Dr. Ben and The Donald?

Posted by johnpe1 8 years, 2 months ago to Politics
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politics makes for odd combinations, yes? -- j
.
SOURCE URL: http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2016/mar/10/ben-carson-to-endorse-donald-trump-friday-reports/


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  • Posted by freedomforall 8 years, 2 months ago
    Its not brain surgery.
    Ben proves his expertise as a judge of character.
    (Or HRM Donnie is exaggerating.)
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    • Posted by conscious1978 8 years, 2 months ago
      I think some of the startling endorsements for "They All Love Me" Donald are the 'products' of his personally lauded 'skill' in making them a 'deal' they can't refuse. How else could he 'convince' some of these people to support him? He reminds me of the "saved" drug addict, or gang member, charismatically preaching his reformed message while dealing behind the scenes.
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      • Posted by freedomforall 8 years, 2 months ago
        If HRM Donnie were serious about liberty and free markets, he'd be building the Gulch. He isn't.
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        • Posted by term2 8 years, 2 months ago
          DAgny Taggaart and Hank Rearden didnt build a Gulch either. I can tell you hate Trump, but wouldnt it be better for us to pick apart Hillary or Sanders for their wacko and pandering views, or Cruz for his religious zealotry he would carry into the white house, or Rubio for his teenage attack dog behavior instead of showing us what he could do for the country.

          Trump takes all the heat, and he really isnt that bad compared to the others. He tells it like it is (and he doesnt read speeches or spout prepped sound bites), he uses the various laws to promote himself and at the same time tells us to change them (like the campaign contributions that all the others take in exchange for promises and favors). He would pick good advisors ( getting rid of the idiots Obama has put in as AG and IRS heads).
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          • Posted by freedomforall 8 years, 2 months ago
            Dagny and Hank didn't run for POTUS, they didn't take government help, they didn't want to restrict the people's gun ownership, they didn't go bankrupt and purposely stick their partners with losses. They produced using their own ability. I'd vote for either of them, but they wouldn't run.
            Trump tells it like he feels the audience wants to hear it, not "like it is." You continue to compare Trump to other looters instead of the reasonable action of comparing him to an ethical candidate. But that would make him look like the clown he is.
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            • Posted by term2 8 years, 2 months ago
              You are right, Dagny and Hank wouldnt waste their time running for POTUS. I wouldnt want the job myself, and there isnt a lot that the president himself can really do in the long run anyway

              They did waste their time building up their businesses which supported the POTUS that was there. Hank did pay off politicians to try to influence laws that were being passed to destroy him.

              Electing Trump is, in my view, a way to slow down the process of destroying me and my future. He isnt going to change the philosophy of the country over to objectivism, but maybe he can inspire people to shed off the chains of political correctness- which is a good thing.
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              • Posted by freedomforall 8 years, 2 months ago
                Electing Trump will speed the process to ruin. Trump is a lying scoundrel who wants to be emperor and he will hasten the destruction of the free market because he has never experienced it.
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                • Posted by term2 8 years, 2 months ago
                  I would have to disagree. Ignoring electability- Sanders will do far worse with his 60% income tax and grandiose plans for giveaways. Hildebeast would be next with her elimination of capital gains tax treatment. Both would decimate the stock market at the end of this year, and would kill off entrepreneurs' desires to build businesses they could sell later (like me).
                  On the repub side, I would put Cruz next, regardless of what he claims. I dont know what to say about Rubio- teenage attack dog who would probably get us into all kinds of foreign affaris troubles. Then Trump- I do think he would slow down the movement towards socialism. Interestingly enough, I suspect Kasich would make the best (although totally unelectable) president. He seems to think about things at least quietly and with some fiscal responsibility. Maybe Trump will make him VP. Might make a good administrative team.
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                  • Posted by plusaf 8 years, 2 months ago
                    as I said... http://www.plusaf.com/letters/trump/t...

                    Trump's major shortcoming is that all his shit about tariffs and bringing jobs back to America are Protectionist themes more characteristic of unions and liberals/Democrats. That's his Disconnect from Economic Reality.

