Donald Trump

[Pcdunn]

Okay, what does "liberal", "conservative", or "middle of the road" mean any more, really?

I'm a life-long Democrat, from a Catholic background. I believe we need to do what is right and just, include everyone (without regard to race, color, national origin, religion, gender, different abilities, first language, ethnicity, sexuality, etc.), help the needy, educate our young to be critical thinkers, support peace, hope, and love, etc. I don't see that as "liberal", just being kind.

Can those things co-exist in politics? Only with compromises, because there are always people who will disagree with the things I believe in, but with discussion and compromise, agreements can be reached.
This was something Obama didn't get. (One conservative said "I hope everything he tries fails completely.") Sure, Obama was called a dictator (people also were scared by the Democratic convention in Denver, likening it to Hitler's Nuremberg rallies-- oh, please!).

People fear what they don't understand.
Most people don't understand politics, and many don't bother to vote.

I have to accept that the people have spoken, as far as President-Elect Trump goes. But like many who voted for him (I did not), I'm not sure I trust him.

[Steadmund Brand]

Okay, what does "liberal", "conservative", or "middle of the road" mean any more, really?

I'm a life-long Democrat, from a Catholic background. I believe we need to do what is right and just, include everyone (without regard to race, color, national origin, religion, gender, different abilities, first language, ethnicity, sexuality, etc.), help the needy, educate our young to be critical thinkers, support peace, hope, and love, etc. I don't see that as "liberal", just being kind.

Can those things co-exist in politics? Only with compromises, because there are always people who will disagree with the things I believe in, but with discussion and compromise, agreements can be reached.
This was something Obama didn't get. (One conservative said "I hope everything he tries fails completely.") Sure, Obama was called a dictator (people also were scared by the Democratic convention in Denver, likening it to Hitler's Nuremberg rallies-- oh, please!).

People fear what they don't understand.
Most people don't understand politics, and many don't bother to vote.

I have to accept that the people have spoken, as far as President-Elect Trump goes. But like many who voted for him (I did not), I'm not sure I trust him.

You are correct.....what does "liberal" "conservative" mean anymore....sadly.. not what they are suppose to....by today's standards I am ashamed to be called "liberal"...because it seems to be a form of social justice extremism now....but even worse.... somehow "conservative" has come to mean some bastardized form of religious fanaticism...it's strange, I would always tell people that I was a fiscal conservative but socially liberal....but can't say those words anymore.....and I don't think it'll get better for a bit....eventually the pendulum will swing too far in both directions and even out.....one day the Far Right and the Far Left will realize that they are closer to each other than they are to the center... it's not a line, it's a horseshoe....but, I am an optimist, I have faith in our constitution and our country... and in time we will straighten out.....maybe it'll take a revolution in media...but I don't see any Edward R Morrow's out there now...but chin up...when all is said and done, I still believe in The United States.. even if we aren't very united right now...one thing history shows us... we can bounce back, we did before!!!

Steadmund Brand

[Pcdunn]

Thanks for the reply, Steadman. I agree with you about sticking with the country-- we do manage to survive all kinds of controversy and ultimately do the right thing.

Re the swinging back and forth between being liberal and conservative, our society has done it many times: Roaring 20s to Depression to World War Two to Eisenhower Conservatism to Civil Rights Movement to Hippie Movements to Women's Liberation to the Bicentennial Celebration to Reaganomics-- and so forth, over and over...
I'm a Boomer, and my Dad was a newshound, so I recall hearing many great newscasters while I was growing up. Tom Brokaw may have been the last of the great ones.

I don't see much network news due to my schedule, but usually get at least one local news broadcast, and sometimes watch the BBC news for a more international viewpoint.

[John G]

Of course, some might say that Trump will simply use the office of the Presidency to further his business interests and, when things inevitably go wrong with his manifesto, he'll blame the "establishment", i.e. Congress, for frustrating his agenda. However, in the words of Francis Urquart, I couldn't possibly comment!

[Abby Normal]

Thanks for the reply, Steadman. I agree with you about sticking with the country-- we do manage to survive all kinds of controversy and ultimately do the right thing.

Re the swinging back and forth between being liberal and conservative, our society has done it many times: Roaring 20s to Depression to World War Two to Eisenhower Conservatism to Civil Rights Movement to Hippie Movements to Women's Liberation to the Bicentennial Celebration to Reaganomics-- and so forth, over and over...
I'm a Boomer, and my Dad was a newshound, so I recall hearing many great newscasters while I was growing up. Tom Brokaw may have been the last of the great ones.

I don't see much network news due to my schedule, but usually get at least one local news broadcast, and sometimes watch the BBC news for a more international viewpoint.

good posts PC and Steadman and I agree. we'll survive, and god willing survive.

