I may reply more, but your key question is why would trump help russia.
no one single answer, but mostly money. Trump wanted to build a tower in moscow, was deep in talks to get kremlin help, and wanted to please people in the kremlin who could make trump a lot of money.
russians wanted trump as president because russia and trump were against alliances. free trade, good order in politics, etc. Trump wanted to be president too.
because trump is an autocrat at heart and he identifies with autocrats. always has - not just putin. those are the people he wants to be so he sucks up to them as role models.
because russia really really didn;t want HRC president either. Anyone strong in defense of NATO and trans-atlantic alliances is someone putin will fight against. So putin and trump had a common enemy.
russians like chaos in america and europe... and so does trump. he pushed myths of crime and violence in america ('american carnage') so he can sweep in and pretend to be the solution. So trump was in favor of russian US political activity - same goals and trump saw russian propaganda as helping him.
another common enemy issue: europe. Trump loathes europe as a bunch of weak liberals who think they are better than people like trump. So he wants to help putin put them down a notch.
Again, this is fair. Personally I'm rooting for you to get away from your keyboard and go for a run. For the simple reason that this is the advice I should follow. 😉
If it boils down to money, then I hope we can agree on this: Trump was already filthy rich when he took the oath of office. In fact, every US President since Truman has been filthy rich. Random fact: when you called the Truman Presidential library, sometimes Truman himself would pick up. So that you understand where I am coming from, I view that man as the last great President.
Let's address the elephant in the room: Trump absolutely, undyingly, and with every fiber of his being hates Obama. The campaign slogan "Make America Great Again" comes from the line "We need to make America great again." That's the first thing that Trump tweeted after Obama won re-election. Trump has a PhD when it comes to the culture wars. Don't believe me? When someone asked him what he thought of North Carolina's "bathroom bill," he responded honestly: "I think people should use the bathroom they are most comfortable with." Yet he didn't object when almost every mainstream media outlet dubbed him "anti-trans." He understands politics, after all.
I don't agree that Trump is an autocratic. I would agree if you had said that he values loyalty (to the extent that he *kept* Pence in round 2, even though Nikki Haley or Ron DeSantis would have been better choices...see, that works both ways). And name a US President who *doesn't* value loyalty. LBJ famously said: "I want a man to kiss my @ss in Macy's window and tell me that it smells like roses!"
Trump also hates Hillary. He is not alone.
Trying to foreshorten this: Putin want the USSR back. He views Ukraine as part of Russia. If Cal-exit had happened (meaning if California had seceded from the union), so would every non-Trump supporter. The term "American Carnage" comes from Trump's inaugural address. It has nothing to do with Putin; it's a comment on American lack of direction and our reliance on what Trump viewed as inept leadership. Here is the book:
You will probably enjoy it, as, again, you don't seem to be able to say anything good about Trump, which is your right as an American (even an honory one, because at least you are engaged with issues you care about).
Now for the twist: Trump is not really a Republican. Don't believe me? Check out his policies before he ran, then test them against what he did while in office. He is strong enough to absorb the hate the GOP gets and not GAF, which is the one quality I see in him that makes him an effective leader.
Just got back from a run. It was nasty windy and cold.
I don't disagree too much with you, which is good.
but the last I disagree with. Trump may not be an Eisenhower or Bush or Reagan Republican, but the party is he and he is the party now. There is no Republican Party outside Trump. It is his personal political organ. Trump is a Republican now. So there's that.
"American Carnage" refers to crime, and specifically crime committed by African Americans and Hispanic Americans. It was not a reference to lack of direction at all. It is a pure dog whistle about minority crime that right wingers would pick up. The context is that only Trump could end the crime. (Trump did not end the crime). Context: "In his inaugural address, Donald Trump promised to save America from a hellish wave of crime and disorder. “The crime and the gangs and the drugs that have stolen too many lives and robbed our country of so much unrealized potential,” said the president. “This American carnage stops right here and stops right now.”"
I'm amazed by people who don't consider trump to be an autocrat. it seems so completely obvious. He'd probably describe himself as an autocrat, if you used synonyms. he and putin and orban have the same instincts, the same view of the world. It's his core thing.
As for trump being rich...well fine. Although I'd add other presidents to the list than just truman as not being rich. But being rich doesn't make trump any less grasping and greedy. Look at what he's doing to the GOP - forcing GOP fund raising to go through him, charging rent to every Republican he possibly can, etc. he's trying to make as much money off politics as he can. that's his deal. What he does. Shamefully.
the Christian-Kremlin-Kulturkampf axis in action... You can see how American right wingers love Putin for his anti-gayness and give him a pass for the murdering. Just as American right wingers love Trump for his racism and thus give him a pass for breaking just about every commandment.
