He's not worthy of power.....

[gimmethesimplelife]

After the Helsinki summit (interestingly enough held in a very socially democratic country with extensive social welfare that Americans can only bitterly dream of as our lives are clearly not worth this) I, and many people I've spoken to in the 85006 since the end of this infamous summit, believe that Trump now truly has proven beyond a shadow of a doubt that he is both unfit for office (Hillary was right!!!!!) and absolutely unworthy of power.

I understand that we are stuck with him, barring unforeseen events, but I wish there was a way that the 85006 could be immune from his governance for real. It's great to say that Trump is not my President, and it's great to be a member of the Resistance, but I wish there were some legal way that the 85006 (and any other US zip code that wishes for such, too, I don't mean to put the 85006 on a pedestal here) could be immune from his governance period until such a date as a leader worthy of power were to be sworn in. The 85006 deserves better, as do many other Americans, as does the world at large. Rob

[JaneV2.0]

We all deserve better. In my more optimistic moments, I believe some day we will be more like Finland and other civilized countries. Unfortunately, I won't be here to enjoy the change.

[Miss Cellaneous]

My take is that the US does not have a President at this point in time. Sure, there's a person who lives in the White House and has a nominal claim to the office, but in terms of how a President should act, how a President should run the country, we simply don't have one.

I am just so sick of the lies. The lies told by the person who thinks he is President, and those around him who are too scared to tell the truth.

We can only hope that the country doesn't fall apart in the next two years, and that 2020 brings some sanity back to the White House.

[iris lilies]

My take is that the US does not have a President at this point in time. Sure, there's a person who lives in the White House and has a nominal claim to the office, but in terms of how a President should act, how a President should run the country, we simply don't have one.

I am just so sick of the lies. The lies told by the person who thinks he is President, and those around him who are too scared to tell the truth.

We can only hope that the country doesn't fall apart in the next two years, and that 2020 brings some sanity back to the White House.
“The person who thinks he is President?”

well, he IS the President of the United States.

What an odd idea.

[jp1]

Or we can hope that the Mueller investigation shows that 1) he was fully aware of how his campaign was working with Russia and that he encouraged it, and 2) just how wildly in debt he is to russia, on a level that finally forces house republicans to do their damn job. It will have to be incredibly bad for those cowards to act, but more and more it's looking like it really IS that bad.

[LDAHL]

Or we can hope that the Mueller investigation shows that 1) he was fully aware of how his campaign was working with Russia and that he encouraged it, and 2) just how wildly in debt he is to russia, on a level that finally forces house republicans to do their damn job. It will have to be incredibly bad for those cowards to act, but more and more it's looking like it really IS that bad.

Surely that would have leaked by now if the evidence was available.

[Teacher Terry]

This nightmare can’t end soon enough.

[jp1]

Surely that would have leaked by now if the evidence was available.

Not necessarily. Mueller is a professional, not a politician.

[gimmethesimplelife]

This nightmare can’t end soon enough.Plus about a trillion. I could not agree more TT and Thank You for this hope-giving post. Rob

[Teacher Terry]

I agree that Mueller is a professional and can’t wait to see what his investigation uncovers.

[gimmethesimplelife]

I agree that Mueller is a professional and can’t wait to see what his investigation uncovers.I agree here, too, and eagerly await the day that findings are announced. Rob

[LDAHL]

Not necessarily. Mueller is a professional, not a politician.

I don’t know. Indicting seventeen Russians just before the Putin meeting seems pretty aromatic of politics to me.

[JaneV2.0]

I don’t know. Indicting seventeen Russians just before the Putin meeting seems pretty aromatic of politics to me.

That should have been a potent reminder to a president skipping gaily into Putin's bear ring that he (and his agents) were dangerous, and certainly not to be trusted. Putin must be a mesmerist where Republicans are concerned; who can forget "I looked the man in the eye. I found him to be very straightforward and trustworthy. We had a very good dialogue. I was able to get a sense of his soul; a man deeply committed to his country and the best interests of his country."--George W Bush in 2001

[Miss Cellaneous]

“The person who thinks he is President?”

well, he IS the President of the United States.

What an odd idea.

I mean, I know he took the oath and all.

But I cannot consider him a President because of the way he acts. The way he lies. The way he changes his opinion based on the most recent person to talk to him. He may hold the office, but he does not act like a President.

Our country at this point in time does not have a leader.

[iris lilies]

I mean, I know he took the oath and all.

But I cannot consider him a President because of the way he acts. The way he lies. The way he changes his opinion based on the most recent person to talk to him. He may hold the office, but he does not act like a President.

