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General discussion

Repubs lose a big hammer

Jul 2, 2019 6:58PM PDT

Discussion is locked

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(NT) Someone needs a military parade to make them feel better.
Jul 2, 2019 7:21PM PDT
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(NT) Someone who's a draft dodger has a fat head.
Jul 2, 2019 8:24PM PDT
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(NT) Of course B.Clinton did and has.........
Jul 3, 2019 2:11PM PDT
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He was a Rhodes scholar!
Jul 3, 2019 3:06PM PDT

Should he have risked getting maimed or killed rather than serving his country as an academic and later politician? I recall at the time many tried to paint him as a "Bubba" because of his manner and accent, also his tenure in Little Rock, etc. - show me a smarter President and I'll shake your hand. I'm just saying military service is not a prerequisite for politics. Maybe it should be, but I'm tired of people slamming him for his supposed unpatriotic character when he is demonstrably proud of America and has done all he can to improve it.

Rick

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Just off the top of my head,
Jul 3, 2019 7:15PM PDT

Truman and JFK had combat experience.
Let's see, the first Bush also. Carter was a Navy engineer, so he had smarts and service.
Just offering these facts for your discussion; I don't care to rank CinCs any further.
The gold standard would have to be Washington. Intellectual (they all were in those days), surveyor sans GPS, large farmer, soldier, officer, sold popcorn at halftime ...

JFK once began a WH dinner speech, before a group of scientists, saying, 'This is the greatest assemblage of intellect in this room since Thomas Jefferson dined alone.'

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To quote Ernest W. Adams
Jul 4, 2019 12:45PM PDT

"The term draft dodger only applies to people who fled or failed to report when called up, not to people who avoided the draft by legal means.
It’s like the difference between tax evasion and tax avoidance. Tax evasion is illegal. Tax avoidance is perfectly legal and the law actually provides the means to do it. The Selective Service System provides a number of legal reasons why someone might not be drafted.
You’re not a draft dodger if you got an exemption, postponement, or deferment. These were built into the Selective Service Act on purpose. Calling someone a draft dodger for following the law is libelous."

But, in your opinion, Clinton could avoid the draft because he was made for 'greatness' and he shouldn't have risked his life for his country, but Trump, who was also made for 'greatness' should have? OK....

Clinton was a master at conning and maneuvering and literally got away with every scam he and his wife were involved in. I personally don't think we have had ANY truly great presidents since the first few. THOSE were the ones who sacrificed everything in order to serve the people....the rest have all have been about serving THEMSELVES.....until Trump. You don't have to agree with my opinion, because it is still just that....an opinion. But I believe history will show that his personal agenda was ALL about the people and this country because he has made the ultimate sacrifice to take on a job that he never had to take on and he's still standing even with years now of total opposition and resistance and obstruction from BOTH sides of the aisle.

If that statement doesn't make you smile on this 4th of July, I can't think of anything that would. lol Have a safe one, Rick...…...

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RE:he has made the ultimate sacrifice
Jul 4, 2019 1:34PM PDT

The "ultimate sacrifice" is giving your life. So HE hasn't made that yet.

Now, as far as what DJT "thinks" is the "ultimate sacrifice", that would be something like having the smallest crowd at an Inauguration,(no matter what HE claims) or maybe having the largest July 4th MILITARY parade preempted by an earthquake in CA, (or heavy rain) in Washington....must fill those seats.

Now IF you think DJT losing face is more important (to him) than losing his life....There IS something we can agree on.

Everyone has to live with "losing face", once a person makes the "ultimate sacrifice" it's over for them. Supporters have to live with it then.

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That's fine
Jul 4, 2019 9:19PM PDT

Hi, Toni,

Have a good one too! Though I did not say Trump should have served himself I can see why you thought I implied that - I don't, though. But I will say that as Trump went to a private military style school he perhaps envisions himself as a "tough guy". He is, and he speaks his mind which is rare indeed for a politician, though I wager an actual tough guy would just laugh at his posturing. That's _my_ take on the man - I've never met him so I could be way wrong on that supposition.

I'll defer to your opinion of Trump - and agree (as I think I mentioned elsewhere in another thread) that he never expected to be President. He's done alright for someone who had very little previous political experience but (yes there's always a but!) - his "people" are not the majority of America anymore - maybe they used to be, but they ain't anymore. What that bodes for the future is what everyone is worried about - and as i've said before, "we'll see". :^)

So, I'm smiling - ruefully perhaps! - and wishing you and yours a fine 4th ! Cheers!

