The Next President is...

[Blue]

Video of Ashli Babbitt getting shot yesterday.

 

[kaputt]

47 minutes ago, Prozac said:

Let’s talk about this.

Point 1: Vile hatred. Hard to disagree with that. However, there was plenty of vile hatred to go around for his predecessor who, regardless of your views on his policies, was at least a decent human being. Trump is a classless, base individual who’s greatest success in life was a reality TV program where he was known for summarily firing people. He incessantly attacked his political enemies and the media with juvenile language that my middle schooler finds laughable. Is it any wonder that a large portion of the population despised Trump from the get go (I’ll include myself in that group)? Anyone who supported Trump’s nomination should not be remotely surprised that he was a highly polarizing figure. In fact, I think most of his supporters reveled in that fact. They seemed really pleased by all the “liberal tears”. You don’t get to act all incredulous about the “vile hatred” four years later. You knew that was the case going in and that was part of why you liked the idea. You reap what you sow. 
 

Point 2: Riots met with tacit approval. By whom?  I do believe that all leaders condemned that violence when it was going on. Questioning and/or criticizing police culture in America should not be conflated with approval of violence. What absolutely did not happen was any elected official actively calling on their supporters to start an insurrection, so sorry, no contest here. Isn’t it also interesting that when the protestors called themselves things like “Black Lives Matter”, the Capitol was buttoned down like a tank and the police and National Guard seemed ready for battle?  But when the protest was and angry, armed white MAGA mob, they were able to breach the Capitol building seemingly uncontested? Things that make you go hmmmm.  
 

Point 3: The embracing of socialism. Again, by whom? This seems to be more of a trope advanced by right wing media than anything approaching reality. Remember, the Dems nominated the candidate that rejected their extreme wing. The R’s nominated the candidate who embraced and curated theirs. 
 

I’m not arguing the Dems don’t have serious problems or that their platform is summarily superior to conservative ideas. They do and it’s not. But what happened yesterday is wholly on Trump and his enablers and supporters on the right. Sorry, you don’t get to lump the rest of the country into this. If you supported Trump, you own this. 

I think you're misunderstanding the point I was trying to make. I don't claim to be a great writer so maybe some of that is on me. However, I am not trying to yell and scream "BUT BUT the libs did this and that!" I'm simply pointing out the fact that neither side has done anything for the last 4 years (and probably longer) to actually try and unite the country or cool down the tensions that are spilling over.

Instead of taking the higher road and trying to be the party of leadership and unity,  the democrats have often stooped to Trump's ridiculous levels and embraced divisive policies that do nothing more than continue to split the divide of this country right down the middle and feed the beast that is Trump and his cult. On the flip side tons of republicans spent years stonewalling everything Obama did simply because he was Dem, which basically created the wave of feelings that led to Trump. They then sold out their credibility to embrace Trumpism and now are left with that albatross hanging around their neck with no clear path on how to move the party forward and and actually become a party that can lead and unite Americans. 

I continually point out that I voted for Trump not to make a claim that I am a Trumper, or that I believe every single thing he did was good. I simply point that out to show that there are those of us out there who voted for him because the alternative options we were presented did not seem like better choices. That's a problem with our political system that we are so polarizingly (is that a word?) limited in our choices for elected officials. 

I'm not going to go point by point and argue each thing you listed out above because I think that takes away from the real point I was trying to make (again I'll take a hit for that due to my lack of written skill). What's really the issue is that everyone in our political system has played a big part in creating where we are now. I think arguing over the minutia of who is more at fault is just unconsciously retreating back into our own biases, of which I will admit I am occasionally guilty myself. I already stated above that yesterdays disgusting display falls on the shoulders of Trump and I also stated my disgust for his behavior since the election ended (not to mention the many things during his term I disagreed with). It's absolutely time for him to fade into the distance and have his legacy forever tarnished by the events of yesterday. But I cannot in good conscious sit here and look at what has transpired in our country recently and think that one person or one party is solely responsible for the mess we are in. 

TLDR; our political system and the soul of our country is broken and the blame for that can be laid heavily on everyone in Washington. This country needs a unifying center force that can mend many of these wounds. To Biden's credit he has said he plans to try and be that force. Can he do that and will other members of his party and the republican party play along? I'm not so sure. I am willing to give him the chance though.

