A report card on the Trump administration

Discussion in 'Political Opinions & Beliefs' started by Sandy Shanks, Jun 29, 2020.

  1. Sandy Shanks

    Sandy Shanks Banned

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    Some may think I am being presumptuous by evaluating the Trump Presidency. However, I beg to differ. As an American I have a perfect right to judge my President.

    By the same token, others have a right to question my judgement. In fact, I encourage it.

    Trump is falsely given high marks on the economy. Why? Because Americans give high marks to the President if the economy is doing well. Conversely, Americans are ruthless in their judgement if the economy is doing badly. Actually, Presidents have little control over the economy. To blame them or credit them is a mistake. As an example, Herbert Hoover had nothing to do with the causation of the Great Depression. It just happened on his watch.

    That factor notwithstanding, Trump has done nothing for our economy except threaten it with his high protective tariffs -- a liberal concept -- and his trade wars. The stock market treaded water from January 2017 to September 2019 because of Trump's trade war with China.
    Trump has, by far, the highest turnover rate of any President in American history.

    With his interference in our Presidential election in 2016, which included a four-month barrage of info that battered the Clinton campaign, it was clear that Vladimir Putin wanted Trump to be our next President. Putin knew his man. On the foreign front, the Trump administration has been a disaster at home, but a boon to Putin..

    By his own admission, Trump admired Putin. "I have great confidence in my intelligence people, but I will tell you that President Putin was extremely strong and powerful in his statement today," Trump said in July 2018 at a conference in Helsinki.

    Trump has weakened NATO, an alliance formed as a bulwark to Russian aggression. The allied leaders of Britain, France, and Germany no longer trust him. Trump camp finds no appeasement at Munich - POLITICO

    Trump's Iranian policy has caused Iran to resume her nuclear research, and America's menacing enemy is closer to a nuke than ever.

    The U.S. has been tossed out of Middle East talks because of Trump's pro-active, pro-Israeli policy, and replaced by Russia. The Arab republicans and our European allies cannot trust the U.S. as long as Trump is President. As U.S. Exits Syria, Mideast Faces a Post-American Era - The New York Times

    If you are Vladimir Putin, what is not to like?

    The Times has reported, "Intelligence officials warned House lawmakers last week that Russia was interfering in the 2020 campaign to try to get President Trump re-elected." Trump got hostile with the report. Trump does not want the American people and its representatives to know that Putin wants to help him get reelected, 2016 redux.

    Then there is the supposition that Trump is merely a figurehead. Someone else or, more likely, an unknown cabal is running our government? There is conjecture along those lines because of one overriding factor.

    To be quite frank, Trump simply lacks the intelligence to be the leader of the most powerful country in the world with the largest economy in the world. It is being suggested that he was elected as a figurehead and he remains one today. That would explain why Trump has such overwhelming support within the GOP, in spite of his moronic and erratic behavior. It is not Trump they are cheering --indeed, his fans largely ignore what he says and does -- it is the agenda they are supporting.

    Trump's leadership in the Covid-19 pandemic is questionable at best, and tends to be extremely optimistic to the point of distorting or misrepresenting reality. However, any conclusion as to his leadership in this crisis is premature.

    In conclusion, a matter of concern for many Americans is that, with each passing day, it is becoming evident that Trump's support comes from the extreme right. Also, because those who support him pay little attention to what Trump actually does and says, his support is almost cult-like.
     
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  2. modernpaladin

    modernpaladin Well-Known Member Past Donor

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    Before I read it... lemme guess, you give an F?
     
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  3. Golem

    Golem Well-Known Member Donor

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    Not too difficult to guess with this President, is it? Sorta like guessing how Harvey Weinstein would do in a Monastery.
     
    Last edited: Jun 29, 2020
  4. Sandy Shanks

    Sandy Shanks Banned

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    That is for the reader to decide.
     
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  5. Sandy Shanks

    Sandy Shanks Banned

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    There were 44,329 new cases of Covid reported today. United States Coronavirus: 2,681,415 Cases and 128,774 Deaths - Worldometer

    Finally, Arizona Gov. Doug Ducey announced an executive order beginning at 11 p.m. ET today that closes bars, gyms, movie theaters, water parks and tubing for at least 30 days. The largest increase in cases is from those between the ages of 20 and 44 who now make up 22% of hospitalizations in Arizona.

    All bars, wineries and breweries in San Diego County are ordered to temporarily close beginning July 1, county health officials announced Monday.

