Is it just me or has Trump become more over the top the last few weeks? Everything I'm reading about his plans should be win the election are down right terrifying! How can people support a man like this? Will voters really let this happen?!?!
I am dreading Thanksgiving. Most of my family and friends are MAGAt cult members. What can I do to deprogram them? When will Trump and his voters get sent to prison for treason against our democracy?
This is Grams! My family also is very divided. So we have all agreed not to talk politics. But this is what I told them recently, “Do your own research!! Listen to the speeches! Read what the politicians say!! Watch how they vote!! Don't rely on another's interpretation of what was said.”
Riffing off today’s column...there commentary about Biden’s age and it’s implications for his reelection are. everywhere. But Trump is only three years younger - if he were to win the election, at the end of his term he’d be the oldest president ever. He’s definitely making gaffes, malapropisms, and showing his age; and his health (judging only by body weight and public exercise) certainly isn’t ideal. While there are (especially the last couple weeks) more articles/columns about his age, there seems to be a dramatic disparity in the number of commentaries and rhetoric implications of Trump’s age for his election and the republicans. So...what’s up with that?
It seems that the United States’ support of Israel in the war on Hamas is deeply unpopular. I know that lots of liberals and leftists that are demanding a ceasefire, and recently read that 400 of Biden’s own administration are now also demanding a ceasefire. Why are Democrats - and specifically Biden - so slow to act?
If Nikki Haley would end up as the nominee (due to a Trump conviction, hopefully), do you think Republicans would actually vote for a woman as president?
LBJ made his announcement not to run in March 1968...while Gene McCarthy had already won the New Hampshire primary, Bobby Kennedy jumped in after that announcement. With Vice President Hubert Humphrey joining in April.
The campaign went through an intense run during April, May, June, ending with Kennedy assassinated after winning CA and SD.
POINT: If Uncle Joe steps down, he can't hamstring the party by backing Harris.
Therefore, it seems that Gavin Newsome would be the best positioned player compared to VP Harris, or any other up-and-coming pol.
Just saw where actor Michael Rapaport, one of the most vocal anti-Trumpers, now says that voting for "Pig Dick Trump" is on the table--because of the mess that "Smokin' Joe" has created. He didn't specify what the mess was, but I'm guessing he's referring to the Israeli conflict--which also seems to be an unpopular issue with young voters who are abandoning Biden but not necessarily gravitating toward Trump. It seems to me that if a third-party candidate was ever going to win, this might be the time. I know history says no, but I think a lot of people are tired of choosing between the lesser of two evils and are looking for another option. Your thoughts? And, if you were Biden, what would you do differently in the Middle East?
There's an interesting article by Karen Petrou in Thursday's New York Times about Bidenomics and its failure to resonate with voters. One quote struck me as pertinant "Listening to advisers — not voters — is a fatal campaign error, one that Hillary Clinton made in 2016. Joe Biden only narrowly pulled out a win in 2020 because Mr. Trump wasn’t listening to voters when it came to Covid. Now, they’re tuned in to Mr. Trump’s perspective on the economy because Mr. Trump is, in his way, listening to them." I do believe Biden's problems are in large part a consequence of this type of perceived disconnect, and I'm curious as what you think about Biden's apparent inability to overcome this.
Regarding "major media organizations": Is it true that (you said it) - metaphorically speaking - "we could barely coordinate what room a meeting was in"?
Chris - Do you see any signs of the House Freedom Caucus developing more situational awareness of the vote counting fundamentals in Congress? What would that look like in contrast to what they've been endeavoring that hasn't achieved their goals? Politico reported that new Speaker Johnson rejected the recommended stop gap funding alternative by the House Freedom Caucus to jam the Senate with the support of one Senator, Mike Lee, that would have undoubtedly triggered a government shutdown including no pay for Active Duty military or law enforcement and canceled the personal Thanksgiving travel plans for federal government employees. Instead, Johnson bypassed the Rules Committee and brought up the stopgap bill on the Suspensions Calendar garnering near unanimous support from Democratic House members.
https://www.politico.com/news/2023/11/14/mike-johnson-speaker-shutdown-democrats-00127083 "House Freedom Caucus members, in a meeting attended by Johnson and another ultraconservative ally, Sen. Mike Lee (R-Utah), said that they had their own strategy to make the Senate swallow spending cuts now rather than later. Johnson, clearly, chose to go another route.
