The Trump Presidency – 2016

[RainMaker]

I also think it's a big issue to him because his mind is still back in the 90's. Tariffs were a huge issue with NAFTA passing. Same with China and currency manipulation (which they don't do anymore). Heck, even the national anthem bit is back from another era.

Maybe it's just him or maybe as people get older their mind fixates on issues that were important from when they were younger.

[ISiddiqui]

Originally Posted by RainMaker

Yeah it's kind of weird. Democrats for what it's worth have mostly been about free trade for the past few decades. It was one of the areas that both parties agreed on. And rightfully so as most of the studies have shown that it's beneficial to all parties.

Tariffs are a real far-left trade stance and I'm kind of surprised they've come back. I do think after Trump is gone Republicans will go back to how they were on the issue. It creates a weird form of welfare where the government is choosing winners and losers in business mostly to gain votes from specific parts of the country.

Originally Posted by RainMaker

I also think it's a big issue to him because his mind is still back in the 90's. Tariffs were a huge issue with NAFTA passing. Same with China and currency manipulation (which they don't do anymore). Heck, even the national anthem bit is back from another era.

Maybe it's just him or maybe as people get older their mind fixates on issues that were important from when they were younger.

Trump is basically channeling Pat Buchanan here. Back in the 90s, being anti-free trade wasn't just a left thing, but something the right was also in favor (with calls to produce things in the country, "buy American" and all that). Those in the middle (Bill Clinton, George H.W. Bush) were pro free trade, and generally the anti-trade folks became more on the far left (the 'fair trade' movement).

Trump is just re-shaking the cobwebs of the 'Buy American' Buchananites.

[RainMaker]

Originally Posted by ISiddiqui

Trump is basically channeling Pat Buchanan here. Back in the 90s, being anti-free trade wasn't just a left thing, but something the right was also in favor (with calls to produce things in the country, "buy American" and all that). Those in the middle (Bill Clinton, George H.W. Bush) were pro free trade, and generally the anti-trade folks became more on the far left (the 'fair trade' movement).

Trump is just re-shaking the cobwebs of the 'Buy American' Buchananites.

You're right. And the comparison to Buchanan is spot-on in more ways than just trade. Their views on race and sex are nearly identical. They both favor authoritarianism to democracy.

Difference is Trump has the personality that Buchanan lacked.

[GrantDawg]

Originally Posted by spleen1015

Maybe I wasn't cool enough in high school. Were these 'train' rapes common for anyone?

I know they happened. I went to school around the same time but not in the same social standing. But yes. I knew of several parties like that and knew who where involved. None of the girls ever pressed charges btw, and at least one girl transferred schools afterward.

[RainMaker]

I don't remember hearing about anything in high school but there was stuff in college I remember hearing. Parties where people got drunk and high and stuff happened. Don't think it was ever someone being held down screaming or anything, but stories about girls more or less passed out.

I should add this was late 90's-early 2000's so things had changed. Girls were much more careful when it came to covering their drinks and even looking out for one another. From what I gathered, stuff was much more prominent before then.

[Drake]

When I was in high school, we weren't even sure what to do when a girl showed up at parties. Sulk silently and drink more, mostly.

[cuervo72]

I...never got invited to any parties.

[Galaril]

Originally Posted by cartman

Evidently the spouses of people here on H1B visas that work is another undesirable class. The admin is moving to do away with H4 visas, which allow spouses of people with H1Bs to work in the US. We are going to lose one of our best developers if this happens.

Yes I will lose three of my top cyber security threat researchers on my team. They are all from India and there spouses all working on masters degrees or PhDs. These guys also frankly even at late 20s are lapping my US educated team of twenty other people on work load, effort and results.

[PilotMan]

Originally Posted by cuervo72

I...never got invited to any parties.

Me neither. Hell, I barely went in college because I needed to work and graduate in 4 years with good grades. I'd go back and change that if I could, but it has at least served me well.

[PilotMan]

dola


So if Trump already knows what the FBI should and shouldn't investigate in all things, because he already knows what is what, why have an FBI?

[Shkspr]

To gather evidence against the President’s enemies, of course.

[Thomkal]

And now we know why the staff didn't want him to give a lot of press conferences:


Trump says sexual misconduct allegations against Kavanaugh set 'dangerous standard'

[Edward64]

Originally Posted by molson

The idea is to protect American jobs and the American manufacturing industry. Make it more expensive to do business with China so that doing business in America becomes a better value.

I would add China cheating on IP (Intellectual Property) is high on this list also. If it was just on manufacturing I will be disappointed. And I'm sure its also, like the Chinese suspect, to blunt China's economic growth and emergence.

[Edward64]

Originally Posted by BishopMVP

Yikes. The first two allegations were vague and suspect enough they could be waved away, this one is a lot more explosive. Idk if it'll matter to the committee, but you just need two of Collins, Flake, Murkowski etc to vote against it (or convince McConnell they'll vote against it) for the nomination to be withdrawn.

