What? You think Republicans would ever remove Trump? I think you are confused. Gabbard is just virtue signalling.
The last 2.5 years where they didn't impeach him suggests otherwise. They didn't impeach over Mueller or Russia or any of a number of other things. Are you really suggesting that a President can/should take hundreds of millions of dollars of taxpayer money that Congress and the administration allocated to an ally in the best interests of US national security and hold it hostage while his *personal lawyer* tries to force another country to announce an investigation of a political adversary? Keep in mind, this was not the State Department or any other part of government, but the President's personal lawyer. And it wasn't about actually investigating - it was about making an announcement. You think this is perfectly acceptable behavior for a President? How does voting "Present" advance anything? The last several weeks included a comprehensive case against Trump with literally dozens of witnesses and the administration given every opportunity to respond or provide other facts. She asked no questions or for any further information. And at the end of that, she couldn't decide one way or another whether he obstructed justice or abused power? What is the point of a Congressperson if they can't even fulfill their basic obligations?
So how will her voting present heal the nation? So healing the nation involves no checking of Trump? Her reasoning makes no sense.
This guy. Why is this the go to shield for a certain type of poster. it's as if he thinks we have forgotten every article he has posted in defense of Trump. The more pertinent question i have you ever posted an article critical of Trump?
This is true I would have given her more respect if she actually voted no. There is room to debate the topic.
I think his actions are terrible and he is doing serious harm to the integrity of our country. My concern is not about Trump, but future politicians who will take notes of his 'success' and continue on this absurdity. My point is what you quoted me in the other post; Trump is manipulating the whole system. He is pitting the parties against each other. He has manipulated and continues to manipulate the country. His presidency was won by manipulation. He continues to taunt the Democrats into impeachment and it has finally happened. Up until 3 months ago, it was difficult to find a Trump supporter who wasnt hiding behind a handle. Now it seems every Republican is fully behind Trump and proudly admitting it. Democrats have done nothing to sway the moderate vote and have now incited the Republicans to show up at the voting booth. As you stated before, every moderate vote won over to the democrats is in effect 2 votes. Every moderate that stays home is in effect a vote for Trump. Moderates do not see Russian tanks and troops parading down Main Street USA. They do not see N Koreas nukes being launched at its allies. They see a strong economy (despite what one may call a strong economy) and are happy with status quo. Crazy Uncle Joe, Socialist Bernie and Warren are not even remotely attractive to moderates. Simply because I think beating Trump as the booth is a much better strategy than the current Democratic platitudes does not make me a Trump supporter or condone his actions. This is a massive mistake the rabid anti-Trumpers are making. I fully understand Tulsi's goal is to do nothing more than advance her career, whether its in the public or private sector. That said, as I pointed out in another post, she is resigning her post and, more importantly, she is running against Trump. Its a conflict of interest. Our country would be better served if all politicians removed themselves when they are in a conflict of interest.
I think angry Republicans were and will be upset enough to show up no matter what. Regardless of who the nominee is, Trump and Republicans will make stories and scandals about them to make sure the base shows up to vote. A wishy-washy moderate isn't going to inspire much of anyone to show up, especially in the battleground states in the midwest and rust belt.
Im not so sure I agree. This is all anecdotal, but I've seen a massive resurgence in Trump support from the hard core Republicans in the last couple weeks. I identify more as a moderate and those in my day to day life are generally moderate. None of us are excited by any of the options on the table. If voting is too big of an inconvenience, most of us probably wouldn't vote. (IE: bad weather) The hardcore Democrats are more interested in the impeachment of DT than beating him at the booth. Bottom line, IMO, Democrats continue to ignore the middle class and moderate votes.
I agree with a lot of your post. The electoral system is really depressing. Was just talking with my Mom in TX about this. Neither of our votes matter at all. She'll probably vote Trump, and I'll probably vote for any bag of protoplasm over Trump, but in CA. Just meaningless participation, except for the local stuff we'll also vote on. I really don't think Democrats, all inclusive, "ignore" the groups as you say. But they really struggle to communicate with them, while maintaining tight ties to the more firmly left-leaning groups with their various purity tests. I think it's a much more difficult balancing act than the GOP has to do.
I think we hold these two parties with two incredibly different standards in terms of how they message to demographics that don't tradionally fit the respective parties. I think none of the posters here including @Os Trigonum along with the general public holds any standards to how the GOP messages towards inner city minority demo. However, it seems like if the Democrats don't pander with exceptionally kind words about rural white America, they are criticized as elitist. I've said this before but I think the reason for this is that a larger portion of the conservative gop base votes out of a notion to "punish" those they disagree with hence why they chose the least nuanced candidate policy wise and chose someone who's best attribute according to his base is "triggering the left" while the liberal Democrat base votes for what many moderates such as @Space Ghost and @Nook see as unpramgamtic policy desires out of naive idealism. I would also say the left is far more focused on policy desires in a more fleshed out manner such as M4A even if many believe it to be not pragmatic while the right is more focused on culture wars and gun rights. The GOP party will fight for their base at the detriment of another demo. Their entire philosophy is built around a zero-sum paradigm.
Because Reagonomics/Supply Side took over.... Because the history of the US is moving to where the jobs are and lots of people stayed put. The working class voted against their self interest and decided they didn’t need to adapt. Terrible combination.
Effectively leading to what end? Nobody doubts Trump's ability to threaten, cajole, and scare to death Republican nitwits in Congress. He has no problem targeting people individually and threatening to destroy their political careers by dedicating a full hour of a televised campaign rally to attacking everything about them, making up bullshit conspiracies, inventing alternative facts, and generally acting like a junior high school bully. What does any of that serve but to reinforce his cult of personality? Where is he leading them exactly but into a political abyss? Effective leadership is surely graded on what positive agenda can be accomplished and not how debased an entire political party can become to serve its master.
