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Elephants and Jackasses...

Discussion in 'Permanent Threads' started by Nettdata, Oct 14, 2016.

  1. ODEN

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    Why I think these statements are important is the fact that we are on the slippery slope. We have been on this slippery slope for quite some time. We have started to justify a lot of behavior that never would have been considered acceptable. We are big into nation-building, we are big into being an international police force. We now have enhanced interrogation methods, indefinite detention (which includes Americans considered to be threats). Whether we elected Don the bigot or crooked Hillary doesn't change that. In fact, I don't think either one improves it either. Don talks tough about murdering the families of terrorists. How can anyone with a soul think that is ok? Hillary wants to push a no-fly zone in Syria. That is assuring that we have an armed confrontation with Russia. I'm pretty sure our soldiers, god bless them, aren't looking forward to that fight, especially in Syria where we have no friends to work with.

    There is no moral justification for either position and trying to take a relativistic approach to explaining one sides policy over the other always sounds pretty scabby and gross.
     
  2. Kampf Trinker

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    No politician ever has, I don't think Trump is that different. They're all full of shit so you just have to make a calculated guess as to who is more reliable. Obama is the most trustworthy president I've seen in my lifetime, and even he lied as casually as the wind blows.
     
  3. Kampf Trinker

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    Has anybody else been following the democrat members of congress reactions to Trump?

    Harry Reid is such a bag of shit. So glad he's out of office. How the fuck do people vote for these assholes and then complain about congress?

    I think some of his rhetoric about Trump's alleged bigotry is over the top, but it's really nice to see Bernie is taking a leadership role in supporting bipartisanship work with Trump on some of the issues. He's one of the few senators that isn't a sell out whore(plus he's actually an independent) so whether or not that matters is anyone's guess.

    Speaking of Bernie, he endorsed Clinton, but wasn't that shy about his criticism of the DNC.

    I wish he had just gone after them all the way, but I can understand the political ramifications of a person with his constituents and position within Washington doing that.
     
    #1243 Kampf Trinker, Nov 17, 2016
    Last edited: Nov 17, 2016
  4. Crown Royal

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    Just call me Topher

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    I wish I knew why the fuck your country keep Guliani around. People seem to have a bad memory that this piece of shit quarterbacked a full-scale riot in 1992 involving thousands of drunken (and armed) cops who terrorized the city, beat people and smashed property with impunity. He's seen on video leading this gaggle of buffoons who are crying because citizens want to have opinions on them. As punishment, NYC elects him as mayor.

    A lot of people say he "cleaned up" New York City yet nobody seems to remember that he also took part in destroying it. And that city's shitty police department has run amok ever since.

    Be honest. Why would anybody BUT a cop like this ignorant sleazebag?
     
  5. Trakiel

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    Call me Caitlyn. Got any cake?

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    The US has an enormous problem with preferring appearances over substance. Guliani puts on a front at being a straight-talking, tough-love, no-nonsense kind of guy and there are a lot of people who just love to eat this stuff up.
     
  6. downndirty

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    I'm a liberal. Like I desperately want socialized medicine here, I think the public (as opposed to companies and "donors") should fund our elections, I think the influence of religion has no place in our politics, I want legalized marijuana and prostitution, and I think our inequality is one of the most existential threats to our society and business as we know it is largely responsible. I fucking detest much of the baby boomer's nonsense, including the narratives of "immigrant criminal", "welfare queen", etc.

    I think there's a huge divide between white collar and blue collar: blue collar's livelihood is in danger of automation or offshoring in nearly every industry, and white collar is the crowd making the decision to offshore or building the tech to automate. This is a vicious cycle, because when blue collar (justifiably) objects to being an automaton, outsourced or otherwise marginalized, white collar raises their nose and pretends these people are the problem and can't wait to be rid of them. Also, because white collar's job security no longer exists, they won't pay the taxes to support an unemployed (and unemployable) blue collar class (see welfare queen, benefits cheat). Blue collar's wages have declined to the point they largely need some subsidization to continue to exist: what $12-15/hour job (that's $24-30K annually) provides middle-class health benefits, retirement, and is in an area where that wage can afford a house? So, they NEED financial help that simply isn't forthcoming from the gubmint (see: the conservative story that government is inherently awful, the ways they do interact with the government are infringing and annoying and the government can't justify infrastructure in Bumfuck, when the city with thousands of residents is falling apart). White collar wants insulation (see the size of houses over the last 60 years nearly doubling, while family size shrank), and increasingly avoids paying taxes, because it goes to people they can't stand. I think this is a quagmire, and there's no easy way out, but the current trends can't continue.

