First... the U.S. Constitution is not my dogma.

 

How the Senate handles any SCOTUS nomination is entirely up the Senate Majority Leader at the time. The President does what the Constitution allows, and then the Senate does what the Constitution allows. It could go completely the other way... the President could decline to put forward a nomination in lieu of a pending election. Whatever they do, someone will bitch about it. We have an election for President every 4 years. The court is just fine on their own. They don't need permission, or supplied a fresh body from the other branches of government, to function.

 

According to the Wall Street Journal, Robert Mueller called up a Grand Jury on the Russia ordeal. Reliable source, and I believe them. As the story goes, a Grand Jury can indict a ham sandwich. I'm curious how many ham sandwiches there are in Washington DC

 

Sure sounds like you want everyone to be a "Constitution-thumber" >_>

 

Yes the entire thing was done "legal", still has a terrible stench surrounding it. I would bitch about any side doing such tactics as a means of holding a position hostage. And while true SCOTUS court's are obliged to hold any number of seats, sure helps to have a tie-breaker (Pence is living proof).

 

Speaking about the obvious ham in the WH, he keeps showing he isn't a politician (both his weakness and his strenght). While a politician would be as vague as possible (unless not in power, then paradise is offered, something which Trump did to), Trump is nothing but straight-up, which makes all the backpaddling which happen in timeframes as small as a week that more boggling that large swaths of the US doesn't bother with changing their views. Tying that to the Mueller inquiry with the recent "ooo, he actually did help his son in his written testimony, as any good father would".

 

And while you folks yourself have been pretty mellow about it, sure alot of Republicans think an indictment is anything but the obvious admission of guilt, see Hillary.

 

 

Trump became a politician the minute he was elected to hold a public office. Holding a public office is part of the definition of a political after all...

 

What would US constitution say about Robert E. Lee? 

 

 

Shah what do you mean?

 

 

Trump became a politician the minute he was elected to hold a public office. Holding a public office is part of the definition of a political after all...

 

 

You know what I mean >_>

I know, I know... I was pointing more to the fact that he uses that as an 'excuse' for everything. I.e. I'm not a politician, therefore my errors/mistakes in politics don't count etc etc

He uses it less as an excuse but more as a modus operandi >_>

He uses it less as an excuse but more as a modus operandi >_>

 

Betsy, his MO is to have an excuse... bottom line 'it wasn't me' is what he is about

Not many excuses have left his mouth thusfar, much blaming of X (anyone not him) has been going on thou

Precisely 

Well he isn't excusing his shortcommings on X, he is blaming present (and perceived) faults as being from X.

Which is the point He is using it (X) as an excuse

Not for his actions, he is using them as an excuse to DO actions. excuse pre-action instead of excuse post-action.

 

and I think we are now fighting over grammar, NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOooooooooooooooooooooooo

Not for his actions, he is using them as an excuse to DO actions. excuse pre-action instead of excuse post-action.

 

and I think we are now fighting over grammar, NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOooooooooooooooooooooooo

 

Honestly, I think he is doing both

 

Meh grammar XD

You know, I always admired Roosevelt for saying "the buck stops hear." There is no accountability in the White House anymore, not since Trump took office. I find it appalling that he just cannot act in the best interest of the country because a large segment of his core supporters are white supremacists and he doesn't want to alienate them. Now the KKK can say he supports them, but got bullied by a bunch of liberal, immigrant snowflakes into condemning hate. I am literally nauseated by my president.

I would have been happier had he stuck to his first statement. Going back and forth and onward to victim blaming is a disgrace.

No offense Sister, but it was Harry Truman that said "The buck stops here".

 

I find it a little funny that all these Democrats are climbing over themselves to tear down memorials to some of the most famous Democrats in US history. As much as I hate racists, it's still not illegal to be a racist. If they want to make it a crime to hate people because of their skin color, and start throwing them in prison because of their flawed characters, we better be prepared to have that debate in the halls of Congress, and change the Constitution accordingly. Remember that sword cuts in all directions, and we don't have enough prisons to hold them all.