    This comes as several California counties are dialing back plans to reopen some businesses after observing a decrease in compliance with social distancing guidelines and an increase in hospitalizations.

    Nevada Gov. Steve Sisolak paused the state's reopening, saying it will remain in phase two during the Covid-19 pandemic.

    Houston's Covid-19 positivity rate has gone up 10% since April and May, Mayor Sylvester Turner said at a briefing today.

    Turner said in April and May the positivity rate was 3%, and it is now 13%. The city is averaging about 700 new cases a day.

    The city of Miami Beach is now mandating the use of face masks to help prevent the spread of Covid-19. Any person not wearing a facial covering is subject to a $50 civil fine, according to a statement from the city.

    I could go on, but the reader gets the point.

    Trump is sitting this one out.

    He tweeted approvingly of a video showing one of his supporters chanting “white power,” a racist slogan associated with white supremacists. He later deleted the tweet.

    Next he observed, "Seattle Looters, Agitators, Anarchists and “Protestors” are now refusing to leave the “CHOP” Zone." Then came, "Can anyone believe that Princeton just dropped the name of Woodrow Wilson from their highly respected policy center." And finally, "The Fake News @ nytimes must reveal its “anonymous” source. Bet they can’t do it, this “person” probably does not even exist!"

    That last was a reference to the fact that Trump is trying to cover his butt. The White House is busily trying to explain why it is that Trump doesn't read his morning intelligence brief, or PDB.
     
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  6. nra37922

    nra37922 Well-Known Member

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    Considering the FINE job that President Trump has done at triggering the left and democrats I would give him a B+. I cannot give him an A yet as the left's and dems mental meltdowns haven't finished.
    upload_2020-6-29_22-33-35.png
     
    Last edited: Jun 29, 2020
  7. quiller

    quiller Well-Known Member

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    He claims Trump has overwhelming support within the GOP, which is news to the Never Trumpers and other establishment types. RINOs and other demented breakaways. A New York Times approved conservative like Bomb-bomb-bomb-Iran John McCain.
     
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  8. Rockin'Robin

    Rockin'Robin Banned

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    Why would anyone expect him to as it was common knowledge that he never did and why would anyone care if does or not? Is anyone relying upon his wisdom and good judgement?
     
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  9. modernpaladin

    modernpaladin Well-Known Member Past Donor

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    Trump has overwhelming support among conservative and (little r) republican voters. The GOP largely hates Trump, but they support him because they know they wont get away with not supporting him. As soon as they think that changes, they'll stab him (and America) square in the back and run back to supporting ChiComm-led globalism.
     
  10. Golem

    Golem Well-Known Member Donor

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    I would go ahead and him an A+ on that particular aspect. Nobody could unite and motivate so many people against him than this guy. I don't think even if George Zimmerman ran for President he'd inspire such powerful bi-partisan repulsion.
     
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  11. The Centrist

    The Centrist Well-Known Member

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    The strong economy was his asset and that has now become the Sword of Damocles...
     
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  12. Golem

    Golem Well-Known Member Donor

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    There are two ways you can earn overwhelming support within the GOP. One is to convince Republicans that you will uphold their long-time held values. The other is to shrink the GOP to only those who support you at the expense of their long-time held values.

    Trump has used the latter with great success.
     
    Last edited: Jun 30, 2020
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  13. MJ Davies

    MJ Davies Well-Known Member

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    Blaming presidents is a national past-time. What do you expect people to do if we aren't fighting over who to blame for everything? ;-0
     
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  14. Golem

    Golem Well-Known Member Donor

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    False equivalence.

    The fact that Republicans made up fake scandals about Obama for which they have nothing to show for, does not get Trump out of the mess he has made in real scandals for which people have been indicted and sent to prison.
     
    Last edited: Jun 30, 2020
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  15. Rugglestx

    Rugglestx Well-Known Member

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    If the left would not go into full attack mode every time Trump blinks his eyes folks like me who don’t really like they guy might read their critics of him.

    But I do not because it’s ridiculous how they do exactly that. Boy Who Cried Wolf 101...
     
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  16. Golem

    Golem Well-Known Member Donor

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    Or if guys like you didn't just choose to ignore the fact that Trump commits a crime just about every time he blinks.

    BTW, you don't have to listen to "the left". Are you not capable of finding out on your own? I don't know if you're an American or not. But if you are, you have a duty to find out before you vote. Every single piece of it. If you don't want to listen to people who provide you "shortcuts" in the form of references, quotes, links... that's up to you. But that doesn't relieve you of performing your duties as a citizen. So you better get crackin' Six months is barely enough to just list Trump's crimes. Let alone read all the evidence available that he's guilty.
     
