now that we know that shaking things up means crowning a king with absolute power and no respect for any stinkin' constitution or laws, it boggles my mind
that so many of my fellow citizens are okay with that and will vote for him again.

[Typical Lax Dad]

Hear, hear!! That sums it all up rather nicely.

I have plenty of business associates, who I like and admire, who voted for Trump in 2016 (and who, to a man and woman, voted for the other guy in 2020).

Yes sir, I get it the first time around, gonna get the non-politician in there to shake things up. Now that we know that shaking things up means crowning a king with absolute power and no respect for any stinkin' constitution or laws, it boggles my mind
that so many of my fellow citizens are okay with that and will vote for him again.

This has been my experience. There were plenty of people willing to take a chance the first time around. Not so much the second time around. A third time around is kind of ridiculous. Hard core supporters haven’t budged and won’t budge. Trump was right about one thing…..he could shoot someone on Fifth Avenue and still have his base support him.

[MDlaxfan76]

Hear, hear!! That sums it all up rather nicely.

I have plenty of business associates, who I like and admire, who voted for Trump in 2016 (and who, to a man and woman, voted for the other guy in 2020).

Yes sir, I get it the first time around, gonna get the non-politician in there to shake things up. Now that we know that shaking things up means crowning a king with absolute power and no respect for any stinkin' constitution or laws, it boggles my mind
that so many of my fellow citizens are okay with that and will vote for him again.

Yup, I keep having the same experience with new people I meet. Last night I was at a trivia event in Florida sitting next to 4 men, wives on other side of round table. Something came up about not many Californians at our club, given a question only someone from that region was likely to know, "what is the animal mascot of the Oakland A's". I don't think anyone in a room of over 300 got it right. When I commented on few Californians, the guys next to me says "as long as they don't bring their politics"...ok, signal that I could be sitting next to someone who is strongly conservative...other signals included that he has a 200 acre deer hunting spot in Alabama...but, hey, I'm the new guy so I said "well, if you think about it, why would someone move to Florida from California", answer came back, "for the low taxes"...I said, "yeah, some are probably conservative... but of course rich liberals like low taxes too"...now I'm ok with them...I then risked, "I'm a lifelong Republican, but I don't recognize what's going on"...the guy said "no one does here...no way we're voting for him again"...over and over I get this response from former Trump voters...and yeah, not in that "basket of deplorables" nor willing to be associated with them anymore.

[njbill]

Don’t leave us hanging, MD. What is the animal mascot of the Oakland A’s?

[MDlaxfan76]

Don’t leave us hanging, MD. What is the animal mascot of the Oakland A’s?

We guessed animals that start with "A"...but no, the mascot is an elephant. Groans throughout the room...

[MDlaxfan76]

BTW, I do have a couple of very old friends who I know are good people, would do anything for a friend...and I've seen that in action...and yet are way way down the MAGA world rathole. Constant barrage of gross conspiracy nonsense, total rejection of any sort of mainstream media, etc...full on election denialism. And on constant partisan attack mode.

A lot of Q sort of cult stuff mixed in...good people captured...

[njbill]

Don’t leave us hanging, MD. What is the animal mascot of the Oakland A’s?

We guessed animals that start with "A"...but no, the mascot is an elephant. Groans throughout the room...

Interesting. I wonder when the elephant became their mascot? The A’s moved out of Philadelphia shortly after I was born so I have no idea if they even had a mascot back then.

[Kismet]

Don’t leave us hanging, MD. What is the animal mascot of the Oakland A’s?

We guessed animals that start with "A"...but no, the mascot is an elephant. Groans throughout the room...

Interesting. I wonder when the elephant became their mascot? The A’s moved out of Philadelphia shortly after I was born so I have no idea if they even had a mascot back then.

There was an Interim stop in Kansas City in 1955-67 where they had a rep as the "farm" team for the Yankees.

The origin of the elephant dates back to 1902, when John McGraw held a news conference after he was set to leave his position as manager of the Baltimore Orioles to take on the same role with the New York Giants. A reporter asked McGraw about his thoughts on the Philadelphia A’s, who at the time had been making headlines as they bought up contracts of some of the top players in the National League, such as Hall of Fame pitcher Rube Waddell and outfielder Topsy Hartsel. Unenthused by the question, McGraw responded, “The Philadelphia club will make no money. They have a big white elephant on their hands.”

That diss by McGraw got back to then-A’s owner Connie Mack, who was amused by the comment so much that he made a white elephant the team’s unofficial mascot as a sort of rallying cry. Three years later, when the A’s and Giants squared off in the 1905 World Series, Mack carried on the playful back and forth by presenting McGraw with a white elephant statue before Game 1."

https://www.mlb.com/news/oakland-athlet ... ogo-origin

[jhu72]

Hear, hear!! That sums it all up rather nicely.

I have plenty of business associates, who I like and admire, who voted for Trump in 2016 (and who, to a man and woman, voted for the other guy in 2020).

Yes sir, I get it the first time around, gonna get the non-politician in there to shake things up. Now that we know that shaking things up means crowning a king with absolute power and no respect for any stinkin' constitution or laws, it boggles my mind
that so many of my fellow citizens are okay with that and will vote for him again.

... yup! All out of free passes for this traitorous scum!

[jhu72]

Orange Duce faces civil charges and trial for another of his scams. Lying to investors. Back in Manhattan court the end of January.

[Typical Lax Dad]

Orange Duce faces civil charges and trial for another of his scams. Lying to investors. Back in Manhattan court the end of January.

He’s the leader of the Republican Party.

[PizzaSnake]

Hear, hear!! That sums it all up rather nicely.

I have plenty of business associates, who I like and admire, who voted for Trump in 2016 (and who, to a man and woman, voted for the other guy in 2020).

Yes sir, I get it the first time around, gonna get the non-politician in there to shake things up. Now that we know that shaking things up means crowning a king with absolute power and no respect for any stinkin' constitution or laws, it boggles my mind
that so many of my fellow citizens are okay with that and will vote for him again.

Fool me once, shame on you
Fool me twice...

Now, he didn't fool me the first time, but I appreciate your point.