                    He needs better 'advisers' and Econ101 education, but businessmen like him with egos like his don't think they need ANY 'outside advice.'
                    I've worked with enough of 'em to recognize the flaw.
                    Good luck to us all!
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                    • Posted by term2 8 years, 2 months ago
                      Apparently you haven't really listened to trump on the subject of the tariffs. The fact of the matter, china would be killed by a 45% tariff, and they would be willing to compromise on letting OUR products be sold in china rather than have that tariff. Trump wouldn't want to impose that, but its a negotiating point. He knows our strengths and theirs, and would compromise
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                    • Posted by 8 years, 2 months ago
                      he's talking in terms of initial negotiation statements,
                      not final ones. . if we threatened to suddenly hit china with
                      a 35 percent tariff, it would get their attention. . then, we
                      might get something done in the area of currency
                      manipulation or something else. -- j
                      .
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                      • Posted by plusaf 8 years, 2 months ago
                        True... I get sucked into my own arguments, sometimes...
                        Ok, often.. :)

                        Yep, you're right... it's an opening gambit in Negotiations. Of course, I'm not the only one in the US to forget that, right? Like most of the Liberal Electorate and the Mainscream Media?
                        :)
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    • Posted by 8 years, 2 months ago
      my first father-in-law could size up a person in a heartbeat,
      after having worked in retail car parts for 35 years ...
      there was even a tight curve in u.s.25w named for him,
      "Beck's curve."
      and I bet that Dr. Ben is giving us his critical estimate here,
      both to pull the front-runner towards civility and to ask
      the voters to consider a view of DT which he has seen.
      while this is an odd combination, the general election
      will need this kind of thing. . unusual election! -- j
      .
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      • Posted by freedomforall 8 years, 2 months ago
        HRM Donnie will have to prove himself. That takes actions, not mere words. According to Ben, he only gives the words to a chosen few who can make him king. Take the next four years and act with ethics and support the principles of individual liberty and free markets. Then ask again for my vote,
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        • Posted by 8 years, 2 months ago
          roger that, yet my current emphasis is beating HRC.
          I have an intuition that DT has a better chance than Cruz. -- j
          .
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          • Posted by term2 8 years, 2 months ago
            I get the feeling (and I admit to its being a emotional reaction at this point) Cruz has a black heart somewhere. He is a bit too slick and the whole going AFTER Trump seems to me to be the wrong tack to take- I would want to hear what HE can do for the country, not how we should NOT vote for Trump.

            Rubio is a dead man walking.

            As to Hildebeast, she is the definite enemy. She is socialist, but lies and hides things and is beholden to wall street for sure. Sanders is at least honest about his positions- and I have to give him credit for that-, but he is a real wacko philosophically.

            I think that he might beat out Hildebeast in a fair primary battle, but HIllary is sneaky and probably will win the democratic nomination. She has bought off the powers that be as far as the indictment is concerned- I doubt that will come to pass.

            Trump could take out Sanders easily, and it will be more difficult to take out Hildebeast. But he has the best shot of any of the repubs.
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        • Posted by term2 8 years, 2 months ago
          You really do hate Trump. Your vote only goes to the perfect John Galt candidate. There isnt one of those that is possibly electable for many years. Remember that politics follows philosophy. Ayn Rand was right about that.
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          • Posted by freedomforall 8 years, 2 months ago
            If you vote for evil you are responsible for the evil result. Men of principle will have difficulty getting elected as long as good men vote for evil. You can change this, but you are too afraid to vote for principle.
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            • Posted by Herb7734 8 years, 2 months ago
              You cannot always change things in a single leap. that's fiction. Most of the time, you must move in a good direction, hopefully getting better by increments until you have achieved your goal. The sorrowfull thing is that the age of electronics has caused instant million/billionaires, and many expect things to always happen that way. No mas Jose.
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              • Posted by freedomforall 8 years, 2 months ago
                The sooner you start the sooner you see progress. If you keep voting for evil, you will get evil. Its as plain as day vs night, but some people ignore the obvious reality of history and vote based on fear instead of based on principle.
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                • Posted by Herb7734 8 years, 2 months ago
                  I hope to be voting for Cruz.
                  If it turns out to be Trump I will have to decide about degrees of evil. Since voting for Clinton or Sanders is totally out of the question I ask myself is Trump totally evil? Even Rand would have to admit that few things are just black and white. I see proclivities toward evil in Trump, but also several good points. I think that you have failed to take in the consequences of withholding your vote. There simply are no viable other candidates. If the glimmer of good in Trump can be fostered there is a possibility of steps in the right direction. A vote for the Libertarian at this juncture equals no vote at all.
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                  • Posted by $ MichaelAarethun 8 years, 2 months ago
                    Which means you should be supporting the 46% who are voting no confidence and none of the above and building up that group - and keeping your values intact.

