RockyRoadTravel

Imagine anyone within this GOP trying to confront Trump about anything.

Often times my best conversations are with conservatives who recognize a set of facts (and don't just cherry pick ones that support their preconceived bias) and just come to a different conclusion than I do - based on a set of real world facts. I value honest opinion. Making shit up, as the defeated former President and his minions do daily, undermines representative democracy, civil society and the rule of law.

Again.

I tried to delete a triple posting

I'm going to go back to the administrator versus the campaigner. Biden is a competent administrator, and less so a campaigner. The defeated former President, was incompetent and loves campaigning. In my opinion in 2020 it was less about Biden winning than it was about Trump losing. Biden didn't so much defeat Trump as Trump defeated himself. The majority of Americans were tired of the chaos and the incompetence of the Trump years, his weaponizing the Justice Department, his self dealing, picking fights with everyone but dictators and authoritarians who he loved. Trump defeated himself. It's four years later and Americans have forgotten, somewhat, about the chaos and incompetence of Trump. Is Trump going to defeat himself this time? I don't know. However, this time, the Democrats need to be running someone who can campaign and defeat Trump (if Trump doesn't defeat himself again).

Stop (don't stop). You're making me blush

Angelo Roncalli was a forger, a smuggler and lied to authorities to commit his crimes. His crime, smuggling Italian orphans out of the hands of Nazis. He became Pope John XXIII. Even IF Liz Cheney was a criminal, which obviously she isn't, her crime would have been bringing the worst President (you can pick worst in which way - incompetence, self-enrichment and corruption, morally, threat to the rule of law, flat out lazy) to justice. Brava Liz.

The same with Biden. He stumbled, and delivered infra-structure, substantial climate change action, reduced the trade deficit with China, strongest jobs growth rate since the 60's. I could go on, and I'm not even a Biden supporter. I do get your point though, is he going to be as effective as he has been in the past four years, over the next four years. He couldn't be worse than the defeated former incompetent President.

Sort of related. The Supreme Court managed to throw out the Sackler drug family settlement. (Where the Sackler family moved their head office to some obscure town in upstate New York in a blatant case of judge shopping, where they knew they had a judge who bought into the theory that the family members could be shielded from future prosecution from even people who weren't involved in the current suit. I digress.) Hopefully there can be a - somewhat - speedy rehearing of the case and a new settlement come to, without another bogus case of immunity being involved.

I couldn't quite hear what you said. Could you repeat that?

Effectively governing in the face of obstructionist Republicans. Just what Washington DC needs.

Karin Jean Pierre has got to go.

If the defeated former President is elected (God help us all) he would definitely sign a federal law mandating government control over women's bodies, if it was sent to him by a MAGA House/Senate majority. Much like any issue, prevention is the way to go rather than obsessing after that fact over something that often could have been prevented. The extremists hate abortion so much then what are they proposing to prevent unwanted pregnancies? Spoiler alter - nothing. The best way to reduce abortion rates is to prevent unwanted pregnancies. And no I'm not suggesting hanging photos of the defeated former President in every classroom. Federal mandates that birth control is universally available Sex education and health information in all schools Paid parental leave Expanded childcare services in both urban and rural settings In the USA where abortions are being outlawed and criminalized the abortion rate is 15.9/1000 women. In Canada where abortions are considered a medical issue between a woman and her doctor, and are fully covered by universal health insurance the rate is 12.3/10000 women. Government control over women's bodies isn't the answer (MAGA extremists), prevention and supporting families is a far better answer.

When I see Gavin Newsom campaign - man he could skewer the defeated former President - I can't help think he's campaign for 2028. The defeated former President was relatively silent immediately after the debate, letting the press coverage be about Biden's bad night, rather than the constant lies Trump was telling. No wonder he rose in the polls. Trump is talking again. His polls number will likely go down a bit again. Trump does best when he shuts up.

What did the former defeated President used to call not getting to work until 11AM so he could watch TV in the morning - was it executive time?

Wow. I hope you feel better now. That was a lot of hate spewing.

It's curious that the Fed is continuing to resist interest cuts. Interest rate cuts would be a strong signal for "average Americans" about the strength of the current economy. Our allies, with higher inflation rates, are cutting rates (other than Japan which is a unique situation).

This discussion has deteriorated to posts of hot reporters, I'm not entirely opposed.

Typo on names in your last paragraph

FYI Ezra Klein fantasies are welcome.

The MAGA extremists don't need to govern, the conservative super majority on the Supreme Court is doing the legislating for them. Lifetime appointed legislature. It's the MAGA dream world, no elections necessary. Government for them is for theatrics not for governing.

Sometimes the whining from Trump is so hypocritical that all you can do is laugh at the defeated former President.

If Biden quits and Harris runs as the Presidential candidate. What happens to Gavin Newsom? Same issue as Trump/Rubio, both Newsom and Harris are from the same state which would cancel California's electoral college votes. In 2028 does he campaign against a sitting President or wait until 2032 when he's 64. I've noticed he's been a super fan of Biden's, and I'm thinking there's an element of self-interest there. If it's Harris, I'm thinking Harris/Shapiro, representing a "rust belt" state. And unrelated to anything, Ezra Klein, such tasty looking lips

France isn't used to coalition/minority governments as is Germany, Italy, The Netherlands and well most countries in Europe, and even Canada for that matter. It will be interesting who is eventually chosen by Macron to be the Prime Minister. But, thankfully, for now, the extremists, with their roots in fascist parties, had their expectations grounded. The neo-fascists are still the third largest grouping in the French parliament. Hopefully the center and left will find a way to work together over the next two years.

I wasn't saying that competence over the last four years isn't important. (Biden may have accomplished more in four years than Obama did in eight. Although Biden's agenda has faced an extremist super majority on the Supreme Court legislating from the bench.) I am saying that being able to article your successes through a shit storm of lies is essential. So far, Biden is a better administrator than he has been a campaigner. The next four months needs a campaigner not an administrator. Biden was elected in a wave of anti-Trump euphoria. The majority of Americans breathing a sigh of relief that the chaos was over. Biden was the agent of reason. There's been four years of constant chaos making and obstruction by the MAGA extremists and there are doubts about Biden's abilities to be the agent of reason that we need.