Progressive Ideology

[Typical Lax Dad]

There are more than three million differences between your genome and anyone else's.
On the other hand, we are all 99.9 percent the same, DNA-wise. (By contrast, we are only about 99 percent the same as our closest relatives, chimpanzees.)

On average, the protein-coding regions of the mouse and human genomes are 85 percent identical; some genes are 99 percent identical while others are only 60 percent identical.

Bananas and humans — 50 percent.

[jhu72]

I'll take a stab at Bandito's ill-informed description of progressive ideology, as it bears no resemblance to the actual ideology (which is not that well defined anyway given the wide spectrum of beliefs)...

Progressive ideology:
1. Open Borders and wanting Illegals to vote
There are no significant number of people that want completely open borders (progressives actually want to reduce crime, drug smuggling, etc), but legal immigration is recognized as a significant input to the American economy. In times like now at full employment, you might actually need more immigration to help provide the correct labor needed for the economy. There is NO progressive that I know that wants anyone who is not a citizen to vote. However, we do want all citizens to be able to vote without undue burdens placed upon them.
2. Socialism
Few progressives are socialists, but most believe in the same social welfare system that brought you Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid, etc. Many would like to see some sort of single payer at least as an option to take money out of the hands of private companies and put them in the hands of the actual providers of healthcare. (Disclosure - I am the parent of a physician...
3. High Taxes
Higher taxes on the wealthy, who both can afford to pay, and get far greater benefits (especially financially) than poorer Americans.
4. More money for a failing education system- anti school choice.
The Republicans have used school choice to resegregate schools, which both harms poorer students who cannot often make the same choices, and helps to starve the schools so they cannot accomplish their mission. Personally, I find there could be a lot of improvements in the current educational system, but the first thing would be to trash most everything associated with NCLB, which has not done anything near what it promised. But especially the testing regime. Just a way to send profits to testing companies, with little real benefit.
5. There are more than 2 genders
For purposes of genetics that is not true. For purposes of sexual preferences it is. Nothing wrong with that reality.
6. Guilty until proven innocent and to believe all women except accusers of Bill Clinton, Keith Ellison etc
Absolutely not true. However, most women do not tell lies about their experiences, given what telling their stories can cost them. Monica Lewinsky was taken advantage of by Bill Clinton, and it is time that both Clintons fade from the scene. The Keith Ellison story seems to be more of a problem stemming from a relationship gone bad, and the accuser claims to have evidence of physical abuse but refuses to show it. As for Kavanaugh, his big issue was lying, and participating in a scheme when he worked for GWB to use stolen Democratic emails for political purposes (and then lying about it). The Dr. Ford allegations were serious, but without further investigation (that was a real investigation), you cannot determine more.
7. Governmental take over of health care and the economy
Single payer either as the only practice or as an option is not government takeover of healthcare, but certainly increases the influence of the government over private healthcare businesses. The reason to do it is that money is "wasted" paying for investors and large administrative salaries that would be better used to actually provide the services. As for the entire economy, few progressives want a government economy (like China, for example). But better regulation of bad private industry practice could go a long way toward limiting the abuse of certain industries (like banks screwing customers - see Wells Fargo, or industries not paying living wages and mostly employing part-time workers 0 see Amazon).
8. High poverty rates for minorities
No progressive wants high poverty rates for anyone. Period.
9. High unemployment for minorities
Same as #8. It is BS to accuse progressives of this, as it has no basis in fact.
10. Party of Antifa and Fascism
Antifa is a far-left anarchist movement that is not part of progressive ideology. Fascism is authoritarian, and comes from the right. Trump is the kind of politician that shows fascist tendencies. Take a look at how fascism is defined, and you see many more characteristics in common with the current Republicans than any Democrat.
11. Party of Racism and plantation politics
Again, total BS. Also a good example of projection by the right.
12. Call blacks token negroes, uncle Toms and traitors to their race when they think for themselves and are Republicans
I am not black, so I don't call anyone that, but I don't see that with any progressives I know.
13. Believe all women even when no facts are involved in the allegations
Boy is this a straw man argument. Implies that women accuse with no facts. You just don't care to acknowledge any facts.
14. When they don't get their way, they violently attack Republicans at restaurants, their places of work, the softball field etc. Which is well chronicled in another thread.
The level of violence is far greater from militia types than anyone who calls themselves progressive. However, yelling at a Fox Network personality, or someone vile from the current administration in a restaurant is hardly violence.
15. Democrats are the anti American party.
Trying to improve the country we love is hardly anti-American. Calling the other side anti-American is.

He has read Ann Coulter. Her great contribution to Western Civilization was to advise her followers to play the "it bounces off me and sticks to you" game. As if that will win a debate.

[ChairmanOfTheBoard]

clintons gotta make bank now that the plan was foiled (renting lincoln's bed)

for whatever it's worth- i read the warren story to say "strong evidence". not conclusive. but the stanford professor wouldnt go further. why? https://www.cnn.com/2018/10/15/politics ... index.html

From what I understand, the markers don't get specific enough to show you native american ancestry to a specific geographic area within the US, but a broad area including both North and South America. That would be because most evidence places incoming of humans to the Americas as somewhere between 13,000 and 15,000 years ago. Not enough generations to specify much more apparently.

thank you, thats helpful.

[Bandito]

I'll take a stab at Bandito's ill-informed description of progressive ideology, as it bears no resemblance to the actual ideology (which is not that well defined anyway given the wide spectrum of beliefs)...

Progressive ideology:
1. Open Borders and wanting Illegals to vote
There are no significant number of people that want completely open borders (progressives actually want to reduce crime, drug smuggling, etc), but legal immigration is recognized as a significant input to the American economy. In times like now at full employment, you might actually need more immigration to help provide the correct labor needed for the economy. There is NO progressive that I know that wants anyone who is not a citizen to vote. However, we do want all citizens to be able to vote without undue burdens placed upon them.
2. Socialism
Few progressives are socialists, but most believe in the same social welfare system that brought you Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid, etc. Many would like to see some sort of single payer at least as an option to take money out of the hands of private companies and put them in the hands of the actual providers of healthcare. (Disclosure - I am the parent of a physician...
3. High Taxes
Higher taxes on the wealthy, who both can afford to pay, and get far greater benefits (especially financially) than poorer Americans.
4. More money for a failing education system- anti school choice.
The Republicans have used school choice to resegregate schools, which both harms poorer students who cannot often make the same choices, and helps to starve the schools so they cannot accomplish their mission. Personally, I find there could be a lot of improvements in the current educational system, but the first thing would be to trash most everything associated with NCLB, which has not done anything near what it promised. But especially the testing regime. Just a way to send profits to testing companies, with little real benefit.
5. There are more than 2 genders
For purposes of genetics that is not true. For purposes of sexual preferences it is. Nothing wrong with that reality.
6. Guilty until proven innocent and to believe all women except accusers of Bill Clinton, Keith Ellison etc
Absolutely not true. However, most women do not tell lies about their experiences, given what telling their stories can cost them. Monica Lewinsky was taken advantage of by Bill Clinton, and it is time that both Clintons fade from the scene. The Keith Ellison story seems to be more of a problem stemming from a relationship gone bad, and the accuser claims to have evidence of physical abuse but refuses to show it. As for Kavanaugh, his big issue was lying, and participating in a scheme when he worked for GWB to use stolen Democratic emails for political purposes (and then lying about it). The Dr. Ford allegations were serious, but without further investigation (that was a real investigation), you cannot determine more.
7. Governmental take over of health care and the economy
Single payer either as the only practice or as an option is not government takeover of healthcare, but certainly increases the influence of the government over private healthcare businesses. The reason to do it is that money is "wasted" paying for investors and large administrative salaries that would be better used to actually provide the services. As for the entire economy, few progressives want a government economy (like China, for example). But better regulation of bad private industry practice could go a long way toward limiting the abuse of certain industries (like banks screwing customers - see Wells Fargo, or industries not paying living wages and mostly employing part-time workers 0 see Amazon).
8. High poverty rates for minorities
No progressive wants high poverty rates for anyone. Period.
9. High unemployment for minorities
Same as #8. It is BS to accuse progressives of this, as it has no basis in fact.
10. Party of Antifa and Fascism
Antifa is a far-left anarchist movement that is not part of progressive ideology. Fascism is authoritarian, and comes from the right. Trump is the kind of politician that shows fascist tendencies. Take a look at how fascism is defined, and you see many more characteristics in common with the current Republicans than any Democrat.
11. Party of Racism and plantation politics
Again, total BS. Also a good example of projection by the right.
12. Call blacks token negroes, uncle Toms and traitors to their race when they think for themselves and are Republicans
I am not black, so I don't call anyone that, but I don't see that with any progressives I know.
13. Believe all women even when no facts are involved in the allegations
Boy is this a straw man argument. Implies that women accuse with no facts. You just don't care to acknowledge any facts.
14. When they don't get their way, they violently attack Republicans at restaurants, their places of work, the softball field etc. Which is well chronicled in another thread.
The level of violence is far greater from militia types than anyone who calls themselves progressive. However, yelling at a Fox Network personality, or someone vile from the current administration in a restaurant is hardly violence.
15. Democrats are the anti American party.
Trying to improve the country we love is hardly anti-American. Calling the other side anti-American is.