Our country at this point in time does not have a leader.
You dont have to consider him the President, you can have any idea you like. This, in our free country of the U.S.A. is our perogitive.

I was taking issue with your flat declaration that he is not the President of the United States. He does hold the office, through the election process defined by our constitution attendant laws.

[gimmethesimplelife]

You dont have to consider him the President, you can have any idea you like. This, in our free country of the U.S.A. is our perogitive.

I was taking issue with your flat declaration that he is not the President of the United States. He does hold the office, through the election process defined by our constitution attendant laws.IL, I agree with you in the sense that yes, Senor Trump DOES hold the office in terms of legalities and in terms of having been sworn in. True and right you are there. OTOH, on a much deeper level I agree with Miss Cellaneous…….we really don't have a leader in this country at this time - the Helsinki Summit proved this in no uncertain terms to anyone capable of dealing with unpleasant reality. So I'd say on the surface you are right, IL....on a much more deeper level I'd say no, we really don't have a President in this country. It's a question of how deep you are willing to go with the meaning behind the words.....at least as I see it. Rob

[Yppej]

Why does he keep going to Scotland? Maybe he is not really a US citizen, but a Scottish citizen.Then he would not really be a legitimate president. Maybe his birth certificate is fake. Maybe the birtherism he unleashed on Obama, and later recanted, was psychological projection.:devil:

[Williamsmith]

I am reminded of another President who was elected by less than 40% of the popular vote and was considered by many to be an utter fool. His election was thought to be so illegitimate than security had to dress him up and sneak him into Washington DC in the middle of the night. The military thought him a complete imbecile when it came to decision making and some referred to him as the “Original Gorilla.” Half the country thought he was overstepping the boundaries of his office by leaps stepping on the constitution while the other half thought he was getting nothing done. When he gave speeches the media routinely criticized him for his silly ignorance and foreigners considered his election as evidence that the United States was nothing but an insane asylum. He was inundated by so many insults and so often that he remarked he’d rather be dead than put up with it continuously. Despite all the criticisms over his first four years......he was elected again for a second term. Historically speaking, many consider him to have been one of our greatest Presidents. Abraham Lincoln.

[Teacher Terry]

Poor Lincoln being compared to a imbecile.

[Yppej]

Exactly TT. I remember reading in "How to Win Friends and Influence People" about the great kindness of Lincoln, how reluctant he was to criticize others, and when he had no choice but to how gently he did so.

[Ultralight]

Power is not something someone is awarded for being worthy. If worthiness meant anything much, then human history would look a lot different.

Power is something taken.

[JaneV2.0]

Exactly TT. I remember reading in "How to Win Friends and Influence People" about the great kindness of Lincoln, how reluctant he was to criticize others, and when he had no choice but to how gently he did so.

Trump isn't fit to speak Abraham Lincoln's name.

[gimmethesimplelife]

Trump isn't fit to speak Abraham Lincoln's name.Good way of putting it, thanks Jane! Do you mind if I use this line in my life? Rob

[bae]

Lincoln. "The Great Tyrant". Suspended habeus corpus. Ignored the Supreme Court. Arrested citizens and detained them. Interfered with the press, the judiciary, and elected officials.

Seems Trump is perhaps more similar than first appears.

[JaneV2.0]

Good way of putting it, thanks Jane! Do you mind if I use this line in my life? Rob

Ayep. I'm pretty sure it's not original.

And re bae's historical notes, ,I don't think he's fit to speak any president's name who was mentally fit and trying to do what was best for the country. I guess I need to specify this country.

[Williamsmith]

Lincoln’s plan to address the slavery issue included colonizing the African American slave population. He supported this in policy and in action which many view as prima facia evidence that he was not only a racist but had more than a passing fancy for the ethnic cleansing of America. Trump could not in his wildest imagination ever be as offensive to a good portion of the population as Lincoln was. Many scholarly historians feel Lincoln was forced into emancipating the slaves by circumstances beyond his control in spite of his convictions...not because of them. He stated publicly that he would do anything to preserve the union including freeing all of the slaves, a portion of the slaves or none of them.

Lincoln wanted to jail Supreme Court Justice Taney for ruling against him on suspension of habeas corpus and had a Congressman and Federal Judge arrested.

[Ultralight]

Not a lot of presidents who are totally great guys.

[ToomuchStuff]

I understand that we are stuck with him, barring unforeseen events, but I wish there was a way that the 85006 could be immune from his governance for real.Rob

Taking that packed bag and moving out of his governance while renouncing your citizenship IS a legal way.
This is not that hard to understand and you keep saying it. You should probably quit complaining/worrying and use that energy to save up for it, so when the funeral is done, and you have no one left here, you head straight to the airport.

