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NEVERENDING ♾️ The NEVERENDING Political Discussion Thread

Not a huge Obama fan, but he will be remembered fondly. I think he will get good grades because he was after one of the worst Presidents ever, and before what looks to be one of the craziest Presidents ever. If Trump fails horribly, then Obama will look even better. If Trump succeeds, Obama will look better, but not as good.

He certainly was a good President though. He ushered in stability in most of the world through diplomacy, pushed his healthcare solution (whether you agree with it or not), created a pretty useless but cooly named cash for clunkers program, and was well spoken. He treated the Presidency with respect and honor. He may be the last President to do that.....
 
Ignores the guy from CNN for spreading "fake news" and goes straight to the Breitbart reporter :lmao::lmao::lmao:. The same reporter who has known close ties to him. Go figure.

BUT, to be fair CNN is basically the Clinton News Network anyways. Unbiased media is rare these days.
 
AG74683 said:
Ignores the guy from CNN for spreading "fake news" and goes straight to the Breitbart reporter :lmao::lmao::lmao:. The same reporter who has known close ties to him. Go figure.

BUT, to be fair CNN is basically the Clinton News Network anyways. Unbiased media is rare these days.
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This is one of the major things that I don't think is understood by the public at large. Biases do not equal fake news! Even if there are biases, reputable journalists base those on facts that can be proven and reference their sources.

And also, if you don't like what the media is saying about you, try doing things that aren't crazy.
 
The bias is the reason you have to check several news sources. CNN has a headline confirming the 2 page briefing letter, but of course they do. They were just attacked and called fake, plus that whole bias thing. ABC and NBC also have stories about it and who released the golden report. Fox has nothing, at least when I looked. The bias goes to what stories you chase or not. News is still news and facts are still facts.

There's a great video of Anderson Cooper taking on Kelly Anne Conway. He calls her out for changing the subject, pivoting, and tries to get her to say what he wants. Yeah, it's biased, but I wish more reporters would try to get people to answer the question.
 
dvdneal said:
Yeah, it's biased, but I wish more reporters would try to get people to answer the question.
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That is why I think Trump will be interesting. Whether he just doesn't know the answers, or is constantly just trying to confuse people, he never has coherent thoughts or answers. Most of them don't even follow a single line of logic and have lots of SQUIRREL! moments.
 
Trumpian answer-bot:

You asked about my tax returns, but a huge issue is ISIS and how Obama founded them. I can run my businesses and the country at the same time. Next.
 
dvdneal said:
The bias is the reason you have to check several news sources.
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If you had to pick the most unbiased news outlet, what would it be? I've always tried to figure that one out but never get anywhere. Even the BBC slants with US news now.

I think my biggest issue with Trump is that I don't exactly know if his crazy nonsensical answers are just because he is completely clueless, or because he's still playing a character. I just feel that there is no way he gets to where he is now by being that stupid.
 
AG74683 said:
I think my biggest issue with Trump is that I don't exactly know if his crazy nonsensical answers are just because he is completely clueless, or because he's still playing a character. I just feel that there is no way he gets to where he is now by being that stupid.
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Keep in mind the last Republican President was famously inarticulate...but yeah, dubya now sounds like Winston Churchill compared to the Orange Muppet.
 
Maister said:
Keep in mind the last Republican President was famously inarticulate...but yeah, dubya now sounds like Winston Churchill compared to the Orange Muppet.
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He didn't start off that way though. It's almost as if the GOP knows their core demographic responds better to 5th grade language and rhetoric?!

.
 
AG74683 said:
If you had to pick the most unbiased news outlet, what would it be? I've always tried to figure that one out but never get anywhere. Even the BBC slants with US news now.

I think my biggest issue with Trump is that I don't exactly know if his crazy nonsensical answers are just because he is completely clueless, or because he's still playing a character. I just feel that there is no way he gets to where he is now by being that stupid.
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I like NPR for unbiased information. They tend to report and leave some of the opinion out of it. For major networks I'll say ABC. If I want the straight news I go to the wire. Reuters or AP. Not that any of these are perfect so I check things like Fox to get a second opinion. At least when I actually care about a story.
 
dvdneal said:
I like NPR for unbiased information. They tend to report and leave some of the opinion out of it. For major networks I'll say ABC. If I want the straight news I go to the wire. Reuters or AP. Not that any of these are perfect so I check things like Fox to get a second opinion. At least when I actually care about a story.
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I would go with NPR as well. That's pretty much exclusively what I listen to in the car, and I feel like they do a reasonable job trying to stick pretty close to the facts and giving alternate positions consideration.
 
gtpeach said:
I would go with NPR as well. That's pretty much exclusively what I listen to in the car, and I feel like they do a reasonable job trying to stick pretty close to the facts and giving alternate positions consideration.
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Except when it comes to Clinton. They love Clinton and really don't like Sanders. That was painfully clear during the primaries...
 
