[NY TIMES] I Am Part of the Resistance Inside the Trump Administration

If Trump fires Mattis I will go from being an extremely reluctant Trump voter to his biggest hater.

I was going to write in Mattis for President in 2016 until I got to the voting location and it was a disaster. The machines weren't working and people were leaving the line and saying F it I'm not coming back to vote. I viewed it as another government disaster and voted for the swamp drainer.

It was the best decision Trump made as President to put Mattis in as Secretary of Defense. The fact that Mattis got 98 votes and only one no vote in the senate to be allowed to serve as Secretary of Defense in that political climate tells you he was the right guy.

 

Who are you suggesting would have declared war on the US? Russia? They are the prime candidate, but that doesn't square with your rhetoric about Trump and Putin being tight....so do yourself a favor and think this one out and get back at me.

LOL what are you talking about? Russia LOVED Obama, having a beta b**** in the White House allowed them to get away with whatever they wanted knowing that he was too much of a p***y to do anything serious about it. The reason Russian aggression intensified during Obama's time in office was that they didn't respect him. The US is in a much stronger position around the world right now than it was a few years ago when they had a president that deferred to the EU, China, or Russia every time something came up.

He would have very likely put military assets on the ground and stopped it given his history. Of course, Russia wouldn't have even tried something like that if they didn't have a beta b**** like Obama in the White House.

I've heard that spin before, but Trump has actually killed Russian soldiers in retaliation for Obama's "red line", and when Obama was in that position he just curled up in a ball and started to suck his thumb. Actions matter more than your rhetoric.

Sounds like a pathological condition, perhaps you should see someone about it.

 

Who wrote it is irrelevant to what is revealed within it. You continue helping the dotard change the narrative. We know where you stand.

 

It is mind boggling to me that anyone, any of you, have any faith left in this dual power idiocy.

Behind the scenes blue team really does think they are saving us from ourselves and doing us a favor. But they also weren’t getting enough credit so....You know what would really change peoples minds? Letting Trump dig the ****ing grave as deep as he desires.

 

Your use of the term "beta b****", as far as I understand that internet slang term, implies that you are a follower of an "alpha-man" philosophy - a pretty misogynistic type of approach to life as far as I know. This explains better on where you are coming from with regards to the inordinate amount of distaste that you seem to have towards Clinton and Obama.

You don't assassinate national political figures - it must be some sort of international law or unspoken rule of engagement. (Kinda like the rule where you don't assassinate retired spies). If US sets such precedent, then Russia next assassinates a political leader that it doesn't like using that precedent as an excuse and that can set off a chain reaction and destabilize the world order. I assume that is one of the reasons, Mattis didn't take Trump seriously.

Russia has a huge fleet in Crimea and they deployed so surreptitiously to Crimea in a matter of days that even the Ukranians couldn't tell for sure what those troops were. No administration would have stopped Russia from doing this as they consider the entrance of black sea as a national interest of utmost importance - no American troops could ever enter within such close proximity to Russian border without setting off a HUGE geopolitical crisis. Your alpha president doesn't even have the balls to keep military exercise going next to a nuclear north korea!

Trump's Tomahawks sent to destroy Syrian base were telegraphed and didn't destroy ANYTHING. The russians that "he killed" went on attack of American held positions - we had no choice but to defend. In fact just the brashness of that attack on American troops invalidates your point that Putin is afraid of Trump.

Finally, outside of multiple media reports on how giddy the Russian diplomatic delegation was openly acting at Helsinki summit, I read Russian media regularly and there hasn't been a single bad article criticizing Trump or his actions towards Russia. Ton of articles criticizing people like McCain and US senate though.

 

LOL, that's a simplistic way of looking at it, females can be strong alpha leaders just as men can be, so there's nothing misogynistic about it. Calling Obama a "beta b****" is merely remarking on how he was an incredibly weak leader that other leaders took advantage of. Putin knew Obama wouldn't do **** if he took Crimea, so he did. Putin knew Obama would go home and get his shine box when the Syrians crossed his "red line" and Putin told him to piss off. He spent his entire presidency taking a back seat to others....and that's why so much work has to be done to restore the image of the US across the world as a leader, not just someone who will go along with what the "cool kids" tell them to do.

 

Weak leader you say?

 

Also you talk about Alpha men. Well Alpha men don't run and hide like you when they are badly outmatch intellectually on a subject..

 

Hah. You only converse in generalities & lies as you failed to address 95% of my arguments by using factual examples to do so. No wonder you are fan of Trump.

Hillary Clinton, is Alpha in a good (non-toxic/bigoted) sense of that word and you have no respect for her whatsoever. That's why I personally believe you to be a misogynist and/or tribalist. Your criticism of Trump above was just a cheap show.

 

Someday you goofs will learn to not engage Booby the self fellator.

 

Funny thing though Bobby ranaway. He wants nothing to do with me. lol I just like exposing how weak he is. He is like a Ben Shapiro wantabe

 

I addressed the relevant portions of what you said. Also, if you weren't a complete knuckle dragging moron, you'd know that I'm not a fan of Trump...so do better next time killer.

I never suggested Hillary wasn't an alpha type, she certainly is, my criticism of her has to do with her being a criminally corrupt and incompetent leader that honestly would be in jail if not for being bailed out due to who she is and who she knows.