[IshbelRobertson]

Why does he keep going to Scotland? Maybe he is not really a US citizen, but a Scottish citizen.Then he would not really be a legitimate president. Maybe his birth certificate is fake. Maybe the birtherism he unleashed on Obama, and later recanted, was psychological projection.:devil:

Oh no, you’re not going to foist that ‘no mark’ on us! He’s all yours.

[Tybee]

Well, he is actually half Scottish, apparently:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mary_Anne_MacLeod_Trump

[dado potato]

Historically, the United States has previously had a President whose public approval fell. For example Harry S. Truman. Truman was blamed for post-WWII inflation in meat prices, and for labor strikes, particularly a nationwide railway strike. In the congressional election of 1946 the President's party (Democratic) was pasted. Thereafter the legislative branch was active in investigating corruption, subversion, and malfeasance. (McCarthy and Kefauver were major thorns in the presidential paw). Truman won the Presidency again in 1948 in an astonishing come-from-behind victory, but his "Fair Deal" proposed in his 1949 State of the Union Address was generally not enacted by Congress, with the exception of the Housing Act of 1949.


Boring history maybe. But "checks and balances" are still in the system. It seems reasonable to expect that Trump will have more opposition in Congress after November 2018.

[JaneV2.0]

Historically, the United States has previously had a President whose public approval fell. For example Harry S. Truman. Truman was blamed for post-WWII inflation in meat prices, and for labor strikes, particularly a nationwide railway strike. In the congressional election of 1946 the President's party (Democratic) was pasted. Thereafter the legislative branch was active in investigating corruption, subversion, and malfeasance. (McCarthy and Kefauver were major thorns in the presidential paw). Truman won the Presidency again in 1948 in an astonishing come-from-behind victory, but his "Fair Deal" proposed in his 1949 State of the Union Address was generally not enacted by Congress, with the exception of the Housing Act of 1949.


Boring history maybe. But "checks and balances" are still in the system. It seems reasonable to expect that Trump will have more opposition in Congress after November 2018.

I try to maintain the faith that this is just an isolated nightmare, and that it will be a corrected sooner rather than later. I haven't seen such wide acceptance of an obviously unfit--and proudly destructive--president in my lifetime.

[LDAHL]

Perhaps our current situation will give pause to those longing for a strong leader to “get things done” despite the political and constitutional obstacles. The pen and phone thing cuts both ways.

I would like to see the legislative branch retake some of the power ceded to the executive over the last century or so.

[JaneV2.0]

Perhaps our current situation will give pause to those longing for a strong leader to “get things done” despite the political and constitutional obstacles. The pen and phone thing cuts both ways.

I would like to see the legislative branch retake some of the power ceded to the executive over the last century or so.

Likewise here. They're too busy kowtowing to their donors; they don't want to bite the hand that feeds them. That's why I believe we have to limit political contributions. I couldn't agree more about "strong leaders." Do we really want a Duterte or Erdugan? I pine for the days when actual bipartisan wrangling and eventual legislation happened.

[LDAHL]

Me, I’m a big fan of gridlock when it comes to the feds.

[IshbelRobertson]

Well, he is actually half Scottish, apparently:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mary_Anne_MacLeod_Trump

Techically, yes. In reality he is an American of German and Scots parentage. We blame the German genes!

[razz]

:laff:
Techically, yes. In reality he is an American of German and Scots parentage. We blame the German genes!
I loudly protest as I have half German genes and am a very polite, thoughtful respectful person.

[IshbelRobertson]

Ah, but YOUR German genes are obviously much nicer than HIS German genes!

[Ultralight]

I don't think that is how genes work...

[LDAHL]

I don't think that is how genes work...

Doesn't a statement like that undermine a foundational assumption of identity politics?

[Ultralight]

Doesn't a statement like that undermine a foundational assumption of identity politics?

Yes.

[Alan]

Doesn't a statement like that undermine a foundational assumption of identity politics?I'm pretty sure the 21st Century Inquisition won't tolerate that type of heresy.

[Ultralight]

I'm pretty sure the 21st Century Inquisition won't tolerate that type of heresy.

Alan. LDAHL. Dudes. I am not that kind of liberal. Identity politics is, for the most part, an irrational and bad idea.

I go rounds and rounds and have been going rounds for years now with my fellow lefties about what a horrible pitfall identity politics is.

I am about universal healthcare, BANANA environmentalism, pubic education, and civil liberty. The best forms of all those punch identity politics in the face.

[IshbelRobertson]

I don't think that is how genes work...

Ya think?

That was meant light-heartedly.