Yawn. None of what you say is true. Nice deflection. Americans aren't that stupid and are finally waking up to the lies that the left promotes. Stating Fascism is a far right ideology is pathetic and laughable. That alone makes nothing you say to be taken seriously. Fascism is an arm of the left. Always has been and always will be. We are seeig this as sitting US congressmen and Senators are calling for violence against Republicans. Antifa is an arm of the left and are fascist. Just as the left loves to claim white supremacy sides with the right (the right condemns this small fraction of the population) Antifa sides with the left and is their Fascist enforcer. Check out my thread of the 570 plus attacks by liberals against Trump supporters. Keep burying your head in the sand. Taxing the rich more? LOL. They already pay over 90% of the taxes in this country. Raising taxes on anyone isn't the answer you just love taking from the haves and redistribution of wealth. We aren't socialist nation despite a fan's infatuation with it. Trump's tax cuts have helped everyone in the economy and it makes sense because unemployment is nearing the lowest ever. Black, and Hispanic unemployment are at all time lows. Black approval of DJT is at an all time high. He and you are completely and utterly wrong. Sorry to burst your bubble. Stop wanting to turn us into a European country. That is not who we are. Btw, how's Dearborn? I heard it is a very nice place!

Last week CNN called Kanye West a Token Negro and a traitor to his race. This is from CNN!! If you are black and a non Democrat they demonize you and bully you. Same if you are a Republican woman. Democrats only care about keeping minorities and others downtrodden and dependant on government to gain votes. Since black approval of the President is in the 30s, they are looking for a new group to take over for the black folks who have left the plantation. Do you condemn the horde of people traveling from Honduras to the US in hopes of crossing the border? No Democrat is against that because they will provide more Democrat voters eventually. Democrats are of course for open borders and favor illegals over blacks tenfold. Again, you failed. Nice try though.

The left tried to completely take out Kavanaugh with a political hit job. They provided only emotions, no facts about an accusation that came out a few days before nomination by a deranged and unstable woman. Democrats howled: That we must believe all women. No, we are the US. We are to believe in innocence until proven guilty. Now Ford should be facing perjury charges for lying under oath. By the way what happened to her? The Democrats saw she was no use to them and discarded her like last night's pizza box.

Man I feel sorry for you and your ilk. Your ideology is pathetic and you are such a beta male.

[foreverlax]

14 early warning signs of fascism - applicable to Trump

- Powerful and continuing nationalism - YES

-Disdain for human rights - YES

-Identification of enemies as a unifying cause - YES

- Supremacy of the military - YES

-Rampant sexism - YES

-Controlled mass media - YES

-Obsession with national security - YES

-Religion and government intertwined - YES

-Corporate power protected - YES

-Labor [sic] power suppressed - YES

-Disdain for intellectuals & the arts - YES

-Obsession with crime & punishment - YES

-Rampant cronyism & corruption - YES

-Fraudulent elections - MAYBE

13 of 14 are HoF numbers!!

[RedFromMI]

I'll take a stab at Bandito's ill-informed description of progressive ideology, as it bears no resemblance to the actual ideology (which is not that well defined anyway given the wide spectrum of beliefs)...

Progressive ideology:
1. Open Borders and wanting Illegals to vote
There are no significant number of people that want completely open borders (progressives actually want to reduce crime, drug smuggling, etc), but legal immigration is recognized as a significant input to the American economy. In times like now at full employment, you might actually need more immigration to help provide the correct labor needed for the economy. There is NO progressive that I know that wants anyone who is not a citizen to vote. However, we do want all citizens to be able to vote without undue burdens placed upon them.
2. Socialism
Few progressives are socialists, but most believe in the same social welfare system that brought you Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid, etc. Many would like to see some sort of single payer at least as an option to take money out of the hands of private companies and put them in the hands of the actual providers of healthcare. (Disclosure - I am the parent of a physician...
3. High Taxes
Higher taxes on the wealthy, who both can afford to pay, and get far greater benefits (especially financially) than poorer Americans.
4. More money for a failing education system- anti school choice.
The Republicans have used school choice to resegregate schools, which both harms poorer students who cannot often make the same choices, and helps to starve the schools so they cannot accomplish their mission. Personally, I find there could be a lot of improvements in the current educational system, but the first thing would be to trash most everything associated with NCLB, which has not done anything near what it promised. But especially the testing regime. Just a way to send profits to testing companies, with little real benefit.
5. There are more than 2 genders
For purposes of genetics that is not true. For purposes of sexual preferences it is. Nothing wrong with that reality.
6. Guilty until proven innocent and to believe all women except accusers of Bill Clinton, Keith Ellison etc
Absolutely not true. However, most women do not tell lies about their experiences, given what telling their stories can cost them. Monica Lewinsky was taken advantage of by Bill Clinton, and it is time that both Clintons fade from the scene. The Keith Ellison story seems to be more of a problem stemming from a relationship gone bad, and the accuser claims to have evidence of physical abuse but refuses to show it. As for Kavanaugh, his big issue was lying, and participating in a scheme when he worked for GWB to use stolen Democratic emails for political purposes (and then lying about it). The Dr. Ford allegations were serious, but without further investigation (that was a real investigation), you cannot determine more.
7. Governmental take over of health care and the economy
Single payer either as the only practice or as an option is not government takeover of healthcare, but certainly increases the influence of the government over private healthcare businesses. The reason to do it is that money is "wasted" paying for investors and large administrative salaries that would be better used to actually provide the services. As for the entire economy, few progressives want a government economy (like China, for example). But better regulation of bad private industry practice could go a long way toward limiting the abuse of certain industries (like banks screwing customers - see Wells Fargo, or industries not paying living wages and mostly employing part-time workers 0 see Amazon).
8. High poverty rates for minorities
No progressive wants high poverty rates for anyone. Period.
9. High unemployment for minorities
Same as #8. It is BS to accuse progressives of this, as it has no basis in fact.
10. Party of Antifa and Fascism
Antifa is a far-left anarchist movement that is not part of progressive ideology. Fascism is authoritarian, and comes from the right. Trump is the kind of politician that shows fascist tendencies. Take a look at how fascism is defined, and you see many more characteristics in common with the current Republicans than any Democrat.
11. Party of Racism and plantation politics
Again, total BS. Also a good example of projection by the right.
12. Call blacks token negroes, uncle Toms and traitors to their race when they think for themselves and are Republicans
I am not black, so I don't call anyone that, but I don't see that with any progressives I know.
13. Believe all women even when no facts are involved in the allegations
Boy is this a straw man argument. Implies that women accuse with no facts. You just don't care to acknowledge any facts.
14. When they don't get their way, they violently attack Republicans at restaurants, their places of work, the softball field etc. Which is well chronicled in another thread.
The level of violence is far greater from militia types than anyone who calls themselves progressive. However, yelling at a Fox Network personality, or someone vile from the current administration in a restaurant is hardly violence.
15. Democrats are the anti American party.
Trying to improve the country we love is hardly anti-American. Calling the other side anti-American is.

