from Salon.com:
The last three years have been dominated by one unassailable number: 42%. That's the consistent baseline of Donald Trump's approval, and while it occasionally dips when a small percentage of conservatives are momentarily flustered by his latest act of unforgivable evil, those wafflers always come back around.
Forty-two percent is a terrifying number, because it's about more than Trump. That number represents the percentage of Americans who have, it appears, wholly rejected reasoned discourse and democratic values. Due to the quirks in our electoral system that give disproportionate power to rural and suburban areas, and due to voter suppression efforts from the GOP, that 42% will likely control the Senate for the foreseeable future and will quite possibly win the presidency again in 2020.
As the side that still believes in facts, we have to grapple with these grim facts.
Posts
Trumps poll numbers will never be very good. He is a highly unlikable man with a crass manner and an inability to shut his mouth. However I will vote for him again not because I like him but because Democratic policies while well meaning tend to hurt the people they say they are helping. Every policy has a consequence. Obamacare helped some people but made the cost for others almost unaffordable, free college only seems free somebody still pays. Even the tax the rich mania only makes certain people feel good and accomplishes very little, there are not enough rich people to pay for the Democratic agenda.
ReplyDeleteHe's a disgrace, and the Republican establishment holding him up is even more disgraceful. Did you see his press conference yesterday? "National Emergency -two very big words". I swear the embarrassment doesn't end :( And then (after exposure to diagnosed cases and not being tested) he shook hands, handled the podium, handled the microphone... Obamacare is a subject worth discussing, as instead of the legislative improvements that might've been expected once the basic bill passed (as happened with Social Security and Medicare) we got roadblocks at every turn. TN refused the Medicaid expansion, so we've had massive hospital closures. If you look at the taxes on the wealthiest among us during our history you can see they accomplish more than you might realize. It's not the number of rich people that matter but the amount of wealth stockpiled at the top of the pyramid. "Free" doesn't mean without cost, and everybody realizes that. "Free" means the benefit of taxes paid gets spread out more and not concentrated among the wealthiest and the corporations. That's how we got a "free" highway system and "free" fire and police services. We have, as has often been said, "socialism for the rich and unregulated capitalism for everybody else".
DeleteAnd when is Trump gonna get that overdue physical exam he keeps saying he doesn't have time for? And don't get me started on the qualifications of his ever-expanding list of _past_ holders of positions in his administration. Last I saw his turnover rate -not including cabinet positions- was over 80%. "The Best People"? lol I don't think so. And the lies! Oh, the lies! And his judicial appointments will haunt us for generations. I could go on. And on. And... lol
I don't tend to talk about politics on my blog or on Twitter, saving it for Facebook, but I'm willing. Always willing ;)
Oh my. And I thought Trump was just in bed with Putin and not outer space too. (Smile). An even scarier is the fact that Trump might win in 2020. I'm not sure this country can take this. Let's hope the 42% drops off with the covid-19 scare. Happy Saturday and stay healthy. hugs-Erika
ReplyDeleteYes, Trump might well win. I'm stunned by that fact :(
DeleteDepressing and hard to understand how his fan base can willingly swallow the Kool-Aid.
ReplyDeleteThey are true believers. And they don't seem to understand the Democratic platform, policies, and views. How McConnell keeps getting elected is a wonder. But then my state elected Marsha Blackburn for some strange reason, so I'm not in a position to criticize :(
Delete...when you throw Russia into the mix, the number is higher!
ReplyDeletelol Ah, Mother Russia!
Deletewell I don't debate politics but I will share here and am proud to be a patriot that believes in the second amendment, less government control and for capitalism and our Republic form of government--the two democrats left running in this election, for me are scarier than Trump ever could be-one pushes socialism and marxism and pushes his agenda on the young people that don't know what that kind of government is Nothing in this world is ever Free-someone is paying for it-and the other one also wants our guns, and is very hateful and nasty to the public when asked a question-he is embarrassing to listen to and needs to be checked for dementia-not being mean here being real-he has the symptoms of dementia-I was around my Mom when she had it. and what about the lies and deceit of Biden and his son which is still going on.
