The Briefing Room
General Category => Politics/Government => Topic started by: sinkspur on August 29, 2016, 05:08:55 pm
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http://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2016/08/trump-should-not-be-president/497858/
There's Simply No Equivalence
Hillary Clinton has her problems, but Donald Trump is unfit for the presidency.
RON FOURNIER 12:03 PM ET POLITICS
On one hand, there’s former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, who oversaw “grossly inadequate” security at a diplomatic facility in Benghazi, Libya, the site of a deadly September 11, 2012, terrorist attack.
Misleading explanations by Clinton and other Obama administration officials fueled a congressional inquiry, which revealed her rogue email system, which led to an FBI investigation into her “extremely careless” handling of U.S. secrets, which almost prompted a public-corruption investigation into pay-to-play allegations at the Clinton Foundation. Only 11 percent of voters trust her.
On the other hand, there’s wealthy celebrity Donald Trump, who led the race-baiting attack on President Obama’s citizenship.
Who promised to build a wall along the Mexican border—“nobody builds walls better than me”—and unleash a “deportation force” on the 11 million illegal immigrants in the United States.
Who accused Mexico of “sending people that have lots of problems” to the United States. “They’re bringing drugs. They’re bringing crime. They’re rapists.”
Who dismissed the service of Senator John McCain and other prisoners of war. “I like people who weren’t captured.”
Who responded to fair but tough questions from the Fox News debate moderator Megyn Kelly by saying she had “blood coming out of her, wherever.”
Who bragged about his penis size. “My fingers are long and beautiful, as, it has been well documented, are various other parts of my body.”
Who claimed “thousands and thousands” of U.S. Muslims cheered the 9/11 attacks, which didn’t happen.
Who called for a “total and complete shutdown of Muslims entering the United States” and said, “I think Islam hates us.”
Who thinks he’s politically invincible: “I could stand in the middle of Fifth Avenue and shoot somebody,” he said, “and I wouldn't lose any voters, okay?"
Who encouraged violence against his critics. “Knock the crap out of him, would you? Seriously, okay, just knock the hell, I promise you I will pay your legal fees,” said Trump in reference to a protestor at one of his rallies.
Who threatened to “spill the beans” on Ted Cruz’s wife and suggested his GOP rival’s father played a role in the assassination of John Kennedy.
Who said Clinton would not get even 5 percent of the vote were she not a woman.
Who said an Indiana judge was biased against him—and had no right to preside over a lawsuit against him—because the judge is Hispanic.
Who responded to terrorist attacks in Orlando, Florida, and Brussels not with empathy or dignity, but with self-centered tweets.
Who said the father of a slain U.S. soldier had no right to criticize him and suggested that the soldier’s mother was silenced by her religion. (Khizr and Ghazala Kahn are American Muslims, as was their war-hero son, U.S. Army Captain Humayun Khan, killed in Iraq 12 years ago.)
Who urged Russia to hack Clinton’s email and release U.S. secrets.
Who is already sewing doubt about the sanctity of U.S. elections, the cornerstone of a democracy. “I’m afraid the election is going to be rigged,” he said without any evidence.
Who said that if he can’t prevent Clinton from winning the presidency and nominating Supreme Court justices, “Second Amendment people” can stop her.
Who said he was “softening” his immigration stances just before he said he was “hardening” them.
Who responded to the shooting of a mother in Chicago, not with empathy or dignity, but with a self-centered tweet about his appeal to black voters. (Never mind the fact that fewer than 1 percent of black voters tell pollsters they support him.)
On one hand, Clinton. On the other hand, Trump. That’s the unfortunate choice facing voters in a system rigged heavily in favor of the two major parties.
But there’s no equivalence.
On one hand, Benghazi and email and lies.
On the other hand, mendacity, bigotry, bullyism, narcissism, sexism, selfishness, sociopathology, and a lack of understanding or interest in public policy—all to extremes unseen in modern presidential politics.
I like to remind readers that there are other choices. While Green Party’s Jill Stein, Libertarian Gary Johnson, and independent Evan McMullin are unlikely to win, people should ignore partisans who say backing anybody other than Clinton or Trump is a wasted vote. That’s the duopoly protecting its selfish interest. The only votes wasted are the ones not cast.