Yawn. None of what you say is true. Nice deflection. Americans aren't that stupid and are finally waking up to the lies that the left promotes. Stating Fascism is a far right ideology is pathetic and laughable.
That is only because you redefine fascism to mean what you want it to, not what historically it has been defined as. You get your "information" from suspect sources, and then strut it out as if it is actually true, but rather it is not even close.
That alone makes nothing you say to be taken seriously. Fascism is an arm of the left. Always has been and always will be.
You keep stating this, but have actually no evidence that would be acceptable. Fascism is based it authoritarianism, and that is generally a feature of the right.
You are buying into authoritarianism by your arguments anyway.
We are seeig this as sitting US congressmen and Senators are calling for violence against Republicans.
You equate "tough" stances as calling for violence when the current president actually called for it in rallies, and looks the other way when it is carried out on his behalf, or by others, like the killing of Khashoggi. Trump and his administration are actively covering for a brutal murder of an American (legal) resident, and the reasons might have something to do with how much money the Saudi's have and continue to shovel to Trump and his family...
Antifa is an arm of the left and are fascist. Just as the left loves to claim white supremacy sides with the right (the right condemns this small fraction of the population)
The president does not really condemn this - he uses coded language to encourage it!
Antifa sides with the left and is their Fascist enforcer. Check out my thread of the 570 plus attacks by liberals against Trump supporters. Keep burying your head in the sand.
Because I don't fall for your propaganda? LOL
Taxing the rich more? LOL. They already pay over 90% of the taxes in this country.
Not even close to being true. The wealthiest 20% of the country pay two-thirds of Federal Income Tax. That is a documented fact. But a much smaller percentage of other taxes (sales taxes, state income taxes, Social Security payroll taxes, etc.) Due to the regressive nature of some of the other taxes, the net burden on the wealthy is quite manageable.
Raising taxes on anyone isn't the answer you just love taking from the haves and redistribution of wealth. We aren't socialist nation despite a fan's infatuation with it. Trump's tax cuts have helped everyone in the economy and it makes sense because unemployment is nearing the lowest ever. Black, and Hispanic unemployment are at all time lows. Black approval of DJT is at an all time high.
The rich have rigged the tax system to their benefit - and I believe that must be reversed. Sorry you disagree, but more people agree with me than you.
He and you are completely and utterly wrong. Sorry to burst your bubble. Stop wanting to turn us into a European country. That is not who we are. Btw, how's Dearborn? I heard it is a very nice place!
It is. Visit Henry Ford Museum and Greenfield Village next time you go there.

Last week CNN called Kanye West a Token Negro and a traitor to his race. This is from CNN!! If you are black and a non Democrat they demonize you and bully you. Same if you are a Republican woman. Democrats only care about keeping minorities and others downtrodden and dependant on government to gain votes. Since black approval of the President is in the 30s, they are looking for a new group to take over for the black folks who have left the plantation.
Only via Rasmussen, which shades their results in a very Republican way. That is why they get graded C plus on fivethirtyeight.com. But Ras is the only one you ever quote. Not the Pew poll from June that had his approval at 14%...
Do you condemn the horde of people traveling from Honduras to the US in hopes of crossing the border? No Democrat is against that because they will provide more Democrat voters eventually. Democrats are of course for open borders and favor illegals over blacks tenfold. Again, you failed. Nice try though.
I believe in an orderly method of entry to this country. But if they reach the border with valid asylum claims, it is their right under law to request it.

The left tried to completely take out Kavanaugh with a political hit job. They provided only emotions, no facts about an accusation that came out a few days before nomination by a deranged and unstable woman. Democrats howled: That we must believe all women. No, we are the US. We are to believe in innocence until proven guilty. Now Ford should be facing perjury charges for lying under oath. By the way what happened to her? The Democrats saw she was no use to them and discarded her like last night's pizza box.

Man I feel sorry for you and your ilk. Your ideology is pathetic and you are such a beta male.

You seem more intent on name calling than actually putting up a cogent argument. By restricting your input of information to bad sources, you suffer from the "garbage in, garbage out" syndrome... Have a great day!

[dislaxxic]

Nice work, Red...where i come from, that's called "Rope A Dope" headbang1

[Rope-A-DOPUS??]

..

[Bandito]

14 early warning signs of fascism - applicable to Trump

- Powerful and continuing nationalism - YES

-Disdain for human rights - YES

-Identification of enemies as a unifying cause - YES

- Supremacy of the military - YES

-Rampant sexism - YES

-Controlled mass media - YES

-Obsession with national security - YES

-Religion and government intertwined - YES

-Corporate power protected - YES

-Labor [sic] power suppressed - YES

-Disdain for intellectuals & the arts - YES

-Obsession with crime & punishment - YES

-Rampant cronyism & corruption - YES

-Fraudulent elections - MAYBE

13 of 14 are HoF numbers!!

Fascism is a leftist ideology. You claiming it comes from the right is pathetic and a lie. You have been duped. If you don't even know the history of Fascism in the world and in this country, you can't be taken seriously.
Obsession with national security LOL. What the heck are you talking about? How is protecting our nation Fascist? Oh you're the guy who wants open borders. I forgot. You have no clue, per usual about anything that is factual. Keep spewing your lies, I will keep calling you out for being a liar.

[Bandito]

I'll take a stab at Bandito's ill-informed description of progressive ideology, as it bears no resemblance to the actual ideology (which is not that well defined anyway given the wide spectrum of beliefs)...

