His words were: “one of the reasons I’m here so much”. You stated that Trump told them “he only goes there because he’s engaged in a petty revenge feud”.
I’m asking you — with no analogies, and no accusations of lying: just this, right here, on its own terms — if a guy mentions one of the reasons why he does something so much, and takes the time to specify that it is One Of The Reasons, then has he thereby made clear that it’s The Only Reason why he does it so much?
I’ll believe you if you say that’s your interpretation; again, I just find it lacking.
I thought that was what this board was. Or, I’ve yet to encounter a useful argument here. Seems everything is always a back and forth, and how long winded and pedantic it is is in the eye of the beholder.
I would think that discussing how voters would react to the way in which politicians are speaking to them would be entirely in line with this thread on whether there will be a red or blue wave or ripple, while complaints about others having that discussion would be the hijack.
I really don’t get the hostility towards what is actually a discussion in line with the OP, while the only contributions that have been made otherwise in the last day have been complaints about the discussion not talking about what you all want to talk about.
I do find it bother interesting and predictive that Trump can insult a crowd and get cheers. That bodes quite a bit on how this upcoming election will turn out.
But, I’ll bow out, and let you get back to your discussion on why and how this will be a red wave or blue ripple, without discussing what politicians say or how people will react to it, as that is somehow a hijack or threadshit.
Your argument is basically “give Trump the benefit of the doubt” and no, I’m not willing to do that, not even a little bit. What he was telling Montana residents was “fuck you, I don’t care about you; I just want to hurt this guy”. He was saying it loud and clear, like a jackass braying and yeah, I heard it.
Kinderlachen it aint instructive or interesting or on point in any way.
Montanans KNOW that they do not matter too much to Trump or really to anyone outside of Montana. This many visits by a sitting president? That is freakishly weird for Montana to experience.
He is there so much because he wants the Senate assured and thinks this could be a pick up and because he specifically hates Tester, wants to punish him for being in opposition to him and his wishes. Saying that is no shock and no big woof whether he said “one of these” or not.
Your repeating the same points over and over again just clogs the thread like a big constipated poop clogs a toilet.
LOL yea that was August 74 was it not lol so almost 11. Sounds a little bit like you dont believe me, but whatever.
But thats an interesting take but think you missed my point almost totally. The thing was it not going to effect people much if you do what you are supposed to do for yourself and your family. I just get the feeling that the politicians have finally found a way to get voter participation up and its literally turning it into this is life or death for everybody, when its important, but lets not act like there will be gulags and internment camps if the Republicans win or our borders being immediately opened rampant taxation, and gun seizures if its the Democrats. The hyper awareness and the reality tv think, have Kardashian fans along with the WWE fans eating up the turmoil and conflict.
Another point also completely missed is we survived Nixon and his crap we certainly can muddle through the Donald’s stuff. Both sides/parties are fairly corrupt and flawed and can be bought, LOL I am more concerned about how the CIA from 2008 on was so lax in their communications that essentially Iran, China, Russia all were privy to information that got people killed, and its effects are still being felt today and probably years in the future. It concerns me that our allies supposedly had inklings about this and said nothing. Im also more concerned that the Russians China Iran etc. will take advantage of this division, like the Iranians did when Obama was negotiating with them and this all first came to the surface.
O, I got your point, Putnam6. I was only saying that your point is not the only point to be made. Thing about Nixon, sure he was a paranoid case, but I never doubted that his actions were what he thought to be in the best interest of the country and I’m not sure, to put it charitably, that that’s the case with trump. And I get what you’re saying about gulags and the rest, but the thing about incipient authoritarianism is that it can go from undiagnosed to metastatic in a freaking heartbeat. And that those who recognize the possible, but not necessarily inevitable, end are obliged to resist the beginning.
If an extra 10 million republicans show up to vote, that bodes poorly for democrats. Not just because the race will be tied about 50 million to 50 million, but because it shows the GOP need far less prodding to bother to show up to vote.
Even in 2010 when the GOP were highly motivated they only got 45 million voters to show up (to 39 million for the democrats).
If the GOP are more motivated to vote in 2018 than they were in 2010, then that is a terrible sign for the left.
Looking at that 538 article, the size of the systematic polling error that the Republicans need is around 2%. That would be smaller than the polling error in states like Wisconsin and Michigan in 2016, right? So until the votes are actually in, the Democrats should probably be pretty nervous. OTOH the competitive districts seem pretty diverse in terms of geography and demographics so presumably a systematic error across all of them is less likely.
I think a scenario where the Republicans hold on to a small majority in the House and gain a couple of seats in the Senate is absolutely possible. It would be interpreted by them as a victory and possibly they would double down on their agenda and attempt yet another Obamacare repeal. Hopefully, even in that scenario, the prospect of a coming general election and the small margin in the House would act as a constraint.
No problem my friend I can certainly understand and respect your point of view if you feel like its incipient and if it is indeed authoritarianism I would support the cause 100%. Do you feel that way about all republicans or is it just Trump? America is inherently democratic especially in the house, a strong case could be made that the republicans just pop up from time to time as a form of checks and balances. A strong point could also be made that this red tide everybody is worried about, is just the republicans in their last gasp, before its silenced by the democratic masses. As for helping people and your community as noble as being a campaigner is, much more effective at the local level, along with volunteering and donating time and money to those less fortunate. After all they are the ones being ran over by incipient bludgeoning authoritarianism. These threats of subjagation are no more weak and baseless than the fears raised from the exreme right from Obama’s electrion. Thats what scares me is a party steered and controled by it extremes, there isnt anything Donalds doing that cant be undone. Not to mention those never realized fears of the left if he was elected fears of war with North Korea a broken economy no jobs etc. etc.
I do appreciate the input and must admit still up in the air on who I’ll vote for on a local and national level.
What I don’t get - what I will never get - is why the New Jersey dems allowed Menendez to run. They should have pressured him, threatened to withdraw support, primaried him like hell…
They figured if it looked like he was going to lose they’d just replace him on the ballot super late. They did it once before, why wouldn’t it be allowed again since the precedent was set?
To answer your question, I think that trump is a fairly unique thing here. I have opposed other Republicans, of course, but do feel that we’re kind of in uncharted waters with this one. Coming out of a business background does give him a natural authoritarian bent, but unlike other businessmen who’ve become president, he hasn’t “done his time” in the lower ranks of politics like, say, a Jimmy Carter (who was governor) or Harry Truman (who served in the Senate). Nor has he been part of that other great American leveling mechanism, the military, where the son of a banker can find himself taking orders from the son of a plumber. In short, he has no grounding in democratic tradition and seems unlikely to cultivate it at this advanced age being as he is, as has been charitably put, “stubbornly misinformed”.
I agree about Trump being unique and the timing was spot on too. Dont think the Republicans will see those two come together for a long time, Even if they hold on to the house and senate and Trump get re elected. He will be hounded so much nobody will want to run on his coat tails. Who they do run out there will be the same ole same ole that doesnt motivate the base at all. Thats the thing Trump real or imagined was seen as an outsider this appealed and motivated the rights base. Just dont see the timing or person being able to replicate that. Think a lot of the right feels like its all a bunch of hooey anyway, they will just deal with it.
Georgia would be an enormous get for the Dems. If Abrams can win in the face of a concerted voter suppression effort, then I think one can reasonably conclude that Georgia can also vote blue in 2020.