Let's hear it from her two other witnesses. The nomination should be delayed to let this play out IMO. I'm still willing to give him benefit of doubt at this time but there's enough stuff popping up for committee to do some due diligence.

https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/sup...-could-n912491

Swetnick said in her statement that she later told at least two other people about the attack. She also says that she can identify other witnesses who could verify her statements. No additional witnesses have been identified or come forward yet

[Lathum]

From my untrained legal mind Blasey Ford is killing it. Even my far right in laws are admitting how credible she is.

Would love to hear from the lawyers and people smarter than me.

[jct32]

Not saying I’m smarter than you but her testimony so far has been much more believable than her previous vague remarks. So I agree.

[PilotMan]

Originally Posted by Lathum

Would love to hear from the lawyers and people smarter than me.

Well you've gone and shot yourself in the foot now haven't you?

[AENeuman]

Incredibly hard to watch. About half of the students in my program are 15-17 year old girls sexually assulted from their comprehensive school and wanting change. Fords testimonial is incredibly similar to the stories and trauma we deal with here.

It’s heartbreaking to see how these incredibly resilient kids may still be significantly traumatized decades later.

[Lathum]

Originally Posted by AENeuman

Incredibly hard to watch. About half of the students in my program are 15-17 year old girls sexually assulted from their comprehensive school and wanting change. Fords testimonial is incredibly similar to the stories and trauma we deal with here.

It’s heartbreaking to see how these incredibly resilient kids may still be significantly traumatized decades later.

Ugh.

I can't even imagine.

[BYU 14]

Originally Posted by AENeuman

Incredibly hard to watch. About half of the students in my program are 15-17 year old girls sexually assulted from their comprehensive school and wanting change. Fords testimonial is incredibly similar to the stories and trauma we deal with here.

It’s heartbreaking to see how these incredibly resilient kids may still be significantly traumatized decades later.

That is just heartbreaking, and shocking to see the numbers this still happens to.

[JPhillips]

Give McConnell credit, he told Trump Kavanaugh would be a risky pick.

[Logan]

Kavanaugh really looking like the ideal person to receive a life long appointment to the highest court in the land.

[mckerney]

Not really going with the "I'm just the guy who calls balls and strikes" approach here.

— Nate Silver (@NateSilver538) September 27, 2018

[mauchow]

This is tough to watch. The calender thing seems weird to me though.

[Galaril]

Yeah this is tough to watch. Yet, there are plenty of people in prison who very convincingly say they are innocent.

[Lathum]

Reading social media people
From both sides have already made up their minds and nothing will sway them. I suspect the same is true for the committee members. This is all a dog and pony show.

[ISiddiqui]

Kavanaugh is not helping himself here. He seems almost unhinged going from anger to crying in the space of a minute. You would expect him to have been coached to be more calm.

[tarcone]

Guilty until proven innocent. Welcome to America.

[Shkspr]

Don't worry, snowflake. Nothing bad is going to happen to Ol' Brettie.

[Galaril]

If even he could have been an unbiased SC judge if he gets on the court he is going to remember this attack as he obviously blames the democrats solely.

[Drake]

Originally Posted by ISiddiqui

Kavanaugh is not helping himself here. He seems almost unhinged going from anger to crying in the space of a minute. You would expect him to have been coached to be more calm.

I think you'd only expect it if your entire experience with human beings was television courtroom dramas. His real-time emotional reactions strike me as the most credible parts of his presentation.

(Not saying at all that it means he's telling the truth. People committed to covering their asses also have real-time emotional reactions.)

That said, I don't think it is going to do him any favors in the public consciousness.

I'm just glad I don't have to be the deciding vote in this particular he said/she said pick 'em. I don't think I could ever work myself into a 100% confidence that I'd made the right choice between the two narrative presentations.

If even he could have been an unbiased SC judge if he gets on the court he is going to remember this attack as he obviously blames the democrats solely.

I don't care which side of the aisle you're on, I happen to think that as long as we have gamesmanship in politics, the game *should be* a blood sport. Ifdon't want to live in a society where people can just make consequence-free accusations and that's an accepted part of the game, and whoever has the most power wins. If you make the charge and lose, you'd better be willing to accept that there will be downstream consequences. It's part of the natural checks and balances that keeps people from automatically defaulting to nuclear options.

I do understand that means justice won't always be served. People who are telling the truth will be disbelieved. Sometimes the bad guys win.

[ISiddiqui]

Originally Posted by tarcone

Guilty until proven innocent. Welcome to America.

Perhaps you have confused a Senate confirmation with a criminal court.

[tarcone]

Originally Posted by Lathum

From my untrained legal mind Blasey Ford is killing it. Even my far right in laws are admitting how credible she is.

Would love to hear from the lawyers and people smarter than me.

Good liars always seem credible.