Progressive ideology:
1. Open Borders and wanting Illegals to vote
There are no significant number of people that want completely open borders (progressives actually want to reduce crime, drug smuggling, etc), but legal immigration is recognized as a significant input to the American economy. In times like now at full employment, you might actually need more immigration to help provide the correct labor needed for the economy. There is NO progressive that I know that wants anyone who is not a citizen to vote. However, we do want all citizens to be able to vote without undue burdens placed upon them.
2. Socialism
Few progressives are socialists, but most believe in the same social welfare system that brought you Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid, etc. Many would like to see some sort of single payer at least as an option to take money out of the hands of private companies and put them in the hands of the actual providers of healthcare. (Disclosure - I am the parent of a physician...
3. High Taxes
Higher taxes on the wealthy, who both can afford to pay, and get far greater benefits (especially financially) than poorer Americans.
4. More money for a failing education system- anti school choice.
The Republicans have used school choice to resegregate schools, which both harms poorer students who cannot often make the same choices, and helps to starve the schools so they cannot accomplish their mission. Personally, I find there could be a lot of improvements in the current educational system, but the first thing would be to trash most everything associated with NCLB, which has not done anything near what it promised. But especially the testing regime. Just a way to send profits to testing companies, with little real benefit.
5. There are more than 2 genders
For purposes of genetics that is not true. For purposes of sexual preferences it is. Nothing wrong with that reality.
6. Guilty until proven innocent and to believe all women except accusers of Bill Clinton, Keith Ellison etc
Absolutely not true. However, most women do not tell lies about their experiences, given what telling their stories can cost them. Monica Lewinsky was taken advantage of by Bill Clinton, and it is time that both Clintons fade from the scene. The Keith Ellison story seems to be more of a problem stemming from a relationship gone bad, and the accuser claims to have evidence of physical abuse but refuses to show it. As for Kavanaugh, his big issue was lying, and participating in a scheme when he worked for GWB to use stolen Democratic emails for political purposes (and then lying about it). The Dr. Ford allegations were serious, but without further investigation (that was a real investigation), you cannot determine more.
7. Governmental take over of health care and the economy
Single payer either as the only practice or as an option is not government takeover of healthcare, but certainly increases the influence of the government over private healthcare businesses. The reason to do it is that money is "wasted" paying for investors and large administrative salaries that would be better used to actually provide the services. As for the entire economy, few progressives want a government economy (like China, for example). But better regulation of bad private industry practice could go a long way toward limiting the abuse of certain industries (like banks screwing customers - see Wells Fargo, or industries not paying living wages and mostly employing part-time workers 0 see Amazon).
8. High poverty rates for minorities
No progressive wants high poverty rates for anyone. Period.
9. High unemployment for minorities
Same as #8. It is BS to accuse progressives of this, as it has no basis in fact.
10. Party of Antifa and Fascism
Antifa is a far-left anarchist movement that is not part of progressive ideology. Fascism is authoritarian, and comes from the right. Trump is the kind of politician that shows fascist tendencies. Take a look at how fascism is defined, and you see many more characteristics in common with the current Republicans than any Democrat.
11. Party of Racism and plantation politics
Again, total BS. Also a good example of projection by the right.
12. Call blacks token negroes, uncle Toms and traitors to their race when they think for themselves and are Republicans
I am not black, so I don't call anyone that, but I don't see that with any progressives I know.
13. Believe all women even when no facts are involved in the allegations
Boy is this a straw man argument. Implies that women accuse with no facts. You just don't care to acknowledge any facts.
14. When they don't get their way, they violently attack Republicans at restaurants, their places of work, the softball field etc. Which is well chronicled in another thread.
The level of violence is far greater from militia types than anyone who calls themselves progressive. However, yelling at a Fox Network personality, or someone vile from the current administration in a restaurant is hardly violence.
15. Democrats are the anti American party.
Trying to improve the country we love is hardly anti-American. Calling the other side anti-American is.

Yawn. None of what you say is true. Nice deflection. Americans aren't that stupid and are finally waking up to the lies that the left promotes. Stating Fascism is a far right ideology is pathetic and laughable.
That is only because you redefine fascism to mean what you want it to, not what historically it has been defined as. You get your "information" from suspect sources, and then strut it out as if it is actually true, but rather it is not even close.
That alone makes nothing you say to be taken seriously. Fascism is an arm of the left. Always has been and always will be.
You keep stating this, but have actually no evidence that would be acceptable. Fascism is based it authoritarianism, and that is generally a feature of the right.
You are buying into authoritarianism by your arguments anyway.
We are seeig this as sitting US congressmen and Senators are calling for violence against Republicans.
You equate "tough" stances as calling for violence when the current president actually called for it in rallies, and looks the other way when it is carried out on his behalf, or by others, like the killing of Khashoggi. Trump and his administration are actively covering for a brutal murder of an American (legal) resident, and the reasons might have something to do with how much money the Saudi's have and continue to shovel to Trump and his family...
Antifa is an arm of the left and are fascist. Just as the left loves to claim white supremacy sides with the right (the right condemns this small fraction of the population)
The president does not really condemn this - he uses coded language to encourage it!
Antifa sides with the left and is their Fascist enforcer. Check out my thread of the 570 plus attacks by liberals against Trump supporters. Keep burying your head in the sand.
Because I don't fall for your propaganda? LOL
Taxing the rich more? LOL. They already pay over 90% of the taxes in this country.
Not even close to being true. The wealthiest 20% of the country pay two-thirds of Federal Income Tax. That is a documented fact. But a much smaller percentage of other taxes (sales taxes, state income taxes, Social Security payroll taxes, etc.) Due to the regressive nature of some of the other taxes, the net burden on the wealthy is quite manageable.
Raising taxes on anyone isn't the answer you just love taking from the haves and redistribution of wealth. We aren't socialist nation despite a fan's infatuation with it. Trump's tax cuts have helped everyone in the economy and it makes sense because unemployment is nearing the lowest ever. Black, and Hispanic unemployment are at all time lows. Black approval of DJT is at an all time high.
The rich have rigged the tax system to their benefit - and I believe that must be reversed. Sorry you disagree, but more people agree with me than you.
He and you are completely and utterly wrong. Sorry to burst your bubble. Stop wanting to turn us into a European country. That is not who we are. Btw, how's Dearborn? I heard it is a very nice place!
It is. Visit Henry Ford Museum and Greenfield Village next time you go there.

Last week CNN called Kanye West a Token Negro and a traitor to his race. This is from CNN!! If you are black and a non Democrat they demonize you and bully you. Same if you are a Republican woman. Democrats only care about keeping minorities and others downtrodden and dependant on government to gain votes. Since black approval of the President is in the 30s, they are looking for a new group to take over for the black folks who have left the plantation.
Only via Rasmussen, which shades their results in a very Republican way. That is why they get graded C plus on fivethirtyeight.com. But Ras is the only one you ever quote. Not the Pew poll from June that had his approval at 14%...
Do you condemn the horde of people traveling from Honduras to the US in hopes of crossing the border? No Democrat is against that because they will provide more Democrat voters eventually. Democrats are of course for open borders and favor illegals over blacks tenfold. Again, you failed. Nice try though.
I believe in an orderly method of entry to this country. But if they reach the border with valid asylum claims, it is their right under law to request it.

The left tried to completely take out Kavanaugh with a political hit job. They provided only emotions, no facts about an accusation that came out a few days before nomination by a deranged and unstable woman. Democrats howled: That we must believe all women. No, we are the US. We are to believe in innocence until proven guilty. Now Ford should be facing perjury charges for lying under oath. By the way what happened to her? The Democrats saw she was no use to them and discarded her like last night's pizza box.

Man I feel sorry for you and your ilk. Your ideology is pathetic and you are such a beta male.

You seem more intent on name calling than actually putting up a cogent argument. By restricting your input of information to bad sources, you suffer from the "garbage in, garbage out" syndrome... Have a great day!

I didn't name call. I called you a beta male. You are a leftist and fascist yourself. I thought that was a badge of honor?? I put together a great argument. You're points are false. All you did was deflect. Nice job red! stick to your poor takes on the D2 forum. Leftist politicians are calling for physical violence against Republicans. That is a fact. Antifa is following through as are other psycho fascists from the left. "Tough Stances". LOL So shooting a sitting US Congressman is a tough stance? You've completely lost your mind. Valid asylum claims? These aren't asylum seekers. You again have no clue what you are talking about. These are ppl coming to mooch off of us, commit crimes against us and vote Democrat. We are already seeing this happening. You cite complete biased polls. I don't deal with bias, I deal with facts. How did the bias polls do in teh 2016 eletion? You LOST! They were 100 % fabricated. You deal with fantasy. Try facts. You might actually win an argument for once! Red Red Bury Your Head! You prove once again liberalism is a mental disorder.

Speaking about no liberal wants ppl in poverty is completely false. If liberalism worked, there would be no Democrat voter base. Liberalism and socialism have failed everywhere it has been tried. liberalism keeps minorities impoverished and dependent on government.

Bill Clinton: Record # of blacks in prison
Obama: Record # of blacks in poverty
Donald Trump: Record # of blacks owning businesses and black employment. FACTS, not feelings.

Donald Trump is your President and hopefully a great American in John James will be your US Senator.

[dislaxxic]

It really is instructive to read the views of a Trump Base Voter. It is giving us all a candid look at the republican fringe minority that is currently holding the GOP in thrall.

The upcoming mid-term will be a bit of a referendum on this, won't it? if the Dems and left-leaning indies don't get out and start a course correction, well, shame on them.

..

[MDlaxfan76]

"beta male", sheesh.