ReplyDeletePresident Trump is Not a politician but he loves our country, donates all of his paychecks that he receives for this job and took this on to get our country back to the ideals of why we became a nation in the first place.
Also doing allot of reading-our President needed to call a national emergency in order for the hospitals and medical people to do their jobs to contain this virus-Obama put in so many controls and rules in the obamacare act that this was the only way to address what needs to be done. the hospitals had their hands tied with those regulations I also read up on the 1918 pandemic-My great grandma perished in that-and the area of the country especially around Pennsylvania that refused to self quarantine, and stop parades, gatherings etc was the area where the highest numbers of people died. The President at that time did not take the virus seriously
so I am grateful for this President doing all he can, and surrounding himself with people that know what to do in this medical crisis. also my claiming a national emergency he also releasing money to help people stay home and still get paid or pay for a babysitter so a single parent can still work
just my two cents worth I know I am the minority here but I stand proud
I'd love to engage you (not debate, but discuss) in a smaller, less public environment -that's what FB is for me, with my friends-only posts- because it's hard to really converse in blogger comments. But I will say these things:
Delete1) Democratic Socialism isn't Socialism or Marxism.
2) "Free" doesn't mean "without cost". It means that tax revenue goes to benefit the general good instead of lining the pockets of the well-heeled.
3) Nobody wants to take your guns, and I'd challenge you to find any actual evidence that that's the case.
4) If Biden is the one you're objecting to as "very hateful and nasty to the public when asked a question-he is embarrassing to listen to and needs to be checked for dementia-not being mean here being real-he has the symptoms of dementia" I'm wondering how you stomach Trump.
5) Trump is certainly a politician and has been for years now. There's video of him saying he is.
6) He donates his salary while costing so much for his golf trips to his private properties that he's already spent more on it than Obama did in 8 years, after having said he'd be so busy working he'd never have a chance to play. So far it'd take over 100 years of his salary to pay the cost he's incurred so far. Here's the count so far: https://trumpgolfcount.com/
7) Trump's response to this crisis has been mismanaged to an extreme I can't even begin to approach in point 7 of this comment. That the House has finally, at long last, passed a bill to address financial needs of the folks on the ground is a good thing. The Senate hasn't taken it up yet, but I trust that McConnell will return to DC soon (I understand he's in KY at a Brett Kavanaugh event of some sort) and allow it to be considered unlike so many bills that languish on his graveyard desk.
8) Yes, you're in the minority, both here and country-wide. He lost the popular vote and only won the presidency because of the archaic electoral college, which favors rural Republican interests and gives them more electoral college votes per person than Democratic urban voters get. It's resulted in the Republican candidate with fewer popular votes winning over the Democratic candidate with more popular votes every single time the electoral college has come into play since we've had the 2-party system we have now.
That said, you have a say and a vote. And you're welcome to voice it here or join the political fun on FB. I love political discussion both with folks I agree with and folks I disagree with. I've learned a lot from Trump supporters on FB. I'm dumbfounded by their continuing support, but I'm still listening.
I appreciate you taking the time to state your position. which is what is awesome about America Free speech!
DeleteI don't get into debates or discussions as it stresses me out and in the end no one changes the other person's mind as each side is "dug" in same as the different religious sides.
I usually let these posts pass by as I know most all of my friends here are liberal but just had to comment
I never expect to change anyone's mind. My goal is to understand and be understood. I don't find it stressful, but enjoyable as a social engagement :) You'd be welcome to share your opinion here any time :) I value input from you as we continue to get to know each other a bit :) I appreciate you being willing to step out on the subject.
DeleteThank you-I appreciate that-hugs
DeleteOMG, that's even worse than the virus. Valerie
ReplyDeleteYep. I've seen it described as a cult. He was right when he said he could shoot someone and not lose a single vote.
Delete