The 2016 Presidential Election Trainwreck

[Jeff Lebowski]

And are we really going to make a big deal out of one political party criticizing or acting in opposition to another political party? Seriously?

[Eddie]

Come on. If one isn't implying that Trump and Reagan are similar, then the point about the reaction is completely meaningless.

Or maybe what he's implying is that this isn't the only candidate people freak out about. They will freak out about good candidates and they'll freak out about bad candidates, so at some point the freaking out becomes meaningless and I become more and more convinced that the country is bigger than any one candidate and none of them are capable of completely destroying everything.

Which doesn't mean that I'm going to vote for the guy. Just that it becomes easier and easier to ignore those who are freaking out.

[Topper]

But a HUUUUUUGE difference: Reagan was humble, teachable and had an inherent sense of decency that made him a great leader, commanding respect from all sides and making decisions that he believed were in the country's best interests, not necessarily his own. He was self-deprecatory in a way that often endeared him to his enemies (where art thou, Tip O'Neill?), and welcomed the advice and input from others. I think of Reagan's first national speech in '64, his Morning in America speech while in office, his words after the Challenger disaster and other pivotal moments in his presidency. Then I think of Trump's self-adulatory drivel, his gloom and doom, and his observation that he "has the best words," and I weep.

So it took Reagan 50 years to learn how whacked out the Dems are.

Reagan had a lot of training in public speaking. IIRC, he went endlessly speaking to union members during early years of his work life, and also represented the actors union. He practiced working the stump for decades before he was elected, and did work graciously. Despite his extolling Republican virtues, he did remember the working class from all those years.

I don't know what Trump is or was. I really dislike him, and when I explained to my good friend I won't be voting for him, he told me then you're voting for Hillary. No, I'm voting for Johnson because both parties disgust me. I admit I like many of Johnson's perspectives but many of the economic ones are under-developed. In short all of the political parties are disappointing in light of their poor public policy statements. Let's compare the Federalist Papers of Madison, Hamilton and John Jay, to the current drivel from all parties and it is rather embarrassing how political discourse has devolved into drivel, platitudes and insults.

[Eddie]

And are we really going to make a big deal out of one political party criticizing or acting in opposition to another political party? Seriously?

Um...I think that is exactly what Shaka was trying to downplay. The freaking out/making a big deal/it's the end of the world reactions.

[Commando]

Hey. They freaked out about Reagan, they freaked out about Romney, now they're of course freaking out about Trump. I would say here's a case of the Boy who Freaked Out Wolf... or something like that. Hey does it make a difference that half of Republicans are also freaking out/jumping ship?

[Topper]

Hey. They freaked out about Reagan, they freaked out about Romney, now they're of course freaking out about Trump. I would say here's a case of the Boy who Freaked Out Wolf... or something like that. Hey does it make a difference that half of Republicans are also freaking out/jumping ship?

GOP should trade in Trump for Johnson and the Dems should trade in Hillary for Jill Stein.

[Jeff Lebowski]

Or maybe what he's implying is that this isn't the only candidate people freak out about. They will freak out about good candidates and they'll freak out about bad candidates, so at some point the freaking out becomes meaningless and I become more and more convinced that the country is bigger than any one candidate and none of them are capable of completely destroying everything.

Which doesn't mean that I'm going to vote for the guy. Just that it becomes easier and easier to ignore those who are freaking out.

Yes. "Hey, don't worry about what those democrats are saying about Trump. They were wrong about Reagan too!" Which is nothing more than a thinly-veiled apologetic support of Trump.

As is your response here. The notion that Trump is probably harmless because there is always some opposition to any candidate is a logical fallacy.

[Jeff Lebowski]

Boom.

http://www.vfw.org/News-and-Events/A...Star-Families/

VFW SUPPORTS GOLD STAR FAMILIES

TO RIDICULE A GOLD STAR MOTHER IS OUT-OF-BOUNDS
August 01, 2016

WASHINGTON — Presidential candidate Donald J. Trump has a history of lashing out after being attacked, but to ridicule a Gold Star Mother is out-of-bounds, said the new national commander of the near 1.7 million-member Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States and its Auxiliary.

“Election year or not, the VFW will not tolerate anyone berating a Gold Star family member for exercising his or her right of speech or expression,” said Brian Duffy, of Louisville, Ky., who was elected July 27 to lead the nation’s oldest and largest major war veterans organization.

“There are certain sacrosanct subjects that no amount of wordsmithing can repair once crossed,” he said. “Giving one’s life to nation is the greatest sacrifice, followed closely by all Gold Star families, who have a right to make their voices heard.”

[imanihonjin]

Boom.

http://www.vfw.org/News-and-Events/A...Star-Families/

Won't matter. Trump voters won't care.

[SCcoug]

Trump won the acceptance speech viewership ratings battle but those who watched are now less likely to vote for him.

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[Commando]

“Giving one’s life to nation is the greatest sacrifice, followed closely by all Gold Star families, who have a right to make their voices heard.”

...followed closely by working hard privately employing people in your own business pursuits...

[frank ryan]

Trump won the acceptance speech viewership ratings battle but those who watched are now less likely to vote for him.

Embedded Tweet

His speech was terrifying. And his followers chanted "yes you will!" Really creepy spectacle.

[frank ryan]

So it took Reagan 50 years to learn how whacked out the Dems are.

Reagan had a lot of training in public speaking. IIRC, he went endlessly speaking to union members during early years of his work life, and also represented the actors union. He practiced working the stump for decades before he was elected, and did work graciously. Despite his extolling Republican virtues, he did remember the working class from all those years.

I don't know what Trump is or was. I really dislike him, and when I explained to my good friend I won't be voting for him, he told me then you're voting for Hillary. No, I'm voting for Johnson because both parties disgust me. I admit I like many of Johnson's perspectives but many of the economic ones are under-developed. In short all of the political parties are disappointing in light of their poor public policy statements. Let's compare the Federalist Papers of Madison, Hamilton and John Jay, to the current drivel from all parties and it is rather embarrassing how political discourse has devolved into drivel, platitudes and insults.

The Teamsters endorsed Reagan twice! (they also endorsed GWH Bush). Despite what many trade unionists say (often citing the air traffic controller union move) he was not anti-union. You're right Reagan was able to empathize with political opponents and didn't see them as enemies. He wasn't perfect by any stretch and I don't approve of all his moves, but was a genuinely good leader who wanted to be president of the entire nation.

This default, hardline knee-jerk, unions are evil rhetoric that comes out of the GOP these days is a relatively (past 15 years) modern things. Unions are trended democrat but there used to be far more pro union republicans and the hyperbole was more reigned in.

[Jeff Lebowski]

Trump won the acceptance speech viewership ratings battle but those who watched are now less likely to vote for him.

God bless America. That speech was an abomination.

[falafel]

Won't matter. Trump voters won't care.

Trump voters won't, but lots of Republicans will. And independents certainly will.