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  17. Sandy Shanks

    Sandy Shanks Banned

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    The ominous threat to our troops was in the PDB in a timely manner, and he didn't read it. That is the most likely possibility, and the White House is scrambling to cover for him ... again. https://www.businessinsider.com/tru...ible-russian-bounties-us-troops-ap-nyt-2020-6

    It is inconceivable that after the Times article went public, millions of Americans were aware of the threat to our troops, but our President was not.

    However, in Trump's case, that appears to be true. He was busy tweeting about monuments, those misbehaving protesters, and Joe Biden while avoiding the coronavirus pandemic which is getting worse.
     
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  18. MJ Davies

    MJ Davies Well-Known Member

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    It's not a party issue.
     
  19. Golem

    Golem Well-Known Member Donor

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    It's not. It's a Trump issue. And you seemed to be trying to dilute the responsibility.
     
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  20. MJ Davies

    MJ Davies Well-Known Member

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    That's not my intention. I was trying to convey that it's not ONE person's fault that things are the way they are. We could go on blaming the other side all day long, but, at the end of the day, we are in a chaotic mess and it's going to take more than mudslinging (in all directions) to overcome it.
     
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  21. Jestsayin

    Jestsayin Well-Known Member Past Donor

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    Presumptuous? You started this thread on another forum and you wound up responding only to yourself page after page. If you don't like republicans don't vote for them, meanwhile the campaigner in chief is busy, we have a fourth of July show coming up.
     
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  22. Spim

    Spim Well-Known Member Past Donor

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  23. Sandy Shanks

    Sandy Shanks Banned

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    The White House is in the embarrassing position of having to explain why the President does not read his morning intelligence briefing, or PDB (Presidential Daily Brief). One supporter suggested that the President doesn't have time to read military intelligence and the briefer must make it simple for him.

    In another age --meaning a very long time ago -- I was a Marine intelligence officer. I was the S-2 at 11th Marines, an artillery regiment. I am no expert on intelligence, but some things are just basic.

    Unfortunately, it would appear that no one in the White House understands the basics of military intelligence.

    Intelligence is not hard fact. Intelligence ranges from informed speculation to highly reliable supposition. It is why the source of the intell gives a reliability assessment of the intelligence, low confidence to high confidence.

    When the intelligence is verified, it is no longer intelligence. It has become fact.

    Here is the important part. If the President waits until intelligence becomes fact, the delay could be disastrous. When Obama gave the execute order for Bin Laden, that was not based factual knowledge of OBL's whereabouts. It was based on intell with high confidence.

    The White House insists that intelligence must be verified before it is presented to the President. "There were dissenting opinions within the intelligence community, and it would not be elevated to the President until it was verified." https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing...fing-press-secretary-kayleigh-mcenany-062920/

    I cannot think of anything more stupid.

    The disaster of waiting until intelligence became hard fact has already happened. 80 years ago the President waited for months of intelligence to become fact. The consequence: Our country became embroiled in an apocalypse, the most destructive war in the history of mankind, ending with the dropping of two atomic bombs.

    Throughout much of 1941 there was intelligence that Japan will attack the United States. No one was sure where, but the Pacific Fleet based at Pearl Harbor was a very lucrative target for imperial Japan. Neither the President nor the military chiefs of staff acted. With the exception of the aircraft carriers, the Japanese destroyed the Pacific Fleet, Sunday morning, December 7, 1941. World War Two began for the United States.

    All because intelligence was not presented to the President until it was verified.
     
    Last edited: Jun 30, 2020
  24. Golem

    Golem Well-Known Member Donor

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    It's not only that he doesn't like reading. They've had to hire external consultants in communications to find creative ways to keep his attention when important intelligence is passed to him. Professionals had to advice intelligence agencies on the personality and appearance of the person actually giving him the information to at least increase the chances that he retains some of it.

    For example, mentioning anything negative about Russia is sure to get him into such a tantrum, that he just won't retain anything transmitted to him that day.

    It's like dealing with a five year old

    https://thehill.com/homenews/admini...ies-have-hired-outside-consultants-to-improve
     
    Last edited: Jun 30, 2020
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  25. Booman

    Booman Banned

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    LOL!

    The children are still talking about Russia. If these half-wits actually did some thinking they would realize Putin putting a bounty on US troops would be proof He and Trump aren't really tight.
     

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