A quote from Ben Carson answering a question from Sen. Warren during his HUD conformation hearings. She was asking about assurance that no taxpayer dollars would go to Trump or his companies (this is real, not CNN or FOX fake news):

“I promise I will do nothing that will benefit ANY American...” ~Ben Carson
 
dvdneal said:
I like NPR for unbiased information. They tend to report and leave some of the opinion out of it. For major networks I'll say ABC. If I want the straight news I go to the wire. Reuters or AP. Not that any of these are perfect so I check things like Fox to get a second opinion. At least when I actually care about a story.
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NPR is my general go-to, but I also get Reuters & AP on my phone. Their treatment of Sanders though is the first time I've really see them slant, and I was very disappointed by that. If you like getting straight to the point with minimal opinion or filtering, those wire reports are the way to go. For networks, I rarely watch them and when I do, it is Lester Holt on NBC (I just like the guy and am sympathetic to a fellow bass player). For Sunday morning opinion, I'm a Chuck Todd guy (true middle-class upbringing, looks like my brother).

If you are using cable news for anything, you are doing it wrong.
 
Hmmm

AG74683 said:
If you had to pick the most unbiased news outlet, what would it be? I've always tried to figure that one out but never get anywhere. Even the BBC slants with US news now.

I think my biggest issue with Trump is that I don't exactly know if his crazy nonsensical answers are just because he is completely clueless, or because he's still playing a character. I just feel that there is no way he gets to where he is now by being that stupid.
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I'm warming up to The Atlantic and City Lab

My personal go to paper is the HIGH COUNTRY NEWS from Paonia Colorado (mostly environmental stuff and dedicated to issues West of the Mississippi. The Christian Science Monitor was a great read back in the day (minus the editorial section).
 
The One said:
I'm warming up to The Atlantic and City Lab

My personal go to paper is the HIGH COUNTRY NEWS from Paonia Colorado (mostly environmental stuff and dedicated to issues West of the Mississippi. The Christian Science Monitor was a great read back in the day (minus the editorial section).
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I miss the daily print Christian Science Monitor and agree that for the most part, their writing is/was pretty balanced. We have a Christian Science Reading Room in our downtown and when I am walking past I will often step in and grab one of their weekly print magazine if they have any available. I mainly like it because if you get from the Reading Room, they don't expect you to pay and I'm cheap sometimes! I do however ocassionally drop a dollar or two in their donation box.
 
Say what you want about Obama, but what he did for Joe Biden was just simply a classy move. I've always respected Biden. He's had a lot of tragedy in his life, losing his first wife and daughter in a car accident in 1972, then his son in 2015. Sure he had some issues come to light in his '88 campaign, but it wasn't tremendous stuff like some of our fine politicians have done. Hell, his respect for Obama tanked his own '08 campaign.

I didn't always agree with the Obama Administration, but I think that team by far was one of the classiest groups in the White House in quite a long time. Policies aside, we are taking a tremendous step backward with Trump.
 
Hink said:
I don't think that anything made me more disappointed about Trump winning than giving Hannity any room to say he isn't a moron / money grubber / etc.

Stories like this..... sigh.
http://www.foxnews.com/opinion/2017...es-alt-left-media-well-deserved-beatdown.html
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"alt-left" are we just making up words now? It sounds like kids calling each other names.

WSU MUP Student said:
I miss the daily print Christian Science Monitor and agree that for the most part, their writing is/was pretty balanced. We have a Christian Science Reading Room in our downtown and when I am walking past I will often step in and grab one of their weekly print magazine if they have any available. I mainly like it because if you get from the Reading Room, they don't expect you to pay and I'm cheap sometimes! I do however ocassionally drop a dollar or two in their donation box.
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The Reading Room is supposed to give away their material and like it, but I'm sure they appreciate the occasional donation. Next time have fun with them and talk about Mary Baker Eddy. They'll love you forever.

I always liked the Monitor for honest reporting and good writing. I never read any of their op ed stuff. Personally, I like my news sources to sell me vitamins and crap like infowars.
 
AG74683 said:
Say what you want about Obama, but what he did for Joe Biden was just simply a classy move. I've always respected Biden. He's had a lot of tragedy in his life, losing his first wife and daughter in a car accident in 1972, then his son in 2015. Sure he had some issues come to light in his '88 campaign, but it wasn't tremendous stuff like some of our fine politicians have done. Hell, his respect for Obama tanked his own '08 campaign.

I didn't always agree with the Obama Administration, but I think that team by far was one of the classiest groups in the White House in quite a long time. Policies aside, we are taking a tremendous step backward with Trump.
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I agree. The Obamas and the Bidens really did seem to genuinely care about each other, more than just professionally. I have also been really touched by the Obamas' friendship with the Bushes. I saw an article this morning about how the Bush daughters had written the Obama girls letters both when they were entering the White House and now that they're leaving on what to expect in the transition.

