POLITICAL JUNKIES

Anonymous

Hyd- I am honored that I got the most attention from you. I believe there should be punishment for anyone that breaks the law in place-- hypothetically he was correct- He's gone bankrupt 4 times absolutely a fact. We are almost 20 trillion in debt absolutely a fact. He has a net worth of billions after rebuilding his company- absolute a fact --Hope he can do the same for the US if given the chance. Thanks for pointing out his attributes. He surely will Make America Great Again!!

Edited to address: I am not here to convince anyone of anything, I am here explaining why I will vote for Trump- My intensions in joining this thread was not to recruit for Mr. Trump- I think most Trump supporters as myself are not happy with the GOP-E and would do a write in vote for DT- which is a vote for HRC. I would never pull that lever or fill in a dot next to her name EVER.

We are at the half way point.. wish this thread was started when Trump announced his running.. I would have loved to scroll back and start highlighting all the comments... sort of what the MSM is doing now.

badger

kayb, well said and LOL @ Capt. Johnson selling protection door-to-door.

Bliss58

I think America is already great. Kayb, thanks for the article on Business vs. Government. Says it all. Nice, and from Forbes no less!

Bliss58

Hydranne, thanks for the heads up on the PP protest. I'll have to check it out here. They live in a bubble where if they just keep saying it often enough, ignoring the facts, it will still be true. Unfortunately, there are also enough uninformed people who will just believe what they want even though they know it isn't so.

exbrnxgrl

Now I am baffled. What would asking ISIS about how they determine religion have to do with any proposed US government policy? They really don't set a very good example when it comes to...well, just about anything.

I do not know about the inner workings of ISIS, but I lived in a Muslim country for two years. I can speak to minority religious groups in that particular country. There were very small groups of a non-Muslim citizens of that country. They were very low profile and socially insular, though they lived and worked within the greater community. Since the country was Islamic, Muslim holidays, celebrations and customs were dominant as was the Muslim influence on everyday customs and habits. At the time I lived there, these minority communities were not bothered, however they practiced their religions very discretely (not the case now,sadly). It was very easy to know what someone's religion was. However, that country had a very different social, cultural and religious structure than the US. There was an official state religion there and not much in the way of separation of church and state. As a sovereign nation, it was their right to organize their government that way. That, not being the case at all in the US, not only makes "official" identification of ones religion impossible, but in my opinion, highly undesirable. I loved that country in a multitude of ways, but not the fact that they had a non-secular government.

So, how will Mr. Trump, or anyone for that matter, determine one's religion? Yellow Stars of David with the word Juden across them would be a very poor example to follow (Star and crescent moon with the word Islam that people would have to wear pinned to their outer garments? The thought is too frightening to even entertain ). We are a secular country with clear separation of church and state. Heck, we don't even have an official language

exbrnxgrl

Kay,

I didn't think that at all! Like you I was hoping that folks would understand the reference and conclude that it was a hideous idea.

Caryn

Anonymous

I don't know how you want me to answer that Caryn. I assume your trip to the middle east was not recent, was it before 2001? I have a muslim friend that lives in Maryland and is from Pakistan. As a matter of fact, she just attended her cousins wedding there last year and shared all the traditions etc of how they were married. I asked her how she would feel about a temporary band on her family visiting her now. She truly feels that there needs to be a better way for us to keep out recruited radical islamic terrorists that come here to radicalize others. The fiance visa is a perfect example of what I am trying to point out. She said if she had to have her cousins wait a year to visit her here in the states until we can come up with a plan then so be it. If the proper vetting is done her family will have no problem in visiting. She is as concerned as the next person that is not of muslim faith as to what is happening in the world. As for Syrian refugees, my heart bleeds when I see what has happened in Syria. So I don't know how to answer your question- I am not against anyone of any religion, but we need a plan to figure this out. I think we are headed in the right direction by acknowledging we need a better way to figure out how to keep out terrorism out. Final Answer. I have put this topic to rest.

ksusan

I live in the northwest. If we're going to keep dangerous radicals out, may I suggest white men? They're the majority of the people who caused such trouble at Malheur.

exbrnxgrl

Maltese,

Just trying to understand what such a plan might look like. I simply don't know how this can be done. I welcome a response from anyone, not just you.