On the other hand, Trump shouldn’t be president.
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Neither are fit for the Presidency, but Hillary just hides her crap better.
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Hillary is unfit, too.
We are so screwed.
But I still say, at least with Trump (doing my Lloyd Christmas imitation), "So you're telling me there's a chance." Trump is all over the place politically, but at least maybe once in awhile he'll get something right. With Hillary, we know that's not going to happen.
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Neither are fit for the Presidency, but Hillary just hides her crap better.
Correction: She has people who will willingly destroy their own reputations to hide her crap for her. I've never understood why they do it.
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The difference being that the media will watch Trump like a hawk. They will defend Hillary no matter what she does.
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The difference being that the media will watch Trump like a hawk. They will defend Hillary no matter what she does.
Very, very, true. Another reason I will vote for Trump over Hillary.
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Correction: She has people who will willingly destroy their own reputations to hide her crap for her. I've never understood why they do it.
Yes, that is a better explanation, and I guess they think there will be a payoff.
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Hillary is unfit, too.
We are so screwed.
But I still say, at least with Trump (doing my Lloyd Christmas imitation), "So you're telling me there's a chance." Trump is all over the place politically, but at least maybe once in awhile he'll get something right. With Hillary, we know that's not going to happen.
All too true. We can expect corruption from Hillary but at least she's personally corrupt and greedy. I don't think she'll have any grandiose plans to change society. The real danger from her is the Supreme Court nominees.
Trump might accidentally get something right but the scary thing is ... what if he got something very, very wrong.
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The difference being that the media will watch Trump like a hawk. They will defend Hillary no matter what she does.
The media may watch Trump like a hawk but they cannot deter him. He will simply call them corrupt and go on with whatever he wants to do.
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The difference being that the media will watch Trump like a hawk. They will defend Hillary no matter what she does.
That never changes, every election cycle.
Just put an "R" by your name and wait for the fireworks.
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First part is very true. Your second part...I respect your viewpoint. I see trump as a long lasting stain on the office of the Presidency and he has more potential for catastrophic negative decisions as POTUS than even Hillary. The all over the place politically is one thing but his extreme temperament, lack of intellectual inquisitiveness, and extreme narcissism are toxic for the office of POTUS.
Again, I understand your belief of there is a chance with trump. I respect you opinion and your ability to critique those who you support. That is something that has been lost by far far too many who will defend anything from the candidate they support no matter how contrary to their own morals.
:beer:
No more of a stain than the likes of Warren G. Harding. The good thing was that Coolidge succeeded him, and cleaned up most of the mess.
Now I'm not suggesting anything, but Trump is 70 YO, and Pence could step in seamlessly should ill health befall Mr. Trump.
I'm with most of you: both are unfit to serve as President.
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So I have a 90% chance that one will be a disaster and a 95% chance that the other one will be a disaster.
Both camps are running around saying "Not voting for me, is a vote for the other".
I was #Never Hillary back in the HillaryCare debates, before Trump was a #Clinton Donor.
This is just nuts.
No matter how this shakes out, I sure hope their are adults in the room who say things like:
"Why no, Mrs.Clinton, you can't take guns away from law-abiding citizens"
Or,
"Why, no, Mr. Trump, you can't shut down the press".
I guess we shall see.
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The difference is, that the media will aid and abet Hillary at every turn, while they will fight Trump at every turn.
The way I see it, the worst we get with Trump is Gridlock, which right now, doesn't look too bad.
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Correction: She has people who will willingly destroy their own reputations to hide her crap for her. I've never understood why they do it.
I guess their reputations don't mean that much to them. Certainly not as much as pleasing the boss.
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The difference is, that the media will aid and abet Hillary at every turn, while they will fight Trump at every turn.
The way I see it, the worst we get with Trump is Gridlock, which right now, doesn't look too bad.
Gridlock is underrated.
Gridlock is a good thing.
It should be difficult to pass bad laws that affect millions of people, just for the sake of "doing something".
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How can you honestly do a personality assessment of the two candidates and determine one to be superior to the other? Work for the Atlantic, that's how.
They're probably both horrible people who none of us who care to know in real life. My concern with Hillary is that she will be effective in getting her agenda through - restricting the second amendment, amnesty to illegals, and selling out public office. Even if Trump accomplishes nothing in office, he will still be a bulwark to the progressive agenda.