 

Edited for typos

Edited January 7, 2021 by kaputt

[Prozac]

Kaputt, you’re right. I misread your point. While I do disagree with some of the individual points you made, I largely agree with your overall sentiment as pointed out above.  Here’s to all of us learning, growing, and becoming stronger from what we are currently experiencing regardless of political slant. 🍺🍺🍺

[Tank]

The real reason behind storming the Capital...

Edited January 7, 2021 by Tank

[BashiChuni]

not a huge fan of all the "censorship" talk

seeing a lot of people make "lists" of people to "punish"...scary road to start going down for congressmen doing a constitutionally allowed objection...one that democrats have done in 2000, 2004, and 2016.

we need to be careful...it makes me think that passions are being manipulated on both sides.

[Homestar]

3 hours ago, Blue said:

Video of Ashli Babbitt getting shot yesterday.

 

That is tragic to watch. Also, I’m surprised more weren’t killed. 

[17D_guy]

1 hour ago, BashiChuni said:

not a huge fan of all the "censorship" talk

seeing a lot of people make "lists" of people to "punish"...scary road to start going down for congressmen doing a constitutionally allowed objection...one that democrats have done in 2000, 2004, and 2016.

we need to be careful...it makes me think that passions are being manipulated on both sides.

So I get not wanting a black list for censorship or otherwise harm to an individual. 

But I also want a list of who supported challenging votes so I can give money/support to whomever they primary against (if upholding the election) or in the end run against.

[Swamp Yankee]

17 hours ago, Sua Sponte said:

You mean the Trumper’s here who were irate over sport players kneeling for the national anthem, but are now downplaying storming the U.S. Capitol, that costed a USAF veteran her life? Or currently trying to play the whataboutism game? Cult.

Well said.  Trump and his sycophants complaints about NFL players kneeling never sat right.  I didn't completely agree with the players perspective, but I'm darn sure happy to live in a country where they could kneel.  My oath directed me to defend the Constitution, not a flag or a specific President. 

[Swamp Yankee]

17 hours ago, dream big said:

I’m impressed you took the time to find that.  Except I don’t consider the idiots storming the Capitol conservatives.  True conservatives value rule of law and order, neither of which was embodied today.  Goes back to my previous point that that the extremes don’t define the majority. So I fail to see your point.

Unfortunately, the people who stormed the Capitol would very likely call themselves conservatives.  Just a guess.  On both sides, the extremes end up controlling the narrative.  

[Swamp Yankee]

16 hours ago, ViperMan said:

If we're having a national dialogue about a coup - defined by our major sources of news and other national leaders (senators) calling it one - then yes, there needs to have been a legitimate threat to our government/way of life. In our case however, it represents an opportunity for interested parties to cast it in a suitable way for future maneuvering. There was no danger to our way of life displayed today. When it's put forth in such hyperbolic terms, it further erodes trust in our institutions. In the last few years I have seen frighteningly few mature responses from nearly anyone in government.

That our Capitol saw action is disheartening and shameful, and no one said I'm not pissed. I'm as pissed as I was this summer. Why I may come off as ambivalent at this point, is that this is one additional piece of the puzzle that's been coming together for years. Yeah, I guess if I viewed it in isolation it might piss me off in a more acute manner. But today wasn't 9/11 and it wasn't December 7th. And while my attitude may be gross to you on this message board, it's not having a societal effect on our national consciousness and making further civil discourse even more difficult in the same way our national leaders and news media are.

Those who stormed the Capitol and those who destroyed property this summer are both wrong, of course.  The difference is that the most powerful person in the world actively encouraged and incited yesterday's crimes.   I don't remember that happening this summer, at least not by a major political figure.   

[the g-man]

I came here to write that Rep Adam Kinzinger is the first GOP House Member to call for invoking the 25th to remove Trump from office.

https://thehill.com/homenews/house/533112-first-gop-lawmaker-calls-for-invoking-25th-amendment-to-remove-trump

If you don’t remember that name, you should. I think he has an account here or you might know him as Lt Col Adam Kinzinger, KC-135 pilot.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[M2]

I know it's a bit early, and hopefully most of this will be forgotten by October; but if anyone is looking for a Halloween costume...

[Homestar]

33 minutes ago, M2 said:

I know it's a bit early, and hopefully most of this will be forgotten by October; but if anyone is looking for a Halloween costume...

Hopefully by October things will be better and we’ll all laugh at this costume. 

[brabus]

10 hours ago, jazzdude said:

 

 

https://www.forbes.com/sites/stevenbertoni/2020/09/15/exclusive-the-billionaire-who-wanted-to-die-brokeis-now-officially-broke/?sh=53da02d53a2a

Chuck Feeney.
 