    That said, Trump's appointments scare me thus far. Not because they are conservative. I come from a very conservative place, and it largely works out ok. Not ideal, but that's the beauty of this country: if you look hard enough you can find a place to feel comfortable without too much interference. But, his appointments scare me because they aren't proven. When's the last time an appointment from Alabama worked out well in everyone's favor? The last time Giuliani ran anything I was in high school...and it didn't end well. His talk about draining the swamp COULD mean he's hiring a bunch of alligators, or he's getting the people who were spited by the larger system and know it well enough to pull the plugs. Time will tell, but thus far...holy shit.

    Also, the fact that Russia influenced this election and that was the first country out of his mouth scares the piss out of me.

    I think the "liberal dismissal" is fucked up. Trump has said and done some racist, sexist and bigoted shit as recently as Tuesday. That doesn't mean his ideas are without merit. Let me say that again: I, as a liberal, think Trump has some good ideas. Part of that is not shooting the messenger, part of that is I don't agree with everything liberal's (or conservatives) believe...it's called individuality, I think?

    I think Trump's biggest asset right now is the expectations from the left are bottom of the Marianas Trench low, and he's already demonstrated he will not fuck around. His firings and shuffling tell me that a Trump appointment is a job where the seat is always hot. I also think everyone is watching intently, and Trump appears to be easily manipulated thus far at an international level. His Secretary of State appointment will be a big fucking deal to me, because Trump seems the type that is easily provoked and isn't all that great at playing the long game.

    Trump has the possibility, ever how distant of being the Dr. House of Presidents...a hostile asshole that gets shit done. I'm all in favor of that, but I don't think it's the most likely scenario.
     
    #1246 downndirty, Nov 18, 2016
    Last edited: Nov 18, 2016
  7. Kampf Trinker

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    As vicious as they were to each other during the primaries, I really hope Romney takes the job. He's the perfect man to reign in Trump when necessary, plus has the smarts and experience to do the job, as well as be an adviser in other areas.

    I still want Trump to do most of the negotiating. I've lost all confidence in the establishment to handle these deals, be it trade or international treaties, or whatever. Trump can get some good stuff done and then Romney can run around for four years to trying to unfuck the damage done to all the people he pisses off. What a great team they would be, just brings a tear to my eye.
     
  8. Juice

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    It would be interesting if Romney took the job, given their previous animosity. Trump is essentially consolidating and solidifying the Republican Party under him.
     
  9. xrayvision

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    Do you think all these people are crowding around him to get a change to suck his dick or do you think they are stepping up to see if they can honestly help what will surely be a crazy administration?
     
  10. dieformetal

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    A little of column A, a little of column B...
     
  11. Juice

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    Probably mostly A. Everyone wants a piece of the power pie. I'm going with option B when it comes to Romney.
     
  12. downndirty

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  13. Aetius

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    The only three names I've heard floated or nominated for the Trump cabinet that aren't awful are Romney, Haley, and Mattis, and two of those were for the same gig. At best we're looking at a cabinet with two functioning members (fortunately they'd be State and Def, which are the two most important, but Jesus).
     
  14. Gravy

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    Less encouraging and what should be disqualifying simply on the basis of a guy in intelligence not being able to suss out obviously fake bullshit.

    https://mobile.twitter.com/GenFlynn/status/794000841518776320?ref_src=twsrc^tfw

    Oh yeah let's not forget a blatantly antisemetic retweet, the one where he said it was rational to fear muslims, or the fact that he was recieving security briefings with Trump while being a paid lobbyist for a foreign nation. Bonus points for being a paid contributor to a Russian government funded tv network and having dinner with Putin.

    This guy is a disaster. I'm honestly hoping that most of these names being floated are just nonsense. But these are the Trump loyalists, so I'm not that hopeful.
     
  15. Crown Royal

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    Thought I'd cheer this thread up while staying on topic. Here's another one who zigged when he should have zagged:
    image.jpeg

    ...okay, very wrong. Now let's see what else he openly posted on the Internet:

    image.jpeg
    image.jpeg

    Maybe there IS a god.
     
  16. downndirty

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    Dude, I'd donate to that instead of attending the wedding 111 times out of 100. I've had a pair of friends do that instead of accumulating shit for their house/apt because they were already living together.
     
  17. Kampf Trinker

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    You are underestimating how easy it is to take advantage of regressive leftist zombies. Have you heard of Anita Sarkeesian? She's a con artist. It's been proven beyond any doubt. They. do. not. give. a. fuck.
     
  18. Crown Royal

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    Brianna Wu's avatar on Twitter features a motorcycle she bought with crowdfunding dollars.

    It's fucking mind-blowing how mooching works thanks to the Internet. Because that's what it is: mooching. These cheap fucks already have enough money to begin with.

    Back to politics: does anybody think having Romney in the cabinet might help tug Trump's coat a little even if he is kind of a mindless drone?
     
  19. Trakiel

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    Call me Caitlyn. Got any cake?

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    I don't see how or why anyone would spend two seconds even thinking about this, let alone getting your panties in a twist over it. So people want to throw their money way, so what? Relieving suckers of their money has been a tradition ever since money was invented.
     
  20. Aetius

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