You guys keep responding to him and I then have to see his drivel. Otherwise, he's on "Do Not Disturb" for profanity and insults.

That said, what a crock about "fascism" being a movement of the "left". Not now, not ever.

However, it would be fair to say that, just like the "right", the "left" has the potential to veer to its own forms of authoritarianism, dictatorships, etc.

We shouldn't dismiss that potential just because the current extreme in power in the US, driving toward "fascism" and destroying key institutional norms and assumptions that have prevented authoritarianism from prevailing in the US, happens to be from the hard right. That's today.

One of my concerns about Trumpism, the way norms are being blown up, key institutions are being undermined, the rule of law is being so ignored, and resentment, anger, and hate of the Other are being so avidly fomented by Der Leader, that my concern is that a backlash could end up being an authoritarian left. Not a classic liberal or progressive left, but an authoritarian left of state control and repression of the individual.

My hope instead is that Trump and Trumpism fail as a result of the success of our institutions and systems of checks and ballances to be resilient. A combination of our justice system being undeterred by the threats of a President and a ballot box rebuke of Trump and any who kowtowed would result in a return of confidence in our constitutional democracy and its norms. There will have been great damage done, but healing would be possible without the backlash of an extreme/authoritarian left.

But that's just "hope". Right now the greatest risk is that our institutions collapse altogether and Trumpism prevails.
Step one is a rebuke in the House vote and a beginning of checking the power of Trumpism.

But fail in that rebuke and I fear we could be so far down the path of fascism/authoritarianism that we may not recover.
The overt, blatant voter suppression efforts in '18 will be nothing compared to what we'll see in '20. And don't kid yourself that martial law wouldn't be declared if people rise up in the streets in response.

[MDlaxfan76]

It really is instructive to read the views of a Trump Base Voter. It is giving us all a candid look at the republican fringe minority that is currently holding the GOP in thrall.

The upcoming mid-term will be a bit of a referendum on this, won't it? if the Dems and left-leaning indies don't get out and start a course correction, well, shame on them.

..

Actually, shame on all of us, including those of us who are neither Dems nor left-leaning Indies.

[Trinity]

Any Blue wave will be a “coalition of the decent,” as Steve Schmidt has said. Democrats, Independents and appalled Republicans.

[Bandito]

It really is instructive to read the views of a Trump Base Voter. It is giving us all a candid look at the republican fringe minority that is currently holding the GOP in thrall.

The upcoming mid-term will be a bit of a referendum on this, won't it? if the Dems and left-leaning indies don't get out and start a course correction, well, shame on them.

..

I am not a fringe. It is thoughts like this that allowed Trump to win. I am a hard working, red blooded American. The Democrat Party is the issue. You suffer from TDS. You can't see any good of what Trump is doing, yet even some of the media is admitting it finally. I deal with facts, not feelings.

Facts:

Democrats are the party of racism, bigotry and fascism. Democrats are evil people who want to bring illegals and socialism to the US.

Facts:

Historic low unemployment for all minority groups under Trump's economy
Historic tax cuts that allow everyday hard working Americans to keep more of their hard earned money. But Democrats called this crumbs! a fan made fun of me for keeping more of my hard earned money. What a troll and sorry fellow he is!

Here are more facts about what Trump has done. FACTS. Not Feelings.

Trump is the first President in modern history to actually keep campaign promises.

From the Washington Examiner:

Economic Growth
4.2 percent growth in the second quarter of 2018.
For the first time in more than a decade, growth is projected to exceed 3 percent over the calendar year.

Jobs
4 million new jobs have been created since the election, and more than 3.5 million since Trump took office.
More Americans are employed now than ever before in our history.
Jobless claims at lowest level in nearly five decades.
The economy has achieved the longest positive job-growth streak on record.
Job openings are at an all-time high and outnumber job seekers for the first time on record.
Unemployment claims at 50 year low
African-American, Hispanic, and Asian-American unemployment rates have all recently reached record lows.
African-American unemployment hit a record low of 5.9 percent in May 2018.
Hispanic unemployment at 4.5 percent.
Asian-American unemployment at record low of 2 percent.
Women’s unemployment recently at lowest rate in nearly 65 years.
Female unemployment dropped to 3.6 percent in May 2018, the lowest since October 1953.
Youth unemployment recently reached its lowest level in more than 50 years.
July 2018’s youth unemployment rate of 9.2 percent was the lowest since July 1966.
Veterans’ unemployment recently hit its lowest level in nearly two decades.
July 2018’s veterans’ unemployment rate of 3.0 percent matched the lowest rate since May 2001.
Unemployment rate for Americans without a high school diploma recently reached a record low.
Rate for disabled Americans recently hit a record low.
Blue-collar jobs recently grew at the fastest rate in more than three decades.
Poll found that 85 percent of blue-collar workers believe their lives are headed “in the right direction.”
68 percent reported receiving a pay increase in the past year.
Last year, job satisfaction among American workers hit its highest level since 2005.
Nearly two-thirds of Americans rate now as a good time to find a quality job.
Optimism about the availability of good jobs has grown by 25 percent.
Added more than 400,000 manufacturing jobs since the election.
Manufacturing employment is growing at its fastest pace in more than two decades.
100,000 new jobs supporting the production & transport of oil & natural gas.

American Income
Median household income rose to $61,372 in 2017, a post-recession high.
Wages up in August by their fastest rate since June 2009.
Paychecks rose by 3.3 percent between 2016 and 2017, the most in a decade.
Council of Economic Advisers found that real wage compensation has grown by 1.4 percent over the past year.
Some 3.9 million Americans off food stamps since the election.
Median income for Hispanic-Americans rose by 3.7 percent and surpassed $50,000 for the first time ever in history.
Home-ownership among Hispanics is at the highest rate in nearly a decade.
Poverty rates for African-Americans and Hispanic-Americans have reached their lowest levels ever recorded.

American Optimism
Small business optimism has hit historic highs.
NFIB’s small business optimism index broke a 35 year-old record in August.
SurveyMonkey/CNBC’s small business confidence survey for Q3 of 2018 matched its all-time high.
Manufacturers are more confident than ever.
95 percent of U.S. manufacturers are optimistic about the future, the highest ever.
Consumer confidence is at an 18-year high.
12 percent of Americans rate the economy as the most significant problem facing our country, the lowest level on record.
Confidence in the economy is near a two-decade high, with 51 percent rating the economy as good or excellent.

American Business
Investment is flooding back into the United States due to the tax cuts.
Over $450 billion dollars has already poured back into the U.S., including more than $300 billion in the first quarter of 2018.
Retail sales have surged. Commerce Department figures from August show that retail sales increased 0.5 percent in July 2018, an increase of 6.4 percent from July 2017.
ISM’s index of manufacturing scored its highest reading in 14 years.
Worker productivity is the highest it has been in more than three years.
Steel and aluminum producers are re-opening.
Dow Jones Industrial Average, S&P 500, and NASDAQ have all notched record highs.
Dow hit record highs 70 times in 2017 alone, the most ever recorded in one year.

Deregulation
Achieved massive deregulation at a rapid pace, completing 22 deregulatory actions to every one regulatory action during his first year in office.
Signed legislation to roll back costly and harmful provisions of Dodd-Frank, providing relief to credit unions, and community and regional banks.
Federal agencies achieved more than $8 billion in lifetime net regulatory cost savings.
Rolled back Obama’s burdensome Waters of the U.S. rule.
Used the Congressional Review Act to repeal regulations more times than in history.