 

The President, no matter who it is, can never be viewed as supporting an unconstitutional position. No matter what Trump says, it was going to be maligned and turned against him by the media that hates him, and everybody else that just hates him. It's a no win situation for him. Awful thing what happened to this leftist activist that died, but those shitheads had a court ordered permit to hold their rally, and they should have just ignored them. Ironic that no one cared this much about the Congressman that was shot, or the 5 police officers that were killed in Dallas, or more and more. I get tired of the double standards.

 

I hear they will be out again in Kentucky, and San Francisco. My guess is it will happen again. This is how wars are started.

Stop calling them Democrats in lieu of present day Dems, by that notion all Republicans should be tearing down those statues themselfes...

 

Destroying the past is a fools errand, thou glorifying it is a bad idea aswell (regardless of positive/negative of that past). Learn and better oneself from it, in this case both sides are indeed being jerks.

 

 

 

 

I would have been happier had he stuck to his first statement. Going back and forth and onward to victim blaming is a disgrace.

 

But he likes going back and forth!

 

His remarks would have been on point if not made during an actual altercation (by either side) happening at the moment. BOTH SIDES have done wrongs and should be called out for it, but Friday/Saturday it was time to call out the "alt-right". The entire GOP would be up in arms if Obama would have denounce 'both sides' when the Charlotte riots occured.

No offense Sister, but it was Harry Truman that said "The buck stops here".

You are correct on that. I know better than to trust my memory about these things, but it seems like a Ted R. thing to say.

 

I'm ignoring the rest of your comments because you know as well as I that making statements condemning hate and violence is presidential and has nothing to do with the constitution. You and I both know what a bully pulpit is (https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bully_pulpit), and its value.

 

No offense Sister, but it was Harry Truman that said "The buck stops here".

You are correct on that. I know better than to trust my memory about these things, but it seems like a Ted R. thing to say.

 

I'm ignoring the rest of your comments because you know as well as I that making statements condemning hate and violence is presidential and has nothing to do with the constitution. You and I both know what a bully pulpit is (https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bully_pulpit), and its value.

 

I thought you meant FDR... that was closer to correct Teddy said "Speak softly, and carry a big stick".

 

Trump did make statements condemning hate and violence... you guys just want to ignore that portion and focus on the part about both sides are to blame for the violence, which is the truth, but I have never met a Progressive that has ever let the truth get in the way of their agenda. I have hate in this as well, but I hate both sides equally... one side are racist pigs and the other side are opportunistic liberals doing what they do best. Did you know your favorite organization... the ACLU... represented these Nazi's in court to make sure they were able to hold their little party? Why would they do that? They would never pass up the chance to highlight what they believe are the flaws in our Constitution. They knew this would happen, and law enforcement was ordered to let it happen. They could have kept them apart. So... now people are killing each other. That's just wonderful.

 

I think back a few months ago when you inspired me with those words about people saying things you don't agree with, but you would defend to the death their right to say it... but then I remember Progressives are all about saying whatever sounds good at the time, but never intending to hold themselves to it. Just like the horrendous cries of outrage when Trump said he might not except the results of the election, but like Bob Dylan said... "The times they are a-changin".

Did you know I support ALL freedom of speech, including the right for Nazis to have rallies?  Like the ACLU, I believe that when you stifle any group, you are violating the constitution.  It doesn't matter what you say, I will support your right to say it.   I'm so glad you remember what i've said in the past.  I'm very consistent in my support of the constitution and free speech. While I support your right to be a Nazi, if that is what you choose, I reserve the right to call you a hate monger if I so choose.  That does not give you the right to run me over. 

 

Making  good use of the bully pulpit is not denying anyone's rights, it is standing up and offering leadership because you are in a position to make a positive difference.  People can choose to follow your example or not.  Trump does not make good use of the  bully pulpit.  He waits and waits to denounce hate crimes and white supremacists.  He doesn't have to take a stand, but I want my president to stand against hate in a timely, sincere manner.  I don't see him doing that.  You may disagree.