 

Badass, good on him.

[M2]

[Darth]

I love the conspiracy nuts who are saying it was not Trump supporters, but Soros funded ANTIFA and BLM activists who were bussed in and had actually planned to storm the Capitol Building months ago.  I have friends on facebook currently arguing this as FACT!  To include the above pictured Q nut job is actually part of ANTIFA.

[DosXX]

Yeah also hearing this gamer tattoo as evidence they are communist by claiming it is a hammer and sickle. Quite sad the rabbit hole they continue to dig themselves in.

[HU&W]

12 hours ago, M2 said:

Looks like the far left propagandists of the media WANT this to be their Reichstag moment.   They’re just as dangerous as the rioters from both fringes of the political spectrum who protest through violence.  I sincerely hope there are enough moderates left, who don’t buy into the identity politics lie, to save us from continuing down the script of history.  We are on a dark path. 

 

Edit to add: the propaganda I’m seeing out of the ‘conservative’ media is also idiotic and is furthering the identity politic divide. 

Edited January 8, 2021 by HU&W

[kaputt]

1 hour ago, Kiloalpha said:

I’ve removed so many people from my social media it’s not even funny. Both sides, actually.

People who were posting “riots are the voice of the unheard” and all kinds of nonsense after George Floyd... but now act like this is just an unbelievable act? Gone.

You think this is a false flag operation with Antifa to empower the lizard people and pedofiles? Also gone.

Ive seen all of this garbage as well. The sad thing is, a lot of the people I’m seeing this crap from are generally people that at face value I would not consider to be extremists or non-rational individuals. Many of them I was good friends or co-workers with back in the day. It’s becoming very clear that the crazy is leaking down into much more normal levels of society these days, on both sides. 

[kaputt]

44 minutes ago, HU&W said:

 

 

Ridiculous what passes for journalism these days. 

Edited January 8, 2021 by kaputt

[ViperMan]

59 minutes ago, HU&W said:

Looks like the far left propagandists of the media WANT this to be their Reichstag moment.   They’re just as dangerous as the rioters from both fringes of the political spectrum who protest through violence.  I sincerely hope there are enough moderates left, who don’t buy into the identity politics lie, to save us from continuing down the script of history.  We are on a dark path.

...(pic)...

Edit to add: the propaganda I’m seeing out of the ‘conservative’ media is also idiotic and is furthering the identity politic divide. 

Yep. There are dems licking their chops over this because it's a perfect excuse to govern from an extreme position (never let a crisis go to waste). Look for a themes of "we have to repair the damage done," "we have to help those who were destroyed by Trump," and "the republican party is a danger to democracy" to be in play over the next two years (minimum).

I don't admire Biden's position. I think he is (by far) inheriting the most difficult set of circumstances of any president since Vietnam. He's got a chance, though, because I do think he is an inherently good person.

Edited January 8, 2021 by ViperMan

[Sua Sponte]

A play in three acts.

[Kiloalpha]

4 hours ago, HU&W said:

The propaganda I’m seeing out of the ‘conservative’ media is also idiotic and is furthering the identity politic divide. 

Who/where are you seeing this?

Asking for two reasons. 1) Haven’t seen any myself, and 2) I need to avoid whoever is parroting that nonsense.

[jazzdude]

Ridiculous what passes for journalism these days. 

Do you think the people that stormed the Capitol are going to disappear, or discard their views after the administration change?

They will still be a problem because violence against government is now on the table. It's not a R vs D problem, it's attacking our institutions outlined in our constitution. And does anyone think Trump will go away quietly, when continuing what he does now gets him so much attention? One can only hope.

If they had showed up and protested out on the lawn in front of Congress, I'd say it's concerning, but they are exercising their rights as citizens, but would agree with your premise.

Forcibly entering the Capitol? That's no longer a protest. Does anyone doubt that if Congress wasn't evacuated that political figures (primarily on the left) would've been physically attacked?

The Republican party needs to condemn these rioters, and purge them from the party. Probably not going to happen, which will probably cause many moderate Republicans to abandon the party (you know, the ones that will vote because they don't believe the system is fixed or rigged against them)

The Democrats need to make good faith effort in working with the Republicans on policy and law, and not use control of the Senate and presidency to unilaterally ram through their agenda. But again, probably not going to happen given how polarizing politics has become and the inability of the two parties to work together.

[Swamp Yankee]

13 hours ago, M2 said:

I like that one. I couldn't resist adding another.