Tax Cuts
Biggest tax cuts and reforms in American history by signing the Tax Cuts and Jobs act into law
Provided more than $5.5 trillion in gross tax cuts, nearly 60 percent of which will go to families.
Increased the exemption for the death tax to help save Family Farms & Small Business.
Nearly doubled the standard deduction for individuals and families.
Enabled vast majority of American families will be able to file their taxes on a single page by claiming the standard deduction.
Doubled the child tax credit to help lessen the financial burden of raising a family.
Lowered America’s corporate tax rate from the highest in the developed world to allow American businesses to compete and win.
Small businesses can now deduct 20 percent of their business income.
Cut dozens of special interest tax breaks and closed loopholes for the wealthy.
9 in 10 American workers are expected see an increase in their paychecks thanks to the tax cuts, according to the Treasury Department.
More than 6 million of American workers have received wage increases, bonuses, and increased benefits thanks to tax cuts.
Over 100 utility companies have lowered electric, gas, or water rates thanks to the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act.
Ernst & Young found 89 percent of companies planned to increase worker compensation thanks to the Trump tax cuts.
Established opportunity zones to spur investment in left behind communities.

Worker Development
Established a National Council for the American Worker to develop a national strategy for training and retraining America’s workers for high-demand industries.
Employers have signed Trump’s “Pledge to America’s Workers,” committing to train or retrain more than 4.2 million workers and students.
Signed the first Perkins CTE reauthorization since 2006, authorizing more than $1 billion for states each year to fund vocational and career education programs.
Executive order expanding apprenticeship opportunities for students and workers.

Domestic Infrastructure
Proposed infrastructure plan would utilize $200 billion in Federal funds to spur at least $1.5 trillion in infrastructure investment across the country.
Executive order expediting environmental reviews and approvals for high priority infrastructure projects.
Federal agencies have signed the One Federal Decision Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) streamlining the federal permitting process for infrastructure projects.
Rural prosperity task force and signed an executive order to help expand broadband access in rural areas.

Health Care
Signed an executive order to help minimize the financial burden felt by American households Signed legislation to improve the National Suicide Hotline.
Signed the most comprehensive childhood cancer legislation ever into law, which will advance childhood cancer research and improve treatments.
Signed Right-to-Try legislation, expanding health care options for terminally ill patients.
Enacted changes to the Medicare 340B program, saving seniors an estimated $320 million on drugs in 2018 alone.
FDA set a new record for generic drug approvals in 2017, saving consumers nearly $9 billion.
Released a blueprint to drive down drug prices for American patients, leading multiple major drug companies to announce they will freeze or reverse price increases.
Expanded short-term, limited-duration health plans.
Let more employers to form Association Health Plans, enabling more small businesses to join together and affordably provide health insurance to their employees.
Cut Obamacare’s burdensome individual mandate penalty.
Signed legislation repealing Obamacare’s Independent Payment Advisory Board, also known as the “death panels.”
USDA invested more than $1 billion in rural health care in 2017, improving access to health care for 2.5 million people in rural communities across 41 states
Proposed Title X rule to help ensure taxpayers do not fund the abortion industry in violation of the law.
Reinstated and expanded the Mexico City Policy to keep foreign aid from supporting the global abortion industry.
HHS formed a new division over protecting the rights of conscience and religious freedom.
Overturned Obama administration’s midnight regulation prohibiting states from defunding certain abortion facilities.
Signed executive order to help ensure that religious organizations are not forced to choose between violating their religious beliefs by complying with Obamacare’s contraceptive mandate or shutting their doors.

Combating Opioids
Chaired meeting the 73rd General Session of the United Nations discussing the worldwide drug problem with international leaders.
Initiative to Stop Opioid Abuse and Reduce Drug Supply and Demand, introducing new measures to keep dangerous drugs out of our communities.
$6 billion in new funding to fight the opioid epidemic.
DEA conducted a surge in April 2018 that arrested 28 medical professions and revoked 147 registrations for prescribing too many opioids.
Brought the “Prescribed to Death” memorial to President’s Park near the White House, helping raise awareness about the human toll of the opioid crisis.
Helped reduce high-dose opioid prescriptions by 16 percent in 2017.
Opioid Summit on the administration-wide efforts to combat the opioid crisis.
Launched a national public awareness campaign about the dangers of opioid addiction.
Created a Commission on Combating Drug Addiction and the Opioid Crisis which recommended a number of pathways to tackle the opioid crisis.
Led two National Prescription Drug Take Back Days in 2017 and 2018, collecting a record number of expired and unneeded prescription drugs each time.
$485 million targeted grants in FY 2017 to help areas hit hardest by the opioid crisis.
Signed INTERDICT Act, strengthening efforts to detect and intercept synthetic opioids before they reach our communities.
DOJ secured its first-ever indictments against Chinese fentanyl manufacturers.
Joint Criminal Opioid Darknet Enforcement (J-CODE) team, aimed at disrupting online illicit opioid sales.
Declared the opioid crisis a Nationwide Public Health Emergency in October 2017.

Law and Order
More U.S. Circuit Court judges confirmed in the first year in office than ever.
Confirmed more than two dozen U. S. Circuit Court judges.
Followed through on the promise to nominate judges to the Supreme Court who will adhere to the Constitution
Nominated and confirmed Justice Neil Gorsuch and Brett Kavanaugh to the Supreme Court.
Signed an executive order directing the Attorney General to develop a strategy to more effectively prosecute people who commit crimes against law enforcement officers.
Launched an evaluation of grant programs to make sure they prioritize the protection and safety of law enforcement officers.
Established a task force to reduce crime and restore public safety in communities across Signed an executive order to focus more federal resources on dismantling transnational criminal organizations such as drug cartels.
Signed an executive order to focus more federal resources on dismantling transnational criminal organizations such as drug cartels.
Violent crime decreased in 2017 according to FBI statistics.
$137 million in grants through the COPS Hiring Program to preserve jobs, increase community policing capacities, and support crime prevention efforts.
Enhanced and updated the Project Safe Neighborhoods to help reduce violent crime.
Signed legislation making it easier to target websites that enable sex trafficking and strengthened penalties for people who promote or facilitate prostitution.
Created an interagency task force working around the clock to prosecute traffickers, protect victims, and prevent human trafficking.
Conducted Operation Cross Country XI to combat human trafficking, rescuing 84 children and arresting 120 human traffickers.
Encouraged federal prosecutors to use the death penalty when possible in the fight against the trafficking of deadly drugs.
New rule effectively banning bump stock sales in the United States.

Border Security and Immigration
Secured $1.6 billion for border wall construction in the March 2018 omnibus bill.
Construction of a 14-mile section of border wall began near San Diego.
Worked to protect American communities from the threat posed by the vile MS-13 gang.
ICE’s Homeland Security Investigations division arrested 796 MS-13 members and associates in FY 2017, an 83 percent increase from the prior year.
Justice worked with partners in Central America to secure criminal charges against more than 4,000 MS-13 members.
Border Patrol agents arrested 228 illegal aliens affiliated with MS-13 in FY 2017.
Fighting to stop the scourge of illegal drugs at our border.
ICE HSI seized more than 980,000 pounds of narcotics in FY 2017, including 2,370 pounds of fentanyl and 6,967 pounds of heroin.
ICE HSI dedicated nearly 630,000 investigative hours towards halting the illegal import of fentanyl.
ICE HSI made 11,691 narcotics-related arrests in FY 2017.
Stop Opioid Abuse and Reduce Drug Supply and Demand introduced new measures to keep dangerous drugs out the United States.
Signed the INTERDICT Act into law, enhancing efforts to detect and intercept synthetic opioids.
DOJ secured its first-ever indictments against Chinese fentanyl manufacturers.
DOJ launched their Joint Criminal Opioid Darknet Enforcement (J-CODE) team, aimed at disrupting online illicit opioid sales.
Released an immigration framework that includes the resources required to secure our borders and close legal loopholes, and repeatedly called on Congress to fix our broken immigration laws.
Authorized the deployment of the National Guard to help secure the border.
Enhanced vetting of individuals entering the U.S. from countries that don’t meet security standards, helping to ensure individuals who pose a threat to our country are identified before they enter.
These procedures were upheld in a June 2018 Supreme Court hearing.
ICE removed over 226,000 illegal aliens from the United States in 2017.
ICE rescued or identified over 500 human trafficking victims and over 900 child exploitation victims in 2017 alone.
In 2017, ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) arrested more than 127,000 aliens with criminal convictions or charges, responsible for
Over 76,000 with dangerous drug offenses.
More than 48,000 with assault offenses.
More than 11,000 with weapons offenses.
More than 5,000 with sexual assault offenses.
More than 2,000 with kidnapping offenses.
Over 1,800 with homicide offenses.
Created the Victims of Immigration Crime Engagement (VOICE) Office in order to support the victims and families affected by illegal alien crime.
More than doubled the number of counties participating in the 287(g) program, which allows jails to detain criminal aliens until they are transferred to ICE custody.