Rick

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RE: have been about serving THEMSELVES.....until Trump.
Jul 5, 2019 8:12PM PDT

have been about serving THEMSELVES.....until Trump. You don't have to agree with my opinion, because it is still just that....an opinion.

Well here is someone that disagrees. AND they give examples to support their "opinion".

An "opinion" WITH "examples".

Donald Trump is raking in big bucks from emoluments foreign and domestic.

I WROTE FRIDAY ABOUT some of the various ways creeping Trumpism is infecting our system of governance, whether through practices that are sketchy or possibly even illegal: Questionable travel practices, unqualified appointees, whether family members, cronies or fringy neophytes and of course the old fashioned using one's position of power to line one's own pockets.

But in any White House, and especially in one where the president has built a career on branding and making himself the product, culture flows from the top. In this case it's rather like a volcano.

Post was last edited on July 5, 2019 8:14 PM PDT

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I umdrrstand your view.
Jul 6, 2019 2:27PM PDT

But my knowledge of the Rhodes says that conniving wasn't involved; mostly GPA and demonstrated academic ability. Not like a normal college deferment. Or a faked rowing record. Grin
I don't address the rest of the discussion.

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Time was, I would have spotted that before
Jul 6, 2019 2:29PM PDT

"Reply". Sad

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And then we have BO....
Jul 3, 2019 2:17PM PDT

who turned 18 in 1978...the draft ended in 1973, but that shouldn't or wouldn't have stopped him from voluntarily enlisting during peacetime since we were no longer at war with anybody at that point in time.....and he didn't even consider it as 'the right thing to do' for his country. He was too busy becoming a community organizer, hanging out with homegrown terrorists, and getting high to think that far. At least Trump was out there making a living and learning how to put people to work instead of figuring out how to end their employment and get them on welfare.

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(NT) BO? He dead yet?
Jul 4, 2019 4:18PM PDT
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Draft dodger
Jul 4, 2019 7:14PM PDT

Clinton.....yes
Bo......no
The Don.....yes

You can call it draft avoidance but that was something the wealthy used.

Like the Don's father who tucked his son in a school and then bought a doctor.

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Did you say that about all the other
Jul 3, 2019 2:10PM PDT

Presidents who had a military parade? Of course not...….

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RE:At least Trump was out there making a living and learning
Jul 3, 2019 7:33PM PDT
At least Trump was out there making a living and learning how to put people to work instead of figuring out how to end their employment and get them on welfare.

Putting people to work for HIM (contracting) and not paying THEM?

Then THEY have to go on welfare, because DJT didn't pay them for work they did?

Obama was cleaning up a mess created by DJT?

Post was last edited on July 3, 2019 8:08 PM PDT

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IF you hired a contractor
Jul 4, 2019 1:22PM PDT

to replace your electrical system and it was a shoddy job and perhaps so bad that people would get hurt or a fire broke out, would YOU pay them? He doesn't have a 50 year history of doing this often, but as a businessman, he IS entitled to get his money's worth out of people he hires, doncha think?

You are talking about CONTRACTORS.....NOT EMPLOYEES (who ALWAYS were paid). Big difference. And none went on welfare that has been made public....and IF any of those CONTRACTORS did, it's because they were so bad they had to go out of business and other businesses wouldn't hire them anymore.

BO created MORE unemployment than he started with......….Trump wasn't even in the picture yet.

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RE:You are talking about CONTRACTORS.....
Jul 4, 2019 1:54PM PDT

You are talking about CONTRACTORS.....NOT EMPLOYEES (who ALWAYS were paid)

CONTRACTORS WERE EMPLOYED by DJT......You don't think "contractors" can be an "employee"....Even by the person that "hires" them?

They sued DJT...HE goes bankrupt....Doesn't pay bills...someone has to lose....someone....anyone but DJT.

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Do you consider
Jul 5, 2019 3:37PM PDT

your roofer who is a company all on its own with EMPLOYEES of their own and has to be licensed and insured an EMPLOYEE of YOURS? If you do, you're a tax evader because you should be taking social security, medicare, city, county, state, and federal taxes out of what you pay him BEFORE you cut that check and send it to the various agencies on your own.

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RE:Do you consider your roofer
Jul 5, 2019 7:19PM PDT
Do you consider your roofer who is a company all on its own with EMPLOYEES of their own.

I did my own "roofing" and had NO employees.
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Nice ATTEMPT at ignoring the question
Jul 6, 2019 6:00AM PDT

As usual, divert and deflect when you are at a loss and can't find an actual answer to it.