And coming out 36 years later. Really? Esp. with the recent #metoo movement.
I call BS on this thing.

Politicizing this only hurts legitimate sexual assault victims.

Shame on the politicians.

[tarcone]

Originally Posted by ISiddiqui

Perhaps you have confused a Senate confirmation with a criminal court.

Perhaps you have never heard of due process.

[Lathum]

Originally Posted by tarcone

Guilty until proven innocent. Welcome to America.

You realize this isn’t a criminal trial?

[ISiddiqui]

Originally Posted by Drake

I think you'd only expect it if your entire experience with human beings was television courtroom dramas. His real-time emotional reactions strike me as the most credible parts of his presentation.

Well, I am a lawyer. That's why I said he hasn't been coached very well here. Usually when trying to blunt an accusation if this were a court of law someone would be informed to be far more calmer than this. It just seems like throwing emotional crap against the wall to see if anything sticks.

[Lathum]

Originally Posted by tarcone

Good liars always seem credible.

And coming out 36 years later. Really? Esp. with the recent #metoo movement.
I call BS on this thing.

Politicizing this only hurts legitimate sexual assault victims.

Shame on the politicians.

What does she have to gain?

[ISiddiqui]

Originally Posted by tarcone

Perhaps you have never heard of due process.

I'll echo Lathum... you realize this isn't a trial? What exactly do you think due process is?

[kingfc22]

He would have been better off leaving out mentioning this was some sort of left wing conspiracy to get back for the Clinton's, etc. At the same time, I can easily imagine a situation where those talking points came from Trump wanting him to mention it.

[Lathum]

Originally Posted by tarcone

Good liars always seem credible.

And coming out 36 years later. Really? Esp. with the recent #metoo movement.
I call BS on this thing.

Politicizing this only hurts legitimate sexual assault victims.

Shame on the politicians.

You are insanely out of touch if you think this is going to hurt women coming out against sexual assault.

[tarcone]

Originally Posted by Lathum

What does she have to gain?

Who knows. The real question is what does the left have to gain.

Pawns get whatever pawns get from the powers that be.

[Atocep]

Originally Posted by Lathum

What does she have to gain?

Obviously death threats, slut shaming, and general judgement. What doesn't she have to gain from that?

[tarcone]

Originally Posted by ISiddiqui

I'll echo Lathum... you realize this isn't a trial? What exactly do you think due process is?

He wanted a hearing right after the accusations were brought up against him. The next day. He should have been afforded this. But the committee hemmed and hawed and drug their feet, while the left assassinated his character.

He should have been afforded the right to his due process by havin a hearing that next day.

But the media stirred up a bunch of crap to muddy the waters, true or not.

How is that not affording his right to due process?

[Shkspr]

Originally Posted by Atocep

Obviously death threats, slut shaming, and general judgement. What doesn't she have to gain from that?

On the bright side, Orrin Hatch thinks she's hot.

[tarcone]

Originally Posted by Lathum

You are insanely out of touch if you think this is going to hurt women coming out against sexual assault.

So no false accusations have ever hurt women in their fight against this terrible thing.

Who is out of tough?

[Atocep]

Originally Posted by tarcone

He wanted a hearing right after the accusations were brought up against him. The next day. He should have been afforded this. But the committee hemmed and hawed and drug their feet, while the left assassinated his character.

He should have been afforded the right to his due process by havin a hearing that next day.

But the media stirred up a bunch of crap to muddy the waters, true or not.

How is that not affording his right to due process?

This is effectively a job interview. Not a trial. There is not right to due process.

[Lathum]

Originally Posted by tarcone

He wanted a hearing right after the accusations were brought up against him. The next day. He should have been afforded this. But the committee hemmed and hawed and drug their feet, while the left assassinated his character.

He should have been afforded the right to his due process by havin a hearing that next day.

But the media stirred up a bunch of crap to muddy the waters, true or not.

How is that not affording his right to due process?

It’s like the entire right has conveniently forgotten Merrick Garland exists.

[ISiddiqui]

Originally Posted by tarcone

How is that not affording his right to due process?

Because none of this is a trial. Due process means you get you get a fair and impartial trial when the state is seeking to deprive you life, liberty, or property. It does not apply in non trial instances.

[Atocep]

Originally Posted by tarcone

So no false accusations have ever hurt women in their fight against this terrible thing.

Who is out of tough?

Forgive me if I don't take the person that compared Hillary Clinton to the crazy bitch that cuts your tires seriously on matters that involve the view of women in society.

[tarcone]

Originally Posted by Atocep

Obviously death threats, slut shaming, and general judgement. What doesn't she have to gain from that?

You step into the public eye, you get that type of thing.

I have no dog in this fight, but I cannot really believe that she decided to come out 36 years after the incident happened. Where was she during the rest of his career?

And how did Kavanaugh make it through 6 FBI vettings and not even a sniff of this came out before?