Trade
Negotiating and renegotiating better trade deals, achieving free, fair, and reciprocal trade for the United States.
Agreed to work with the European Union towards zero tariffs, zero non-tariff barriers, and zero subsides.
Deal with the European Union to increase U.S. energy exports to Europe.
Litigated multiple WTO disputes targeting unfair trade practices and upholding our right to enact fair trade laws.
Finalized a revised trade agreement with South Korea, which includes provisions to increase American automobile exports.
Negotiated an historic U.S.-Mexico-Canada Trade Agreement to replace NAFTA.
Agreement to begin trade negotiations for a U.S.-Japan trade agreement.
Secured $250 billion in new trade and investment deals in China and $12 billion in Vietnam.
Established a Trade and Investment Working Group with the United Kingdom, laying the groundwork for post-Brexit trade.
Enacted steel and aluminum tariffs to protect our vital steel and aluminum producers and strengthen our national security.
Conducted 82 anti-dumping and countervailing duty investigations in 2017 alone.
Confronting China’s unfair trade practices after years of Washington looking the other way.
25 percent tariff on $50 billion of goods imported from China and later imposed an additional 10% tariff on $200 billion of Chinese goods.
Conducted an investigation into Chinese forced technology transfers, unfair licensing practices, and intellectual property theft.
Imposed safeguard tariffs to protect domestic washing machines and solar products manufacturers hurt by China’s trade policies
Withdrew from the job-killing Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP).
Secured access to new markets for America’s farmers.
Recent deal with Mexico included new improvements enabling food and agriculture to trade more fairly.
Recent agreement with the E.U. will reduce barriers and increase trade of American soybeans to Europe.
Won a WTO dispute regarding Indonesia’s unfair restriction of U.S. agricultural exports.
Defended American Tuna fisherman and packagers before the WTO
Opened up Argentina to American pork experts for the first time in a quarter-century
American beef exports have returned to china for the first time in more than a decade
OK’d up to $12 billion in aid for farmers affected by unfair trade retaliation.

Energy
Presidential Memorandum to clear roadblocks to construction of the Keystone XL Pipeline.
Presidential Memorandum declaring that the Dakota Access Pipeline serves the national interest and initiating the process to complete construction.
Opened up the Alaska National Wildlife Refuge to energy exploration.
Coal exports up over 60 percent in 2017.
Rolled back the “stream protection rule” to prevent it from harming America’s coal industry.
Cancelled Obama’s anti-coal Clean Power Plan and proposed the Affordable Clean Energy Rule as a replacement.
Withdrew from the job-killing Paris climate agreement, which would have cost the U.S. nearly $3 trillion and led to 6.5 million fewer industrial sector jobs by 2040.
U.S. oil production has achieved its highest level in American history
United States is now the largest crude oil producer in the world.
U.S. has become a net natural gas exporter for the first time in six decades.
Action to expedite the identification and extraction of critical minerals that are vital to the nation’s security and economic prosperity.
Took action to reform National Ambient Air Quality Standards, benefitting American manufacturers.
Rescinded Obama’s hydraulic fracturing rule, which was expected to cost the industry $32 million per year.
Proposed an expansion of offshore drilling as part of an all-of-the above energy strategy
Held a lease sale for offshore oil and gas leases in the Gulf of Mexico in August 2018.
Got EU to increase its imports of liquefied natural gas (LNG) from the United States.
Issued permits for the New Burgos Pipeline that will cross the U.S.-Mexico border.

Foreign Policy
Moved the U.S. Embassy in Israel to Jerusalem.
Withdrew from Iran deal and immediately began the process of re-imposing sanctions that had been lifted or waived.
Treasury has issued sanctions targeting Iranian activities and entities, including the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps-Qods Force
Since enacting sanctions, Iran’s crude exports have fallen off, the value of Iran’s currency has plummeted, and international companies have pulled out of the country.
All nuclear-related sanctions will be back in full force by early November 2018.
Historic summit with North Korean President Kim Jong-Un, bringing beginnings of peace and denuclearization to the Korean Peninsula.
The two leaders have exchanged letters and high-level officials from both sides have met resulting in tremendous progress.
North Korea has halted nuclear and missile tests.
Negotiated the return of the remains of missing-in-action soldiers from the Korean War.
Imposed strong sanctions on Venezuelan dictator Nicholas Maduro and his inner circle.
Executive order preventing those in the U.S. from carrying out certain transactions with the Venezuelan regime, including prohibiting the purchase of the regime’s debt.
Responded to the use of chemical weapons by the Syrian regime.
Rolled out sanctions targeting individuals and entities tied to Syria’s chemical weapons program.
Directed strikes in April 2017 against a Syrian airfield used in a chemical weapons attack on innocent civilians.
Joined allies in launching airstrikes in April 2018 against targets associated with Syria’s chemical weapons use.
New Cuba policy that enhanced compliance with U.S. law and held the Cuban regime accountable for political oppression and human rights abuses.
Treasury and State are working to channel economic activity away from the Cuban regime, particularly the military.
Changed the rules of engagement, empowering commanders to take the fight to ISIS.
ISIS has lost virtually all of its territory, more than half of which has been lost under Trump.
ISIS’ self-proclaimed capital city, Raqqah, was liberated in October 2017.
All Iraqi territory had been liberated from ISIS.
More than a dozen American hostages have been freed from captivity all of the world.
Action to combat Russia’s malign activities, including their efforts to undermine the sanctity of United States elections.
Expelled dozens of Russian intelligence officers from the United States and ordered the closure of the Russian consulate in Seattle, WA.
Banned the use of Kaspersky Labs software on government computers, due to the company’s ties to Russian intelligence.
Imposed sanctions against five Russian entities and three individuals for enabling Russia’s military and intelligence units to increase Russia’s offensive cyber capabilities.
Sanctions against seven Russian oligarchs, and 12 companies they own or control, who profit from Russia’s destabilizing activities.
Sanctioned 100 targets in response to Russia’s occupation of Crimea and aggression in Eastern Ukraine.
Enhanced support for Ukraine’s Armed Forces to help Ukraine better defend itself.
Helped win U.S. bid for the 2028 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles.
Helped win U.S.-Mexico-Canada’s united bid for 2026 World Cup.

Defense
Executive order keeping the detention facilities at U.S. Naval Station Guantanamo Bay open.
$700 billion in military funding for FY 2018 and $716 billion for FY 2019.
Largest military pay raise in nearly a decade.
Ordered a Nuclear Posture Review to ensure America’s nuclear forces are up to date and serve as a credible deterrent.
Released America’s first fully articulated cyber strategy in 15 years.
New strategy on national biodefense, which better prepares the nation to defend against biological threats.
Administration has announced that it will use whatever means necessary to protect American citizens and servicemen from unjust prosecution by the International Criminal Court.
Released an America first National Security Strategy.
Put in motion the launch of a Space Force as a new branch of the military and relaunched the National Space Council.
Encouraged North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) allies to increase defense spending to their agree-upon levels.
In 2017 alone, there was an increase of more than 4.8 percent in defense spending amongst NATO allies.
Every member state has increased defense spending.
Eight NATO allies will reach the 2 percent benchmark by the end of 2018 and 15 allies are on trade to do so by 2024.
NATO allies spent over $42 billion dollars more on defense since 2016.
Executive order to help military spouses find employment as their families deploy domestically and abroad.