Actions speak much louder than words. Trump speaks vociferously, no doubt, but his words are miniscule compared to the real damage Clinton has already inflicted on our country. It might be different for me if the Democratic candidate didn't have a sordid history of lying and corruption, but she does, and no personality characterization of Trump will allow me to look past that. It might make one feel good to abstain for supporting either candidate, but once Hillary starts selling us out to special interests it will be hard to hold onto that feel good anymore.
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(http://i.imgur.com/Ix5Cu4M.png)
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My concern with Hillary is that she will be effective in getting her agenda through....
My concern is that her record of past "accomplishments" as Secretary of State is likely to continue to metastasize. The world is a far more dangerous place now, than it was 8 years ago, in large part due to her actions.
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My concern is that her record of past "accomplishments" as Secretary of State is likely to continue to metastasize. The world is a far more dangerous place now, than it was 8 years ago, in large part due to her actions.
Undoubtedly.
Clinton was already horrific based on policy and personality, but her recent facial expressions and the associated memes have me convinced you could make a killer horror movie with her and a chainsaw.
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Undoubtedly.
Clinton was already horrific based on policy and personality, but her recent facial expressions and the associated memes have me convinced you could make a killer horror movie with her and a chainsaw.
lol!
Seriously, though.... whoever takes the oath of office in January is going to be facing a host of truly awful problems. They'll be bad enough to prematurely age a healthy person, and to be disabling or deadly for a person with health issues. I seriously doubt that Hillary would finish her first term.
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(http://i.imgur.com/Ix5Cu4M.png)
Obsessing over Donald Trump's flaws obscures the total destruction that will happen to conservatism if Hillary is elected. We are already under assault by the liberal media, and they have been able to dominate the narrative for too long. I swear if I have to listen to four more years of criticism of gun owners coming out of the President's mouth I'm going to lose it! I've heard enough excuses for Obamacare! Hillary wants to expand it REALLY?
This should be a winnable election, given the weakness of our opponent. Socialists, sorry, progressives are taking over and we have no idea what catastrophic shape this country could be in by the time we regain control.
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Obsessing over Donald Trump's flaws obscures the total destruction that will happen to conservatism if Hillary is elected. We are already under assault by the liberal media, and they have been able to dominate the narrative for too long. I swear if I have to listen to four more years of criticism of gun owners coming out of the President's mouth I'm going to lose it! I've heard enough excuses for Obamacare! Hillary wants to expand it REALLY?
This should be a winnable election, given the weakness of our opponent. Socialists, sorry, progressives are taking over and we have no idea what catastrophic shape this country could be in by the time we regain control.
Acknowledging New York liberal Donald Trump's flaws is not obsessing. Most Trump faithful refuse to admit they even exist. I plan to not let them forget they nominated a liberal POS who is no better than Clinton.
As a Life Member of the NRA, the GOA and a gun owner for over 50 years, I, too, am tired of hearing the left attack the Second Amendment and law-abiding citizens, which is what pro-"assault weapon" ban Trump has done.
And I agree that this country is in catastrophic shape, made even more so by the guarantee that, be they named Trump or Clinton, the next president will be a New York liberal.
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Hillary Clinton is unfit for the Presidency. Any author who points out that Trump is unfit for the Presidency, but does not reach the same conclusion about Hillary, is not worth reading. In fact, Hillary is MORE UNFIT than Trump because she has already been proven to be corrupt in and abusive of positions of power.
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Hillary Clinton is unfit for the Presidency. Any author who points out that Trump is unfit for the Presidency, but does not reach the same conclusion about Hillary, is not worth reading. In fact, Hillary is MORE UNFIT than Trump because she has already been proven to be corrupt in and abusive of positions of power.
Proof is necessary to show how Trump is better than Clinton.
Acres of ink have been spilled showing the opposite, however.
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Acres of ink have been spilled showing the opposite, however.
Consider the source.
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Consider the source.
Riiight. Not the information.
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Acknowledging New York liberal Donald Trump's flaws is not obsessing. Most Trump faithful refuse to admit they even exist. I plan to not let them forget they nominated a liberal POS who is no better than Clinton.