[ChrisGeorge]

On the relationship between "Mr. Brexit," British extreme right wing politician Nigel Farage and Donald Trump, from the latest issue of The New Yorker --

http://www.newyorker.com/culture/persons-of-interest/nigel-farage-on-the-story-behind-his-friendship-with-trump

Trump and Farage from Nigel Farage's Twitter feed. Taken at one of the elevators in Trump Tower, New York City.

Right wing take on the relationship and what it will supposedly do to upset the "establishment" --





Trump and Farage - Ben Garrison cartoon

[Abby Normal]

re Trump and his business: he made his millions without the aid of holding public office, unlike the Scandal Clan Clintons and hundreds of politicians holding office today, on either side. he dosnt need to use political office to get rich like the corrupt politicians today.

[Hercule Poirot]

re Trump and his business: he made his millions without the aid of holding public office, unlike the Scandal Clan Clintons and hundreds of politicians holding office today, on either side. he dosnt need to use political office to get rich like the corrupt politicians today.

So what you're saying is that private corruption is better than public corruption!

[Abby Normal]

re Trump and his business: he made his millions without the aid of holding public office, unlike the Scandal Clan Clintons and hundreds of politicians holding office today, on either side. he dosnt need to use political office to get rich like the corrupt politicians today.

oh and for all those that are crying that Trump dosnt care about the common man, only cares for himself, and will use his office to only enrich himself:

I'm sure the thousand or so "common man" workers at Carrier disagree. and hes not even president yet.

I have a feeling more companies will follow suit.

[Ginger]

oh and for all those that are crying that Trump dosnt care about the common man, only cares for himself, and will use his office to only enrich himself:

I'm sure the thousand or so "common man" workers at Carrier disagree. and hes not even president yet.

I have a feeling more companies will follow suit.

This. Exactly.

[John G]

This is what Bernie Sanders thinks of the Carrier deal:https://www.washingtonpost.com/poste...=.ce1e2c33dbf9

And this is what a conservative economist thinks of it: "Absolutely chilling": http://www.cnbc.com/2016/12/01/trump...lyst-says.html

And stories like this may make great headlines, but 1,000 jobs saved, at a price of $7.5 million, is frankly a drop in the ocean when contrasted and with the 1.5 million manufacturing jobs lost since the recession: http://www.npr.org/2016/12/01/503987...r-jobs-problem

[Abby Normal]

This is what Bernie Sanders thinks of the Carrier deal:https://www.washingtonpost.com/poste...=.ce1e2c33dbf9

And this is what a conservative economist thinks of it: "Absolutely chilling": http://www.cnbc.com/2016/12/01/trump...lyst-says.html

And stories like this may make great headlines, but 1,000 jobs saved, at a price of $7.5 million, is frankly a drop in the ocean when contrasted and with the 1.5 million manufacturing jobs lost since the recession: http://www.npr.org/2016/12/01/503987...r-jobs-problem

Bernie sanders is a putz.
He had the chance to really put up a fight and make a dent in the corrupt liberal
Elite, but instead lies down like a dog and toes the Clinton line like the good little conformist he is. Feel the burn my ass.

[Pcdunn]

And this is what a conservative economist thinks of it: "Absolutely chilling": http://www.cnbc.com/2016/12/01/trump...lyst-says.html

And stories like this may make great headlines, but 1,000 jobs saved, at a price of $7.5 million, is frankly a drop in the ocean when contrasted and with the 1.5 million manufacturing jobs lost since the recession: http://www.npr.org/2016/12/01/503987...r-jobs-problem

These two articles do make interesting points about the situation and the reality of economics in the twenty-first century.
As a librarian for a community college, I agree with the NPR article that the key is educating workers for the jobs that will be in steadily growing industries. Not everyone can afford college, which is why we offer scholarships and grants. We work with local companies to teach our students what they need to know for health care occupations, water quality, process manufacturing, and have an electrical engineering program that allows them to graduate at a higher level than they would be if they worked their way up from apprentice.
But many people today still don't see the value of a college education.

[Patrick S]

Bernie sanders is a putz.
He had the chance to really put up a fight and make a dent in the corrupt liberal
Elite, but instead lies down like a dog and toes the Clinton line like the good little conformist he is. Feel the burn my ass.

Well. He is a putz. But to be fair, he was brought to heel by the Clinton machine before he laid down. Wasserman-Shultz was fired for essentially rigging the primaries against Sanders. I'll say this as well...I don't agree with much of anything that comes out of Sanders' mouth. Most of it I find flat-out comical. But, I do find him authentic. And even though he would have governed far to the left of Clinton I found him preferable in that he at least seemed genuine.

[Mayerling]

I will only say that I voted for Bernie in the New York primary this year, not because of a strong feeling for his brand of socialism, but because he was more tolerable to me than Clinton. Just like Clinton was barely more tolerable than Trump.

Jeff