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I guess i've been
Jul 6, 2019 6:26AM PDT

hanging around you to much....You never actually defend DJT's actions, you just complain about Obama.

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Not paying a crappy contractor
Jul 7, 2019 3:29AM PDT

doesn't need to be defended. I've refused payment to a doctor a couple of times for not treating an ailment but tried to charge me anyhow that the next doctor did treat, so I can relate to refusing to be ripped off.

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RE:refusing to be ripped off.
Jul 7, 2019 3:46AM PDT

there is a difference between "refusing to be ripped off" and declaring bankruptcy in order to avoid paying debts.

In one case you are the Ripper(perp/DJT) and in the other you are the Rippee(victim).

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You are still working on
Jul 7, 2019 7:19AM PDT

apples and oranges....and veering into new areas to complain about. 1. Contractors not paid while no bankruptcies are in place. 2. Employees not paid and now 3. Debtors not paid due to bankruptcy

I've already pointed out the first two for you. The third is not true for the most part either........SOME bankruptcies weren't TRUMP'S (casinos that were sold to others but still had his name on them)….OTHER bankruptcies from 30 or more years ago were settled by Trump by his selling off other personal properties of his (planes, etc). I don't believe he's had any newer bankruptcies for you to discuss.

AND BANKRUPTCY HERE IS LEGAL....just as finding loopholes built in by CONGRESS in tax laws to reduce your debt to the IRS is ALSO legal.

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RE:veering into new areas to complain about.
Jul 7, 2019 8:05AM PDT
veering into new areas to complain about

At least I am complaining about the actions of the PRESENT leader. Unlike others that are complaining about the actions of previous leaders.

Many banks won't touch the present leader with a ten foot pole (is that expression used in America?).

Many, but not Deutsche Bank...he's got a friend in Deutsche Bank?

PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP: It's called OPM. I do that all the time in business. It's called other people's money. There's nothing like doing things with other people's money because it takes the risk.

KIM: A lot of that OPM came from Deutsche Bank, which kept lending Trump money, even after he defaulted on a loan, even after he sued the bank, claiming it was responsible for his failure to pay his debts. It might seem like baffling behavior for such a venerable institution.


Other People's Money?

AND

The Banks fault for lending him money?

Does the guy take responsibility for anything?

Donald (it's the other guys fault) Trump?
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HAHAHAHAHAH
Jul 7, 2019 11:33AM PDT

When TRUMP uses OPM (banks and investors) to BUILD and EMPLOY PEOPLE, it's bad....when DEMS use OPM (the TAXPAYERS) to give away FREEBIES so people have NO incentive to work, it's a good thing?

YOU'RE talking about TRUMP'S past as a BUSINESSMAN....why can't I talk about former PRESIDENTS who massively screwed up and did it to the TAXPAYERS and now candidates WANTING to be President PLAN PUBLICLY to do it again?

You're grasping at crap, JP...….where does it say that banks other than Deutsche won't lend him money?

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RE:When TRUMP uses OPM (banks and investors) to BUILD and EM
Jul 7, 2019 5:55PM PDT

When TRUMP uses OPM (banks and investors) to BUILD and EMPLOY PEOPLE, it's bad

And then doesn't pay it back borrows, then reneges, on contract to pay the money back..... of course it's bad....

.What's "good" about that?

RE:why can't I talk about former PRESIDENTS who massively screwed up

Because both are "in the past"...FORMER president.....FORMER "screw ups"

DJT President is in the here and now, and now his past is being re-visited/re-lived. DJT brought his past habits with him.....so I'm talking about them.....

Post was last edited on July 7, 2019 6:10 PM PDT

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The Don
Jul 7, 2019 6:57PM PDT

Knew or was taught by his father to get a good squad of lawyers.

Almost every business deal he signed had an out where he just walked or an out that cost him little to walk.

I suppose that's how you make money in the business world....leave someone else holding the bag.

Toni wants to talk about her grudge list....BO and dems.

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Of course businesses
Jul 8, 2019 5:07AM PDT

have good lawyers on staff....just like they have good accountants as well. You think successful businesses like MS, Apple, Facebook, Walmart, et al DON'T???????????????? Just because YOU can't afford to have them because YOU won't take a risk with YOUR money to start up a business of your own doesn't others HAVEN'T and that's what makes them successful and what makes you just someone who complains out of envy.

Liberals are all alike. Doesn't matter the age...you're all snowflakes who feel entitled to whatever they can rampage against because somebody ELSE was/is smarter and more industrious and willing to take risks that you're afraid to take.