I didn't care much for G.W., either, policy-wise, but it has been nice to have classy men in the WH for the last 16 years.
 
Planit said:
A quote from Ben Carson answering a question from Sen. Warren during his HUD conformation hearings. She was asking about assurance that no taxpayer dollars would go to Trump or his companies (this is real, not CNN or FOX fake news):

“I promise I will do nothing that will benefit ANY American...” ~Ben Carson
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I feel the right to say, I'm an urban planner, I'm qualified to run a hospital now and perform surgery!
 
Apart from a single c/w artist (Toby Keith) Trump can't find a single A-list celeb willing to perform at his inauguration. Artists who performed at previous Presidential inaugurations volunteered. Trump has offered to pay and still has no takers. Interesting.
 
I wouldn't do it unless it was for a life changing sum for me and my family. I still deeply regret performing with Huckabee a couple years ago.
 
I've said it before, I'll say it again. Trump's ego is too big for the job. He will make unprecedented history when he walks after having his feelings hurt by...whatever.
 
Bubba said:
Why? And, how? Do you have a crystal ball predicting some sort of impeachable offense to occur after Trump takes office?
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Keep in mind, the offense not only has to be impeachable, but it has to be impeachable enough that a Republican congress who has gone along with everything else up to this point would be willing to pursue it. At least until the midterm elections.
 
Gedunker said:
[Shudders]Mike Pence would be far more likely to wreak havoc as POTUS.[/Shudders]
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I disagree. I think it was SAC who assigned D&D alignments to Trump and Pence and that Trump is considered 'chaotic evil', whereas Pence was 'lawful evil'. I think that appraisal was not far off the mark.

Pence as Pres. would likely vigorously pursue a far right agenda - e.g. figure out new and better ways to oppress or take away rights from LGBT citizens, ways to suppress or make voting more difficult for poor people in inner cities, eliminate the social safety net, outlaw Planned Parenthood, eliminate environmental and financial regulations designed to hold corporations accountable, generally pursue policies designed to grow the income disparities between the rich and poor, etc. ...these are all forms of evil that we understand and expect from our political adversaries on the right. BUT I don't find myself questioning Pence's psychological condition or sanity. I would not be uncomfortable with the knowledge that he's holding the nuclear football. I would not live in fear that he'd order a nuclear strike on some country because he felt slighted after some 3 a.m. tweet storm. In short, Pence is acting from a misguided sense of morality - I'm convinced he does what he does because he honestly believes he's helping the world in some fashion. The same cannot be said for the Hairy Cheetoh.

Better the devil you know than the one you don't know.
 
Maister said:
I would not live in fear that he'd order a nuclear strike on some country because he felt slighted after some 3 a.m. tweet storm.
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Meh, Trump won't either. How can you continue to NOT make money with the Trump brand when the world is in flames? I will say though that the minute I see Trump branded bomb shelters, I'll fear the worst. Pence isn't the ideal GOP candidate, he's too far right even for a lot of those folks. There's a reason he's the VP and not the POTUS.

If Trump had half a brain, he'd have put someone in the VP spot that was his own puppet, win the election, then resign. Essentially he and he alone would have "elected" the President.
 
AG74683 said:
Meh, Trump won't either. How can you continue to NOT make money with the Trump brand when the world is in flames?
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I wish I could say I shared your optimism. To be sure, Trump likes to make a buck; no one disputes that. BUT making a profit is not the force that drives him. Check out pages 9 and 10 of this summary of pathology found in the DSM 4 and 5. Sound like anyone you know? What matters (obsessively) to individuals afflicted with this condition (Narcissistic Personality Disorder) is how they perceive others will regard them. If an individual afflicted with NPD, for instance, was accused of being, say, weak or was nothing but a Russian lap dog and wanted to manipulate people's opinions to send the message that he was on the contrary strong, that individual would have no compunctions about launching nukes if he thought it would help prove that point. And would experience zero feelings of guilt, remorse or regret about it afterwards.
 
Maister said:
And would experience zero feelings of guilt, remorse or regret about it afterwards.
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The fact that we have historically backed ourselves into conflicts with little to no intention of doing so actually makes me less worried about any kind of doomsday situation. In other words, such large-scale events usually occur because of some sort of chain reaction that perhaps even the most competent leaders would be incapable of preventing. If you can't predict if/when it will happen, there isn't much sense worrying too much about it in the same way we don't worry all that much about a large asteroid hitting the earth unexpectedly.

It's really the rhetoric and tone, the lack of compassion, and not to mention the aggression already exhibited to countries like Mexico that really gets under my skin. If the language from the campaign is any indicator of the next term, I'm expecting we will witness and be subjected to a lot more violence (which will be a tragedy regardless of the scale).
 
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Nope

I have three toilets that are in need of cleaning and a cat box to clean out, all of which are WAY more pleasant ways to spend a day.
 
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