Veterans affairs
Signed the VA Accountability Act and expanded VA telehealth services, walk-in-clinics, and same-day urgent primary and mental health care.
Delivered more appeals decisions – 81,000 – to veterans in a single year than ever before.
Strengthened protections for individuals who come forward and identify programs occurring within the VA.
Signed legislation that provided $86.5 billion in funding for the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), the largest dollar amount in history for the VA.
VA MISSION Act, enacting sweeping reform to the VA system that:
Consolidated and strengthened VA community care programs.
Funding for the Veterans Choice program.
Expanded eligibility for the Family Caregivers Program.
Gave veterans more access to walk-in care.
Strengthened the VA’s ability to recruit and retain quality healthcare professionals.
Enabled the VA to modernize its assets and infrastructure.
Signed the VA Choice and Quality Employment Act in 2017, which authorized $2.1 billion in addition funds for the Veterans Choice Program.
Worked to shift veterans’ electronic medical records to the same system used by the Department of Defense, a decades old priority.
Issued an executive order requiring the Secretaries of Defense, Homeland Security, and Veterans Affairs to submit a joint plan to provide veterans access to access to mental health treatment as they transition to civilian life.
Increased transparency and accountability at the VA by launching an online “Access and Quality Tool,” providing veterans with access to wait time and quality of care data.
Signed legislation to modernize the claims and appeal process at the VA.
Harry W. Colmery Veterans Educational Assistance Act, providing enhanced educational benefits to veterans, service members, and their family members.
Lifted a 15-year limit on veterans’ access to their educational benefits.
Created a White House VA Hotline to help veterans and principally staffed it with veterans and direct family members of veterans.
VA employees are being held accountable for poor performance, with more than 4,000 VA employees removed, demoted, and suspended so far.
Signed the Veterans Treatment Court Improvement Act, increasing the number of VA employees that can assist justice-involved veterans.

[MDlaxfan76]

Good to see that someone can cut and paste from other biased media sources.
I doubt anyone on here would argue about whether the economy has continued to strengthen post Obama's 8 years of steady improvement.
All sorts of debate about causation and cost, but not about whether the economy has been 'hot'.

But even the Washington Examiner wouldn't say the following are "facts":

"Trump is the first President in modern history to actually keep campaign promises."
nor
"Democrats are the party of racism, bigotry and fascism. Democrats are evil people who want to bring illegals and socialism to the US."

Yes, you are the hard right fringe. I'd add nut job to the "fringe" part in your case. Not all those who voted or even those who still support Trump are "nut jobs" nor "fringe". But you are.

And, yes, you and your kin currently have the GOP in thrall thanks to a celebrity who has tapped into enough people's fears, resentments, and angers at the Other to have temporarily gained the bully pulpit and levers of political control.

The question is whether he and you and your like will concede this power if Trumpism loses at the ballot box over the course of '18 and '20?
I'm guessing no. And that's what fascism/authoritarianism is all about.

[a fan]

Well, the Washington Examiner outdid itself trying to make it sound like Trump did thousands of things, rather than just four things, and added in pointless Executive Orders that have no real actual power, or citing ICE arrest implying it's the first time they've arrested anyone.

Here's what he actually did: Signed three spending bills totaling an additional $3 Trillion dollars. Gave the 1% (like me) a permanent tax cut. Gave the rabble a much smaller cut that expires.

That's it. The spending bills are fully liberal moves, as are the tax cuts. The tax cuts made it so that we have to borrow Trillions of dollars so that we can hand out and redistribute that money to Americans who didn't earn it. That's why that Examiner list is so long...it details where some of the money went.

I says "some" because the Examiner certainly didn't want to tell readers that billions went, for example, to rural Americans who don't feel like paying for the electricity they get. So Urban taxpayers get the honor of paying their bills for them.

Trump is waaaaaay to the left of Obama. Trillions more spending. Trillions more borrowing. More distribution of taxpayer money to people who didn't earn that money. And then there's the tariffs that protect the few at the expense of the many. So we get to protect steel workers jobs, while the rest of us suckers get the unique pleasure of paying more for anything that has metal in it. Awesome.

And Bandito and his fellow lefty Trump supporters are thrilled. Bandito would hand over his guns if Trump asked him. It's quite funny to watch.

[Matnum PI]

Facts: Democrats are the party of racism, bigotry and fascism. Democrats are evil people who want to bring illegals and socialism to the US.

... Here are more facts about what Trump has done. FACTS. Not Feelings. Trump is the first President in modern history to actually keep campaign promises.

Facts...

[jhu72]

14 early warning signs of fascism - applicable to Trump

- Powerful and continuing nationalism - YES

-Disdain for human rights - YES

-Identification of enemies as a unifying cause - YES

- Supremacy of the military - YES

-Rampant sexism - YES

-Controlled mass media - YES

-Obsession with national security - YES

-Religion and government intertwined - YES

-Corporate power protected - YES

-Labor [sic] power suppressed - YES

-Disdain for intellectuals & the arts - YES

-Obsession with crime & punishment - YES

-Rampant cronyism & corruption - YES

-Fraudulent elections - MAYBE

13 of 14 are HoF numbers!!

Fascism is a leftist ideology. You claiming it comes from the right is pathetic and a lie. You have been duped. If you don't even know the history of Fascism in the world and in this country, you can't be taken seriously.

Only in the right wing fever swamp.

Fascism

[jhu72]

"beta male", sheesh.

You guys keep responding to him and I then have to see his drivel. Otherwise, he's on "Do Not Disturb" for profanity and insults.

That said, what a crock about "fascism" being a movement of the "left". Not now, not ever.

However, it would be fair to say that, just like the "right", the "left" has the potential to veer to its own forms of authoritarianism, dictatorships, etc.

We shouldn't dismiss that potential just because the current extreme in power in the US, driving toward "fascism" and destroying key institutional norms and assumptions that have prevented authoritarianism from prevailing in the US, happens to be from the hard right. That's today.

One of my concerns about Trumpism, the way norms are being blown up, key institutions are being undermined, the rule of law is being so ignored, and resentment, anger, and hate of the Other are being so avidly fomented by Der Leader, that my concern is that a backlash could end up being an authoritarian left. Not a classic liberal or progressive left, but an authoritarian left of state control and repression of the individual.

My hope instead is that Trump and Trumpism fail as a result of the success of our institutions and systems of checks and ballances to be resilient. A combination of our justice system being undeterred by the threats of a President and a ballot box rebuke of Trump and any who kowtowed would result in a return of confidence in our constitutional democracy and its norms. There will have been great damage done, but healing would be possible without the backlash of an extreme/authoritarian left.

But that's just "hope". Right now the greatest risk is that our institutions collapse altogether and Trumpism prevails.
Step one is a rebuke in the House vote and a beginning of checking the power of Trumpism.

But fail in that rebuke and I fear we could be so far down the path of fascism/authoritarianism that we may not recover.
The overt, blatant voter suppression efforts in '18 will be nothing compared to what we'll see in '20. And don't kid yourself that martial law wouldn't be declared if people rise up in the streets in response.

+1

The ballot box is the place to address this. Don't fool yourself, there are plenty of folks on the right who would be perfectly content seeing Fascism take hold in the US.

PS: Didn't realize you had already addressed the far right's talking point about Fascism.

[foreverlax]

Facts: Democrats are the party of racism, bigotry and fascism. Democrats are evil people who want to bring illegals and socialism to the US.

... Here are more facts about what Trump has done. FACTS. Not Feelings. Trump is the first President in modern history to actually keep campaign promises.

Facts...

More like the absence of.....