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To the many of you who do not like Donald Trump, a hypothetical question for you....
You have to choose ONE. Choosing neither is NOT an option!
A) Trump wins reelection in 2020.
B) Trump loses reelection, but runs again in 2024 and wins then.
Option B is not unfathomable. Even if he loses and either leaves office or is forced out of office, I think it's a little naive to think he will just go away quietly. Unless he is actually put away, he won't go away, and neither will his supporters.
I'll take option B. I don't think Joe Biden is too bad, and I'd take 4 years of Biden over the uncertainty of what we might get in 2024 (if we're going to be forced to deal with 4 more years of Trump either way).
Dash,
I concur with many of the things you said...and of course enjoyed our time at Dana's and look forward to the next one. (My turn to buy)
But for every one of your points, certainly there is another well thought out side, and belittling thoughtful efforts is not a style I would have thought you would adopt.
My brother worked for 45+ years in arms control and disarmament. Today in his late 70's he advises the Vatican at the United Nations on nuclear policy.
He believes, and I share his stance, that the JCPOA with Iran was a good deal, and we should have stuck with it.
Somehow everything that Obama did or favored, Trump seems to want to dismantle. That was a good example.
I don't find a person who has gone bankrupt many times, including casinos, as a "sharp businessman." Anything but really.
However, he was excellent as a reality TV star, and parlayed that into the presidency. I don't think that prepared him for the job any more than the reality TV successful Kardashians.
A lot of people have left his administration with grave reservations about his competency as president. Tillerson, Mattis, Kelly, Bolton, etc.
These are guys with good solid credentials and standouts in the Republican universe. I would hope you would heed their cautionary words.
I'm with them, and people like George Will and Bill Kristol. They understand that Trump doesn't really care for our country. He cares for himself, first and foremost. I don't believe that has served us well.
See you at Dana's...and I hope it's not too long from now.
This is a sentence I never expected to read. I mean it makes sense, but I would have never thought that the Vatican would have its own advisor on nuclear policy.Quote:
Originally Posted by paulxu
B for sure. Definitely don't want another 4 years of Trump right now. At least option B gives us a breather.Quote:
Originally Posted by xubrew
I'm hopeful that a sound defeat of Trump in 2020 will give the Republicans time to get back to a platform that I can get on board with again, at least to some degree. Focus on fiscal conservatism and ignore all the social issues bullshit. Run a coherent foreign policy. Actually care about corruption in government.
I'm not concerned about Biden, but I am a little concerned about Liberalism run amok if the Democrats manage to take all three branches followed by an equally strong conservative backlash in 2024. I don't think turmoil is going for any country, particularly one that is the size of the USA.
Looks like Keese Love has become the face of the Democrat Party: https://twitter.com/CovfefeKatie/sta...07243363823616
https://twitter.com/search?q=keese%2...h_click&f=live
Look forward to seeing you there as well, and hope it’s not too long as well.Quote:
Originally Posted by paulxu
We’ll agree to disagree on a few things. Trump has a net worth in excess of $2B. Many successful people fail along the way, but most failing people don’t navigate their way to any substantial net worth, let alone NW that exceeds a billion dollars. BTW, Trump donates his salary every year, and their are numerous examples of philanthropic activity on his part. Virtually everything that comes out of his mouth - when it is not about him - is patriotic. His policies are focused on the best interests of the United States. I believe you are a little too close minded when it comes to Trump, and that is me fully understanding that he is no panacea. Bolton? George Will! My God.
Anyone who thinks that working with the Iranian regime on a proactive basis is a good thing should buy a second home there and put up an American flag in their front yard.
Portland, Seattle, Chicago, NYC, Baltimore....are a mess. BLM is not about B. L. M. The Democratic Party continues to play the race card. Pelosi and Schumer are its principal mouthpieces.
We survived 1968. I suppose we can make it through this cluster.
Like when he stole from his own foundation, got caught and actually admitted it? He's barred from ever heading a charitable non-profit but not a Country?Quote:
Originally Posted by xudash
The Vatican has some sort of standing at the UN (not sure exactly what) but I don't think its full voting status.Quote:
Originally Posted by STL_XUfan
They do however, as you might imagine, have a deep interest in world peace...and having the threat of nuclear war reduced as much as possible.
That's where my brother comes in from his years in ACDA and the State Department, working on disarmament and associated treaties.
He's a Georgetown grad who spent a few years in the Jeebies before leaving, and has lots of friends in that community, and has worked on the issues for years. So, the Vatican uses him pro bono as an advisor in his retirement, when they attend/speak at UN conferences on those issues.
That's just the thing, you work with them like Reagan...trust and verify.Quote:
Originally Posted by xudash
Remember Iraq? No weapons of mass destruction, but we had the inspectors kicked out who were proving that so we could go in.
Same deal with Iran. From the JCPOA, we essentially got this;
Just as important, they allowed inspectors on the ground to verify. All Europe nuclear powers were on board.Quote:
Under JCPOA, Iran agreed to eliminate its stockpile of medium-enriched uranium, cut its stockpile of low-enriched uranium by 98%, and reduce by about two-thirds the number of its gas centrifuges for 13 years.
Now that's gone. The only reason I can see is that Obama signed it, and Trump is set on undoing anything Obama did.
I'm not sure we are better off, or that the mid-east is safer as a result.