 

I believe you do not know how to discuss issues with someone who is in disagreement  with you.  You are forever changing the subject, ignoring the valid points that other people make, dismissing people, making statements that have no relevance, and saying inflammatory and wildly inaccurate things about people with whom you disagree in order to annoy and distract from their valid opinions.   There is no discourse with you, you make it black and white and you are always unwilling to bend no matter what.  I like sharing ideas and considering other points of view, you make it impossible for me to seriously consider what you say because you are so determined to be right that you "win" by simply exhausting people, not by making reasonable, persuasive arguments.

No offense Sister, but it was Harry Truman that said "The buck stops here".

 

I find it a little funny that all these Democrats are climbing over themselves to tear down memorials to some of the most famous Democrats in US history. As much as I hate racists, it's still not illegal to be a racist. If they want to make it a crime to hate people because of their skin color, and start throwing them in prison because of their flawed characters, we better be prepared to have that debate in the halls of Congress, and change the Constitution accordingly. Remember that sword cuts in all directions, and we don't have enough prisons to hold them all.

 

The President, no matter who it is, can never be viewed as supporting an unconstitutional position. No matter what Trump says, it was going to be maligned and turned against him by the media that hates him, and everybody else that just hates him. It's a no win situation for him. Awful thing what happened to this leftist activist that died, but those shitheads had a court ordered permit to hold their rally, and they should have just ignored them. Ironic that no one cared this much about the Congressman that was shot, or the 5 police officers that were killed in Dallas, or more and more. I get tired of the double standards.

 

I hear they will be out again in Kentucky, and San Francisco. My guess is it will happen again. This is how wars are started.

 

Come now, 'no matter what Trump says [...]', that's going to far and you know it. The fact is that he should have condemned hate and violance embraced by the 'neo-nazi', 'k.k.k.' and whoemever/whatever other affiliation. Racism. such hate and violance are morally repugnant and should be condemned swiftly and without 'nuancing' or subjecting such condemnation to conditionalities, etc etc

 

There is no question of unconstitutionality of an action, whereby the President condemns an act that is by its very nature base and repugnant.

 

Leaving the doube standards aside, we are discussing a specific situtation and within that situation there was one right way to react. Whether or not the same people that have given condemnation in this situation, but not in the two you indicated, is not important. You can reprimand them and call them out on their hypocrisy, but it does not change the fact that condemnation was the right way to respond in this situation.

 

 

 

No offense Sister, but it was Harry Truman that said "The buck stops here".

You are correct on that. I know better than to trust my memory about these things, but it seems like a Ted R. thing to say.

 

I'm ignoring the rest of your comments because you know as well as I that making statements condemning hate and violence is presidential and has nothing to do with the constitution. You and I both know what a bully pulpit is (https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bully_pulpit), and its value.

 

I thought you meant FDR... that was closer to correct Teddy said "Speak softly, and carry a big stick".

 

Trump did make statements condemning hate and violence... you guys just want to ignore that portion and focus on the part about both sides are to blame for the violence, which is the truth, but I have never met a Progressive that has ever let the truth get in the way of their agenda. I have hate in this as well, but I hate both sides equally... one side are racist pigs and the other side are opportunistic liberals doing what they do best. Did you know your favorite organization... the ACLU... represented these Nazi's in court to make sure they were able to hold their little party? Why would they do that? They would never pass up the chance to highlight what they believe are the flaws in our Constitution. They knew this would happen, and law enforcement was ordered to let it happen. They could have kept them apart. So... now people are killing each other. That's just wonderful.

 

I think back a few months ago when you inspired me with those words about people saying things you don't agree with, but you would defend to the death their right to say it... but then I remember Progressives are all about saying whatever sounds good at the time, but never intending to hold themselves to it. Just like the horrendous cries of outrage when Trump said he might not except the results of the election, but like Bob Dylan said... "The times they are a-changin".