                    It all depends on your won individual values.In the end you are the only one who has to face the mirror.
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            • Posted by ewv 8 years, 2 months ago
              Statist politicians will be in government and win elections regardless of what you do with your vote. That is not a choice in elections and won't be unless and until the philosophy of the culture changes for the better. Meanwhile elections are for which of two politicians will be in charge regardless of what they should be. Refusing to vote when it makes a difference leaves policy up to others; it does nothing to change the system. Stop accusing people who vote of sanctioning evil. It is false and insulting.
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              • Posted by freedomforall 8 years, 2 months ago
                You are insulted by the truth. You choose to waste your vote for evil statists instead of principled choices and you are responsible for that choice. I know you are doing more than voting, ewv, but you defeat your own purposes by voting based on fear instead of voting based on the principles you know are right. Principled candidates can win if voters have the courage to vote on principles.
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                • Posted by ewv 8 years, 2 months ago
                  Morality pertains to the realm of choice. Where there is no choice there is no choosing on moral principle. There is no choice over the kind of government we have now. Looking at what candidate is likely to be the least harmful in what realms is not fear, it is evaluation of facts. The refusal to do that is immoral.
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                  • Posted by freedomforall 8 years, 2 months ago
                    You and many others choose to vote in fear of Democrat statism because GOP statists tell you they will act to defend liberty and free markets. The results of the past 30 years proves the GOP will march toward bigger government instead- the opposite of their promises. You choose to ignore the reality and vote in fear of Dem statism for GOP statism in the unsupportable belief that that will be better than voting for a principled candidate like Gary Johnson. If people who believe in the principles of individual liberty and free markets do what you propose the result is clear in the actions and results of the past 30 years- more intrusive, bigger government and less liberty. You assume that the GOP will do less harm based on GOP propaganda not on reality. Bush did more harm to individual liberty than Clinton and set a statist example for Obama to follow. You can choose to vote based on principle for a candidate like Gary Johnson, but you choose to waste your vote and consent to a statist oppressive government. Repeating the same action and expecting a different result is not objectivist.
                    "Those who would give up essential liberty, to purchase a little temporary safety, deserve neither liberty nor safety."
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                    • Posted by ewv 8 years, 2 months ago
                      We do not vote because they tell us they will defend liberty and free markets. They don't tell us that at all. We vote for the ones whose policies make a difference to our lives for the better in comparison with what is available in a very limited political choice. It is not "consent" for whatever they do. Your repeated accusations are false and insulting. We not squander voting on politically meaningless candidates.
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                    • Posted by 8 years, 2 months ago
                      when the 18-wheeler is barreling down on the child,
                      I will rush to grab the child rather than trying to find
                      its parent to ask permission. . sometimes, pragmatism
                      is a good thing. -- j
                      .
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            • Posted by term2 8 years, 2 months ago
              Actually, there shouldnt be an opportunity to vote at all for anything or anyone which takes from one to give to another, or takes away anyone's rights. One could argue that any vote today is "evil", since the country and its constitution allows for the taking from one and giving to another. We could be allowed to vote on simple administrators, like for city managers who make the cities run efficiently.

              That said, If Hank or Dagny could have delayed the passage of 10-289, dont you think they would have? John Galt wouldnt, since he wanted the system to crash faster of its own weight. I am on the fence on that one, I have to admit. Maybe if Sanders wins, things will crash sooner. The problem with that is that things dont crash in a year or so, but will take maybe 20+ years of excruciating decline and government controls before the wealth of the USA is used up. And then MANY years to build things back up.
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              • Posted by $ MichaelAarethun 8 years, 2 months ago
                Does it allow for that or is that interpretaton? General Welfare means the welfare of all not just carefull selected groups. As for your final argument it's bogus to anyone that understands the basics of finance. Having understood nothing you really need a better script writer.
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                • Posted by term2 8 years, 2 months ago
                  We will have to wait and see how the economy would respond to Sanders/Hillary.

                  If you look at Venezuela's economy, it took many years to get where its at now under the tenets of socialism. And it will take a while for it to recover, even if they are able to change their government from socialism.
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          • Posted by Esceptico 8 years, 2 months ago
            I agree. There will never be a Galt candidate, even after we are long dead. The reason is so many Objectivists view Objectivism differently and we will never agree even among ourselves. This is especially true of the dogmatic Objectivists who view any deviation from their view to either immoral or evil.