“'We were going to fight. We had a well-laid-out plan yesterday, had a senator there, who had it worked out where as Bill Posey said, ‘the hot potato was with the Senate,’' Norman said about the meeting. “If you are scared of getting wet, you might not swim.'”
I am scared to death of a potential Trump second term, and I’m a heterosexual white person whose family has been here since 1638. However, I am considering leaving the country if that happens. Thoughts?
A lay observer's $0.02: even if you COULD leave (most of us cannot relocate), it won't help, because a Trump re-presidency will affect the whole world (even if indirectly). If anything, it will make certain OTHER places much worse, as Trump-y leaders realize "Hey - maybe I can get away with this sort of thing too!". Admittedly, you wouldn't move to North Korea, Russia, China, Turkey, Hungary, etc - but still...
Is it just me or has Trump become more over the top the last few weeks? Everything I'm reading about his plans should be win the election are down right terrifying! How can people support a man like this? Will voters really let this happen?!?!
I am dreading Thanksgiving. Most of my family and friends are MAGAt cult members. What can I do to deprogram them? When will Trump and his voters get sent to prison for treason against our democracy?
Seems your only course is to inform guests:
"There are many different points of political views and we don't want to come to the point of blows, so STF up about your political views."
Find a point you can agree with! And keep repeating it. Or get up and leave the room. :)
This is Grams! My family also is very divided. So we have all agreed not to talk politics. But this is what I told them recently, “Do your own research!! Listen to the speeches! Read what the politicians say!! Watch how they vote!! Don't rely on another's interpretation of what was said.”
Flood the zone with discussions about other topics of mutual interest. Recall favorite family lore.
Riffing off today’s column...there commentary about Biden’s age and it’s implications for his reelection are. everywhere. But Trump is only three years younger - if he were to win the election, at the end of his term he’d be the oldest president ever. He’s definitely making gaffes, malapropisms, and showing his age; and his health (judging only by body weight and public exercise) certainly isn’t ideal. While there are (especially the last couple weeks) more articles/columns about his age, there seems to be a dramatic disparity in the number of commentaries and rhetoric implications of Trump’s age for his election and the republicans. So...what’s up with that?
Sorry for the typos. Fat fingers.
It seems that the United States’ support of Israel in the war on Hamas is deeply unpopular. I know that lots of liberals and leftists that are demanding a ceasefire, and recently read that 400 of Biden’s own administration are now also demanding a ceasefire. Why are Democrats - and specifically Biden - so slow to act?
Ugh, used “that” in there twice. My apologies.
If Nikki Haley would end up as the nominee (due to a Trump conviction, hopefully), do you think Republicans would actually vote for a woman as president?
Unusual Thanksgiving sides:
~ Store Bought: Stouffer's Creamed Spinach - 2 frozen packages should suffice. Follow directions.
‐‐----------------------------------
~ Quickly Made: Honey-Glazed Sauted Carrots and Green Onions -
+ 3 Large Carrots, thin-sliced length-wise, then cut in half.
+ 5 Green Onion stalks, sliced length-wise, then cross-cut to make more manageable.
+ Bring a skillet of water to a boil, then add Carrots to par boil for 5 minutes.
+ Remove Carrots, dump water
+ Return skillet to stove, add a half-stick of butter at medium heat.
+ When liquid, add Carrots and Onions, 2 cloves minced garlic and saute until Carrots are still somewhat-firm.
+ Remove skillet from stove, stir in Honey to taste.
Keep warm until ready to serve.
If Trump wins, will the courts hold?
Trump will most likely follow his hero, Andrew Jackson, who supposedly said after the Supreme Court ruled the Removal of Native Americans was illegal:
"Let the Supreme Court use its army to prevent the Removal of Tribes west."
You may be right. Probably are.