As a Life Member of the NRA, the GOA and a gun owner for over 50 years, I, too, am tired of hearing the left attack the Second Amendment and law-abiding citizens, which is what pro-"assault weapon" ban Trump has done.
And I agree that this country is in catastrophic shape, made even more so by the guarantee that, be they named Trump or Clinton, the next president will be a New York liberal.
Yes, it is obsession over his flaws. Your two references to him being from New York further underscore that point. Trump has the endorsement of the NRA and is by far the most gun friendly candidate in the election who has any chance of winning, even more than the libertarian candidate. The NRA knows this, and that is why they are endorsing him.
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Yes, it is obsession over his flaws. Your two references to him being from New York further underscore that point. Trump has the endorsement of the NRA and is by far the most gun friendly candidate in the election who has any chance of winning, even more than the libertarian candidate. The NRA knows this, and that is why they are endorsing him.
When you consider that a couple of his "flaws" are that he is amoral and corrupt, and that he is clueless about the Constitution, isn't that worth speaking out about repeatedly??
It's not "obsessing" if the character flaws will make him a horrific President. It's love of country. It's common sense. It's concern for decency. It's understanding that without morality, the whole grand experiment of America collapses.
It's worth your consideration, @Axel, before you accuse the rest of us of "obsessing."
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Yes, it is obsession over his flaws. Your two references to him being from New York further underscore that point. Trump has the endorsement of the NRA and is by far the most gun friendly candidate in the election who has any chance of winning, even more than the libertarian candidate. The NRA knows this, and that is why they are endorsing him.
Note the topic of this thread; perhaps that will give you a hint as to why I have "pointed out his flaws".
Trump is unfit to be president as he is a liberal buffoon posing as a conservative. Fooling the gullible doesn't change who or what he is, it only makes fools of those who believe him.
As for the NRA, it can endorse whomever it pleases. Doing so doesn't change the fact that liberal Donald Trump has a history of opposing gun ownership and as recently as 2013 praised former NY Mayor Michael Bloomberg for "putting his money where his mouth is" in trying to take guns from law-abiding American citizens.
Donald Trump is every bit as liberal as his friend Hillary Clinton, and every bit as dishonest for pretending he's not. You can defend him all you'd like, but you can't change his history any more than can an NRA endorsement.
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The first problem is the title of this article. The word "but" should be replaced by "and." Saying"but" tends to negate everything said before the word. To say that utterly dishonest, incompetent, corrupt witch, with the blood of our guys in Benghazi on her hands, only "has problems" is an understatement of which the AP should be ashamed.
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No more of a stain than the likes of Warren G. Harding. The good thing was that Coolidge succeeded him, and cleaned up most of the mess.
Now I'm not suggesting anything, but Trump is 70 YO, and Pence could step in seamlessly should ill health befall Mr. Trump.
I'm with most of you: both are unfit to serve as President.
Yes, I am voting for Pence...now I feel better. :beer:
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The difference being that the media will watch Trump like a hawk. They will defend Hillary no matter what she does.
The media will watch Trump like a hawk? So what? Don't kid yourself. The media doesn't sign bills, appoint justices and isn't Commander in Chief of our military.
It seems that there are those who think Pence will also 'monitor' Trump...think again... the office of the VP has an extremely limited roll and has primarily two duties; to reside over the Senate and vote in the case of a tie and fill in if the president becomes ill or incapacitated.
Neither Hillary or Trump are fit to be president. Write in or vote 3rd party - IMHO it's the only choice!
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But I still say, at least with Trump (doing my Lloyd Christmas imitation), "So you're telling me there's a chance." Trump is all over the place politically, but at least maybe once in awhile he'll get something right. With Hillary, we know that's not going to happen.
I will adamantly disagree. It is better to have the enemy outside the gate.
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Trump's attack on Obama's citizenship was certainly idiotic IMO, but I don't see any evidence it was race-based.
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Trump's attack on Obama's citizenship was certainly idiotic IMO, but I don't see any evidence it was race-based.
Much of what Trump does is idiotic.
The rest is shameless self-promotion of a carnival barker who lacks the self-awareness to realize he is a walking punchline.
(http://i.imgur.com/0hcJr3U.png)