The country I lived in was not in the Middle East and it was well before 2001. I was a Peace Corps volunteer. BTW, neither of the top two countries with the largest Muslim populations are in the Midfle East, nor are they Arabic speaking countries

ceanna

Wow!! A lot of good discussion here in the last 24 hours. I am always amazed at the differences of opinion and give thanks for our ability in the US to express them!!! As I have said before, I'm not much for labels and pointing fingers. I am frequently dismayed by politicians from all sides passing laws and slamming their opponents when they are in control but forgetting that the very laws they pass to try to restrict their opponents come back to haunt them when they are not in power. For example, the first four states to pass voter ID laws decades ago were South Carolina, Hawaii, Texas, and Florida, all of whom had democrat governors who signed the laws. Now mainly the Republicans push for these laws and the democrats are mad.

Wouldn't it be horrifying if each of us had to wear a label to specify our religion or lack of?? What if politicians decided we all had to wear a label detailing our political leanings, our health status, organizations we belong to, or other such detail. Wouldn't that just further divide and segregate everyone?

Labeling individual people is so damaging. I noticed as I read thru the last day's posting how the labeling DT as an SOB by April raised a response by LovesMaltese which led to what seemed to be a misunderstanding of who said it first by other posters. I'm wondering if we can avoid this by stating our opinions without labeling people.

I really enjoyed the beginning of the topic of how the US senate and representative races are effected by the current presidential race. I have not read anything else along those lines. Has everyone run across any articles or discussions on this topic and can share with us?

ruthbru

Hi, I have been reading but too many things have been going on for me to post. Just a couple quick thoughts. Unless we get a new Congress, nothing is going to change no matter who gets elected. Instead of trying to FIX the problems of the Affordable Health Care Act, this congress has voted over 60 times to repeal it (knowing full well that it would be vetoed by the president), wasting both time and the tax payer's money. If this Republican Congress stays in power, you can bet there will be zero cooperation from them. A Republican (from the present choices) would fare no better. The establishment hates Trump, and hates Cruz as well. It is pretty telling that only 6 of his fellow Senators have endorsed them; of those one has compared picking between him & Trump is like picking between being hung and poisoned, and another commented that if Cruz were killed on the floor of the Senate, if would be hard for the Senators to find the perpetrator guilty of murder. No exactly ringing endorsements.

Anonymous

Ceanna I agree no one wants the candidate they support labeled a liar or an sob. You are 100% right I promise to refrain from doing that. Actually all my labeling was towards the party I support not the party I don't support. To make this simple I have never said anything about HRC or BS. No pun intended either on BS. At the end of the day I love all my sisters here. I love that we are all fighting for the same thing whether it's the cancer we are fighting or the peace we want in America.

Anonymous

Ruth: Fact Check-

 Lindsay Graham said:  "If you killed Ted Cruz on the floor of the Senate, and the trial was in the Senate, nobody would convict you,"

 It was also Lindsay Graham that said " That choosing between the two would be like being shot or poisoned"  

I presumed he choose not to shoot Ted after all---  and Donald has the food he eats and drinks tested before he swallows.  

An endorsement from Lindsay Graham is a kiss of death and is why I support Mr Trump.   

ceanna

kayb, thanks for your response. I did some checking and other than South Carolina, those original voter ID law passed in the 1970s and 1980s, not before the Civil Rights movement.

Who is the "they're all" you're referring to? I would think Republicans would not want to be so grouped!!

While DEMs called Voter ID laws racist and worst, IND and REP claim that the laws are needed, not to discriminate, but to remove over 1 million dead people from the voter rolls and over 3 million people who have moved from district to district or state to state and should no longer be on the rolls in their place of former residence. Former Democrat President Jimmy Carter was a lead on a federal study commission about voting and voter ID laws. The commission stated that

The electoral system cannot inspire public confidence if no safeguards exist to deter or detect fraud or to confirm the identity of voters. Photo IDs currently are needed to board a plane, enter federal buildings, and cash a check. Voting is equally important.

I have to show my ID to cash a check or board a plane. I have no problem showing it when voting where I am registered.

Meow13

Still supporting Hillary but kind have political burn out now.

badger

WI has a very competitive US Senate race between Russ Feingold and Ron Johnson. Voter turn-out will be key and the Pres election will boost that for sure. We had a historic turn-out for the primary, approx half of the people eligible to vote.