Also, I have to admit, what you personally believe, given the quality of your analytical skills that we've seen here, is of absolutely no concern of mine. If you want to believe that I'm a racist, sexist, misogynist, homophobic, Trump supporter....go ahead. It's right up there with my 5 year old nephew believing in Santa Claus. The adults know better.

 

Just ridicule him for his views - he can't take it and will ban you. Problem solved.

 

I feel like I'm talking to someone from an alternative universe... Hillary's hubby is seen talking to an attorney general; a few negative off-the-job FBI personnel texts; missing emails and Comey comment - enough to raise a **** storm of corruption conspiracy theories and lock-her up chants. Trump daily documented twitter nagging at Sessions to do his politically & personally beneficial bidding; wink & nod pardons (wink at self-pardon too!); having a bunch of his inner circle people plead guilty to criminal offenses; his campaign meeting with Russians in search of materially beneficial anti-Hillary scoop; Trump foundation alleged financial crimes; missing tax returns and Comey comment under oath - garners cheers of alpha-male adoration & respect.

Misogyny/tribalism must be a hell of a drug.

 

At some point, attacking a fellow poster for potentially -- potentially-- having a different viewpoint just gets old.

I thought the article was interesting whether you agree with it or not.

If you chase away everyone who posts/says anything you might disagree with , you end up with no counter views to test your own views/instincts.

the whole purpose of this forum is to provoke thought. Sometimes, I think certain posters are dead on; sometimes I think they may be kidding.

But, if you are comfortable reflexively condemning people who disagree with you, it is time to give up.

My experience is that there are some issues that are black and white and a whole lot of issues that are gray.

Personal opinion: folks who don't see the gray and are at least willing to test their ingrained beliefs (right, centrist, or left) are not thinking -- they are simply mimicking something they have been taught

 

FWIW: My view is the point of this whole section of CF is to educate and instill debate. Folks will view some viewpoints as meritorious and others as bs.

I have lurked for years.

I sometimes read BTG and Jaygoogle debating issues, and I come away with a better understanding of the issues and the viewpoints that are out there. (I don't mean to throw Jaygoogle under the bus but my personal observation is that he/she is willing to discuss issues without rancor (usually), and I respect the tone and substance of his/her posts.)

I may catch some grief from BTG for saying this but at times I think he is posting incredibly persuasive posts. At other times, I think his message may be lost (whether you agree with it or not) by his tone which can come off as smug or off base.

But I do know that when I'm bored late at night and want to check in, if there weren't posters on each side of a debate willing to lay out their position (polite or not), there wouldn't be anything to read.

So, last comment on the soapbox: it is pretty easy to call other posters names particularly when they are controversial. But this entire forum is to provoke debate -- hopefully to educate some of us on other points of view. BTG may have his critics and his fans, but he does keep this forum from being a one sided self-congratulatory exercise even if you think his position and his delivery is off.

 

That's what happens when you talk to people outside of your echo chamber.

When it comes to Hillary, we have absolute proof of her committing multiple felonies. When it comes to Trump, you have innuendo. To you, the innuendo is the bigger issue. To me the provable criminal negligence/corruption is more important. If they ever uncover anything of substance on Trump, I'd be all for them throwing the book at him....I was never a fan to begin with. Till then though, I'm hearing a lot of wishful thinking.

Again though, calling people misogynists for not overlooking 100% proven criminal activity by a female or for criticizing a ridiculously weak MALE leader that spent 8 years bowing (sometimes literally) down to and taking a subservient position to leaders from Europe, Russia, and China is beneath you. Do better.

 

I don't think "provoke debate" should be the ultimate goal. A better goal is to "pursue mutual understanding". Not full agreement, necessarily, both a forum to allow people with different political views to able to see things from the perspective of others. Debate (hopefully, respectful debate) is a means to that goal.

When you have individuals who are unwilling to honestly engage with others they disagree with, that's really a disservice to that goal. "Debate", in that case, becomes rather pointless.

 

Who is 'we'? Republicans? As far as I know repubs are in control of house, senate, executive, scotus - why are we still not prosecuting the **** out of the proven criminal offenses that HIllary has committed? Or "we" refers to someone on this forum besides you that supports this "lock her up" idea? Is "we" an echo chamber that you go to? Your tribe?

On a serious note, can you please point "me" to the law she broke and what, in such cases, courts usually recommend in terms of punishment for breaking such law? Or laws as you seem to indicate multiple misdemeanors. Are there precedents where people have been jailed for exactly the type of action that she has been proven to have committed?

Who is the most reputable figure in Washington that, on record, wants our secretary of state tried and jailed. I don't trust Trumpers because they lie. Funny that Sessions says it but does nothing about it. Maybe there is nothing that he can do then? Maybe Trump is a blowhard? He was the original birther after all.

Oh and your misogynist view that political leader is supposed to project strength by the way he holds himself or shakes hands with other leaders has absolutely no credence with me. Point me to a reputable diplomat or two that has criticized Obama for his bows (did Saudis win at some policy or trade deal because of it?), as detrimental to American goals, at least. I find it a very funny argument, not a good one. And another proof of your hidden misogyny.

I will stick with my point of calling you what I think you are because being PC is not what you and Trump profess, so we are being crystal clear on issues.