" The Moscow Patriarch had repeatedly bestowed blessings on the Russian military, giving a historical golden icon of the Virgin Mary to a senior commander, for example, and casting the war as a holy struggle to protect Russia from what he called Western scourges like gay pride parades."
the Christian-Kremlin-Kulturkampf axis in action... You can see how American right wingers love Putin for his anti-gayness and give him a pass for the murdering. Just as American right wingers love Trump for his racism and thus give him a pass for breaking just about every commandment.
" The Moscow Patriarch had repeatedly bestowed blessings on the Russian military, giving a historical golden icon of the Virgin Mary to a senior commander, for example, and casting the war as a holy struggle to protect Russia from what he called Western scourges like gay pride parades."
Meanwhile, back in reality. Trump is the only president in US history to be pro gay marriage when he took office.
the Christian-Kremlin-Kulturkampf axis in action... You can see how American right wingers love Putin for his anti-gayness and give him a pass for the murdering. Just as American right wingers love Trump for his racism and thus give him a pass for breaking just about every commandment.
" The Moscow Patriarch had repeatedly bestowed blessings on the Russian military, giving a historical golden icon of the Virgin Mary to a senior commander, for example, and casting the war as a holy struggle to protect Russia from what he called Western scourges like gay pride parades."
Meanwhile, back in reality. Trump is the only president in US history to be pro gay marriage when he took office.
you forgot about President Joe Biden
but also, to be fair, trump took both sides of the issue during the years up to the campaign - a very muddled, wishy washy position Trump had on gay marrriage.
Something like 'well I don't like it much and my SCOTUS picks might be against it but for now it's the law of the land and I don't really care too much about it.'
Meanwhile, back in reality. Trump is the only president in US history to be pro gay marriage when he took office.
you forgot about President Joe Biden
but also, to be fair, trump took both sides of the issue during the years up to the campaign - a very muddled, wishy washy position Trump had on gay marrriage.
Something like 'well I don't like it much and my SCOTUS picks might be against it but for now it's the law of the land and I don't really care too much about it.'
Kathryn Kimball Mizelle (née Kathryn Anne Kimball; born 1987) is an American lawyer and jurist serving as a United States district judge of the United States District Court for the Middle District of Florida. At age 33, she w...
but also, to be fair, trump took both sides of the issue during the years up to the campaign - a very muddled, wishy washy position Trump had on gay marrriage.
Something like 'well I don't like it much and my SCOTUS picks might be against it but for now it's the law of the land and I don't really care too much about it.'
Biden was anti-gay marriage for 50 years until pretending not to be became politically necessary. There isn't genuine bone in the man's body.
get your facts straight. Biden was the guy who forced the obama administration to support gay marriage. way back in 2012. That was way in front of most politicians.
Joe Biden’s long advocacy for gay rights reached a historic moment when the president-elect named former South Bend, Ind., mayor Pete Buttigieg as his transportation secretary. If confirmed, Buttigieg will become the first op...
here's trump's wishywashiness over the years. But sure, as president he did not care very much one way or the other, to his credit I suppose. But when trump does this, you shrug. When biden does this you say he does not have a genuine bone in his body. You are a simple hack.
"I think the institution of marriage should be between a man and a woman," Trump said during the interview.
"I just don't feel good about it," Trump said. "I don't feel right about it. I'm against it, and I take a lot of heat because I come from New York. You know, for New York it's like, how can you be against gay marriage? But I'm opposed to gay marriage."
(trump) has said in interviews that he would have preferred the court leave the decision on same-sex marriage at the state level. Trump also suggested in at least one interview that he would consider appointing Supreme Court justices who would support reversing the ruling.
Biden was anti-gay marriage for 50 years until pretending not to be became politically necessary. There isn't genuine bone in the man's body.
get your facts straight. Biden was the guy who forced the obama administration to support gay marriage. way back in 2012. That was way in front of most politicians.
Pete Buttigieg is one of the most unqualified people ever appointed to anything in the history of the United States... he couldn't manage potholes in South Bend but he's qualified to be the Transportation Secretary? LOL!
Biden didn't force anything. He sat down with a gay couple and then changed his life long opinion to win votes.
get your facts straight. Biden was the guy who forced the obama administration to support gay marriage. way back in 2012. That was way in front of most politicians.
Pete Buttigieg is one of the most unqualified people ever appointed to anything in the history of the United States... he couldn't manage potholes in South Bend but he's qualified to be the Transportation Secretary? LOL!
Biden didn't force anything. He sat down with a gay couple and then changed his life long opinion to win votes.
6. Trump Tower meeting: (1) On receiving an email offering derogatory information on Clinton coming from a Russian government official, Donald Trump Jr. “appears to have accepted that offer;” (2) members of the Campaign discussed the Trump Tower meeting beforehand; (3) Donald Trump Jr. told the Russians during the meeting that Trump could revisit the issue of the Magnitsky Act if elected.