 

 

Lys, we/I are not ignoring it. But do be fair and recognize the fact, that he was very reluctant to condemn and having done it, he invalidated said condemnation less than a day later when he appeared to be giving moral equivalence to both parties of the confrontation. Were both sides guilty of acting with excessive force/violence, quite possibly - where that was the case (irrespective of the side) the full force of the law should be applied.

 

'Progressive that has ever let the truth get in the way of their agenda' applies to both sides of the aisle.

 

As a by-the-by, free speech does not equal the right to articulate ideas/opinions/positions without fearing retalition, censorship or societal condemnation, but rather equals the right to articulate ideas/etc/etc without fearing retalition, etc, etc, only so far as it does not conflict with others' rights and freedoms. Therefore this 'people saying things you don't agree with, but you would defend to the death their right to say it' stands fully and should, but not as an excuseto infringe on the rights and freedoms of others to which they are equally entitled.

 

 

I'm both conservative and Traditionalist Catholic, so my problem with Trump comes mostly from the fact that he appears to have no convictions or principles. Granted I could be wrong, but he seems to reinforce my opinion with every day that passes...

Hi Theo! It's great to see you again. I do believe that everything possible was done to prevent the Neo-Nazi scum from demonstrating. But when that failed, I don't believe the best course of action was to gather a few thousand leftists to attack them. They should have never been allowed to get within rock throwing distance. At the very least, when the streets are packed with people beating on each other, someone of authority should have had the common sense to immediately shut down the streets from traffic. The simple failure to take proper action to protect all these idiots from killing each other, and the lack of law enforcement on the scene, leads me to believe the people in charge wanted this violence to take place.

 

It's not the job of the President to babysit city Mayors on how to handle a riot in their city, nor is it the President's fault when they fail to properly handle a riot in their city. I'm sure there is an investigation in the works, and something tells me Jeff Sessions will be less friendly to the local officials than Eric Holder was in Ferguson. If this is laid in the lap of the President and he's blamed for this by a merciless media, can you imagine his actions when it happens again? The President of the US welds a heavy hammer.

So, Steve Bannon. I'm surprised no one has commented on that multi-layered debacle on this forum.

 

 

Yes, I know he was fired. The meme applies to all his former appointees..

 

 

I would like my president to succeed, I don't see it happening.

I never even heard of Bannon until the left lost their collective minds over him. From what I understand, Bannon was the last, sole surviving, keeper of the flame in the White House on all of Trump's campaign promises... so really you should be overjoyed that he was fired. It's absolutely nothing to me. I don't care who Trump works with. It's his administration, and he can hire who he wants to work with, and fire whoever doesn't work out. He's Donald Trump, and I knew he would fire people left and right if they did not perform. If he could fire McConnell... he would. It's not about party to him, it's results that matter. I don't expect he will keep anyone around him that continue to fail. It's another reason why he got elected.

/me hands Lys a deck of cards

 

you know any good cardgames? Got to do something until Trump actually does something...

/me hands Lys a deck of cards

 

you know any good cardgames? Got to do something until Trump actually does something...

One striking item is he has managed to either lose or fire a record number of appointees in his first 7 months. if the CEO of any major company had this many of his appointees leave in such a short time, they'd be removed.

I never even heard of Bannon until the left lost their collective minds over him. From what I understand, Bannon was the last, sole surviving, keeper of the flame in the White House on all of Trump's campaign promises... so really you should be overjoyed that he was fired. It's absolutely nothing to me. I don't care who Trump works with. It's his administration, and he can hire who he wants to work with, and fire whoever doesn't work out. He's Donald Trump, and I knew he would fire people left and right if they did not perform. If he could fire McConnell... he would. It's not about party to him, it's results that matter. I don't expect he will keep anyone around him that continue to fail. It's another reason why he got elected.

At.some point if everyone keeps getting fired or replaced, then it's a leadership issue. It's not like he is an outstanding businessman.