Bliss58

I had heard that HRC's campaign is sharing dollars with down-ticket Democratic candidates and apparently that's true. I found this from DailyKos, but they quote Bloomberg, too. http://www.dailykos.com/story/2015/10/25/1439115/-... I think this is partly why the DNC is not happy with Sanders because he isn't sending money downstream. I've heard GOP pundits say they are concerned about a Trump nomination hurting congressional candidates. Time will tell.

ceanna

kayb, I was referring to the bipartisan Commission on Federal Election Reform in 2005, headed jointly by Jimmy Carter and James Baker. Here's a link I found to their full report The Commission covered a number of election issues including voter rolls, voter IDs, accessibility, technology, etc. I have not read the entire report due to its length, but there is a summary near the beginning of the report and a list of recommendations near the end of the report.

Most States have not chosen to implement the Commission's recommendations for state/national, free. photo voter IDs, thus eliminating any economic obstacles. Unfortunately, each side seems to have dug in on their partisan positions (DEMs claim discrimination and REP claim fraud) and have prevented improvement and standardization of the national election process.

Edited to try to get link to work!!

Sorry, tried twice and the link is not working from my side. Can anyone else open?

exbrnxgrl

ceanna,

Your link has a bad url. Is this the document?

Argh! Mine didn't work either . Let me try again

Caryn

ceanna

It is not the Carter/Ford report hydranne lists.

I noticed the address changes when I point to it in Google and I refresh the page. Here's another try by cutting and pasting the header link Report of the Commission on Federal Election Reform

Edited to add--this link works but it is a .pdf document you will need to open to access the full report.

ruthbru

Loves, thanks for correcting quotes from Lindsey. How he could say those things about Cruz & then endorse him is beyond me.......

ceanna

OK, that link from EAC seems to work. When I went directly to the US Election Assistance Center http://www.eac.gov/ and tried to find the report, it came up with 1000s of results, but none directly to the report, but it was an interesting website with lots of reports about elections, accessibility, fraud, etc. It's a US government site so, I hope, not biased.

nihahi

Such an active, engaged thread! Yes... As obviously varied as our opinions may be, it is wonderful to not have personal attacks or insults. I do believe it's because we acknowledge that we have more significant issues in common, than what may be our differences. What a world it would be if that kind of awareness filtered throughout society....

exbrnxgrl

Yes, we have most everything in common in what we would like to see evolve in our country. Our differences lie, primarily, in how to make those things happen

Anonymous

and Caryn and I taking a ride on The TrumpTrain together as friends. I'm sure it will go in her little book of "Oh the places you've been" will catch some lunch, hug, and keep kicking this cancer to the curb. Have a great week everyone. Caryn, your back to school ? Hope you enjoyed you GD! Can't wait to see all 6 of mine.

april485

I officially withdraw the labeling of Mr. Trump as an "SOB." I am sorry if that offended you or anyone Maltese. I know that others have been called worse and in a way, I meant it as a term of endearment (strange but let me explain) when I used it a few posts back to describe him. When someone is really resourceful or smart, I tend to say "they are one smart SOB." Did I mean it in a negative way? No, not this time I didn't. I was saying that he was really resourceful in my own "street" kind of way. Guess it was taken wrong because I don't support him. Not meant to inflame at all. Guess I will be more careful. I don't like his politics or the way he portrays women but I don't hate anyone. Nor do I wish harm to him or any other candidate. Just wanted to make that clear.

Peace

Edited to add Cute Grandchildren Maltese! And of course, that is why we want the best running our country (that we perceive as the best individually) because we want the best for them and their future!

april485

Man, I am sure learning a lot from you ladies on this thread. Great piece on business vs. public sector kayb!

nihahi

Agreed, April! It is really interesting to read the background/details of process and programs from those with experience/knowledge/research.

Anonymous

April. Hugs. I love all of my lefty liberals here. Anyway regarding Trump is aSOB. Smart Obessive and Brillant!! I bet that's what you meant!!

DivineMrsM

I wouldn't count my eggs before they're hatched, and I wouldn't ever be arrogant to say at this stage of the game that HRC has it in the bag, is going to be the next President. It's still up for grabs, imo, and absolutely anything can happen.

However. last night a vision popped into my head of elected President Hillary in the Oval Office at her desk (what former president's desk will she chose to use?) and thought about her kicked back in the chair with her feet up on the desk crossed and smokin' a cigar. Making nice little ring puffs of smoke. With that little Truman plaque perched on a corner of the desk. "The buck stops here." And a banner behind her on the wall: "The doe stops here." Yeah, that'd be cool.