Yeah...I mean that's all that's needed really. Is that "collusion?" Of course it is. Is it indictable as a crime? Well, Mueller left that up to the DOJ.
The Mueller Report and things leading up to it were uber important at the time (and still are important as historical record), but the amazing thing is that Trump did WORSE things since. What's worse than meeting with Russians in the Trump Tower to have them help them in the 2016 election?
1) Trying to bribe Zelensky to get dirt on Biden. I mean, of course he did this. It's the same thing he did with Russia in 2016, just a different country.
2) Saying OUT LOUD in front of cameras that Ukraine AND China should dig up dirt on Biden for his benefit. Ok, not even trying to hide his criminal behavior.
3) Told The Big Lie and continues to spread it.
4) Incited a deadly riot (and encouraged them to show up to begin with) to try to overthrow an election he lost. I mean, that's kinda pretty bad.
5) He gave classified information to a Russian Ambassador...information that wasn't even shared with our allies.
6) He accused Democrats of "treason" for not applauding his 2018 State of the Union address. Why is this so bad? Shows a level of self-importance and delusion that is beyond the pale.
7) He asked Georgia officials (recorded call of course) to fix the election for him.
I could go on all day listing his outrageous and criminal behavior from FELONY Campaign Finance Law violations to ~TWO DOZEN accusations of sexual harassment and assault to serial lying (he won't have time to golf!), to not getting his big ticket items done (no wall, Mexico didn't pay for sh!t, Hillary not locked up, the national debt not only was not on the path to being eradicated in 8 years but it skyrocketed during his first and only term), suggesting we inject disinfectants, Tim Apple and like flubs, and on and on and on with this idiot of a person.
I made this longer than a children's book, so Sally didn't read it.
No, no. This MUST be wrong. Because it paints a very clear picture that Trump is horrendous.
BUT, adult repeatedly throws out the classic pseudo-intellectual wisdom that "things are REALLY in the middle" (and the basement geniuses are the only ones who can sort it out). So, we obviously have to squint at Trump HARDER, just in case he's not really horrendous.
Pete Buttigieg is one of the most unqualified people ever appointed to anything in the history of the United States... he couldn't manage potholes in South Bend but he's qualified to be the Transportation Secretary? LOL!
Biden didn't force anything. He sat down with a gay couple and then changed his life long opinion to win votes.
Yeah...I mean that's all that's needed really. Is that "collusion?" Of course it is. Is it indictable as a crime? Well, Mueller left that up to the DOJ.
The Mueller Report and things leading up to it were uber important at the time (and still are important as historical record), but the amazing thing is that Trump did WORSE things since. What's worse than meeting with Russians in the Trump Tower to have them help them in the 2016 election?
1) Trying to bribe Zelensky to get dirt on Biden. I mean, of course he did this. It's the same thing he did with Russia in 2016, just a different country.
2) Saying OUT LOUD in front of cameras that Ukraine AND China should dig up dirt on Biden for his benefit. Ok, not even trying to hide his criminal behavior.
3) Told The Big Lie and continues to spread it.
4) Incited a deadly riot (and encouraged them to show up to begin with) to try to overthrow an election he lost. I mean, that's kinda pretty bad.
5) He gave classified information to a Russian Ambassador...information that wasn't even shared with our allies.
6) He accused Democrats of "treason" for not applauding his 2018 State of the Union address. Why is this so bad? Shows a level of self-importance and delusion that is beyond the pale.
7) He asked Georgia officials (recorded call of course) to fix the election for him.
I could go on all day listing his outrageous and criminal behavior from FELONY Campaign Finance Law violations to ~TWO DOZEN accusations of sexual harassment and assault to serial lying (he won't have time to golf!), to not getting his big ticket items done (no wall, Mexico didn't pay for sh!t, Hillary not locked up, the national debt not only was not on the path to being eradicated in 8 years but it skyrocketed during his first and only term), suggesting we inject disinfectants, Tim Apple and like flubs, and on and on and on with this idiot of a person.
I made this longer than a children's book, so Sally didn't read it.
No, no. This MUST be wrong. Because it paints a very clear picture that Trump is horrendous.
BUT, adult repeatedly throws out the classic pseudo-intellectual wisdom that "things are REALLY in the middle" (and the basement geniuses are the only ones who can sort it out). So, we obviously have to squint at Trump HARDER, just in case he's not really horrendous.
Which Trump policies are "horrendous"? Non-morons don't value personality above substance. Trump has some abhorrent qualities. Biden comes across as a nice guy in his rare lucid moments. Biden's policies are idiotic and bad for the country. Trump's policies are moderate and good for the country.
TDS is particularly virulent amongst the low IQ folks.