Why is the GOP continuing to sponsor debates given the state of the primary?
It gives them cover to pretend that there is still a real Republican Party.
Assuming President Biden changes his mind and decides not to run for re-election, what is the hard deadline for candidates to enter the primaries?
LBJ made his announcement not to run in March 1968...while Gene McCarthy had already won the New Hampshire primary, Bobby Kennedy jumped in after that announcement. With Vice President Hubert Humphrey joining in April.
The campaign went through an intense run during April, May, June, ending with Kennedy assassinated after winning CA and SD.
POINT: If Uncle Joe steps down, he can't hamstring the party by backing Harris.
Therefore, it seems that Gavin Newsome would be the best positioned player compared to VP Harris, or any other up-and-coming pol.
Just saw where actor Michael Rapaport, one of the most vocal anti-Trumpers, now says that voting for "Pig Dick Trump" is on the table--because of the mess that "Smokin' Joe" has created. He didn't specify what the mess was, but I'm guessing he's referring to the Israeli conflict--which also seems to be an unpopular issue with young voters who are abandoning Biden but not necessarily gravitating toward Trump. It seems to me that if a third-party candidate was ever going to win, this might be the time. I know history says no, but I think a lot of people are tired of choosing between the lesser of two evils and are looking for another option. Your thoughts? And, if you were Biden, what would you do differently in the Middle East?
There's an interesting article by Karen Petrou in Thursday's New York Times about Bidenomics and its failure to resonate with voters. One quote struck me as pertinant "Listening to advisers — not voters — is a fatal campaign error, one that Hillary Clinton made in 2016. Joe Biden only narrowly pulled out a win in 2020 because Mr. Trump wasn’t listening to voters when it came to Covid. Now, they’re tuned in to Mr. Trump’s perspective on the economy because Mr. Trump is, in his way, listening to them." I do believe Biden's problems are in large part a consequence of this type of perceived disconnect, and I'm curious as what you think about Biden's apparent inability to overcome this.
If President Biden put country over self and could choose the Democratic nominee for 2024, whom do you think that would be?
Regarding "major media organizations": Is it true that (you said it) - metaphorically speaking - "we could barely coordinate what room a meeting was in"?
Will the Republican party survive beyond 2028, and if not, what will rise to take its place?
Chris - Do you see any signs of the House Freedom Caucus developing more situational awareness of the vote counting fundamentals in Congress? What would that look like in contrast to what they've been endeavoring that hasn't achieved their goals? Politico reported that new Speaker Johnson rejected the recommended stop gap funding alternative by the House Freedom Caucus to jam the Senate with the support of one Senator, Mike Lee, that would have undoubtedly triggered a government shutdown including no pay for Active Duty military or law enforcement and canceled the personal Thanksgiving travel plans for federal government employees. Instead, Johnson bypassed the Rules Committee and brought up the stopgap bill on the Suspensions Calendar garnering near unanimous support from Democratic House members.
https://www.politico.com/news/2023/11/14/mike-johnson-speaker-shutdown-democrats-00127083 "House Freedom Caucus members, in a meeting attended by Johnson and another ultraconservative ally, Sen. Mike Lee (R-Utah), said that they had their own strategy to make the Senate swallow spending cuts now rather than later. Johnson, clearly, chose to go another route.
“'We were going to fight. We had a well-laid-out plan yesterday, had a senator there, who had it worked out where as Bill Posey said, ‘the hot potato was with the Senate,’' Norman said about the meeting. “If you are scared of getting wet, you might not swim.'”
I am scared to death of a potential Trump second term, and I’m a heterosexual white person whose family has been here since 1638. However, I am considering leaving the country if that happens. Thoughts?
A lay observer's $0.02: even if you COULD leave (most of us cannot relocate), it won't help, because a Trump re-presidency will affect the whole world (even if indirectly). If anything, it will make certain OTHER places much worse, as Trump-y leaders realize "Hey - maybe I can get away with this sort of thing too!". Admittedly, you wouldn't move to North Korea, Russia, China, Turkey, Hungary, etc - but still...