            Trump is our best chance to secure change.

            So, why do people hate Trump so much? Martin Armstrong explained yesterday in an article “Why Trump Haters Really Hate Trump.”

            It’s not the hair.

            Or the bad manners.

            Or the “beautiful” wall he says he’ll build.

            There’s a different, more subtle reason why the Republican establishment, donor class, political operatives, and the news media in general hate Donald Trump.

            The reason can be found in a New York Times best selling business book, Stacking The Deck, by Wharton professor David Pottruck.

            Pottruck, the Charles Schwab CEO who took the genial brokerage house online and into the big time, says that organizations hate change.

            Hate it with a PASSION!

            That’s because when there’s a new way of doing things, a new way of solving problems, a new way of relating to everything, they feel threatened as a deep personal-loss.

            Change renders meaningless the value of their hard-won experience and know-how. In politics, it may mean family member lose their cushy jobs and perks.

            Student loans of government employees get automatically paid off by government – TAX-FREE.

            Those in government have done things one way forever. Change is NOT FAIR to them

            Everything they have done to line their pockets is threatened. The rules of the game may no longer apply.

            So they dig in their heels and will do whatever it takes to resist change.

            They resist perpetually until forced otherwise.

            They subvert any process that would lead to change.

            Until they lose, it becomes open warfare against the people to sustain the establishment and its perks.

            And so it is with Donald Trump.

            Like him or not, he has completely rewritten the rules of Presidential politics.

            He bypasses the media, taking his message, raw and unfiltered, to the millions of people who follow him on Twitter.

            The party establishment went from underestimating him and laughing at him to fearing him and breaking out in night sweats.

            They fear all their power and relevance will vanish into thing air.

            Donors gave Jeb Bush $120 million and he came in dead last.

            The money, like Jeb, is gone and it could not save their fiefdom.

            Now wealthy donors have a choice. Oppose Trump and he wins and they are out in the cold. Understand there is a change in the wind and shift sides to the people.

            How ironic. It took a billionaire to neuter the billionaire donor class.

            Most of the media hate Trump to the core and dislike the fact they are no longer able to play kingmaker losing their power fearing they will be irrelevant with the internet displacing them.

            The political class have lost the power to rule behind the curtain from paid operatives and cronies who cannot transition to the new world where the old rules of campaigning don’t apply.

            Trump has spent more on hats than he has on polls so the pollsters also have lost their importance.

            Diplomats worldwide are running scared because Trump will renegotiate everything from a business standpoint that cannot be bought like Hillary & her foundation.

            The handwringing, the dire predictions of doom, and the wailing and gnashing of teeth have little to do with Donald’s positions, but their loss of power.

            They complain Trump is bringing in new voters who are not Republican. And this is bad?

            The Trump threat isn’t to the Constitution, to America’s standing in the world, or even to Republican Congressional candidates, it is to the establishment.

            If you think Trump’s supporters are angry about the way the government and the business world colluded, you are right. The establishment fails to appreciate the anger.

            They’re just furious. Even if Trump fails to win, there will be more in the wings. He is inspiring a change and he doesn’t even understand how profound.
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            • Posted by term2 8 years, 2 months ago
              Damn, you are right on about the haters of Trump. There are quite a few of them on this forum too (which amazes and disappoints me). The best thing that Trump could do is just bring everything to the light of day. We are TIRED of politicians leading us down some hidden agenda path that we find out about later (like Hillary, or even Bush for that matter). At least Sanders is pretty much right out there with his ideas so we can evaluate (and dismiss) them. I dont like the establishment, which has been screwing me over for a long time now. If I were president, I would bring back and exonerate Snowden, free Manning, exonerate the Wikileaks dude, and hope that there are many more that will come forth and expose whats going on behind the scenes. Thanks for posting the above- its needed on this forum.

              As an aside, I doubt a real John Galt would even WANT to be president right now where government is based on taking from some and giving to others.
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              • Posted by term2 8 years, 2 months ago
                Well, think about how other countries might respond. Firstly, they would look at what benefit they get from our buying from them, and realize that a 45% tariff would kill off a LOT of those sames to the USA. Then they would look at Trumps requests, like opening up the chinese market to USA goods. Opening up the market is an easier card to play to eliminate the tariffs (which average 5% now anyway). If they rejected any attempts to open their markets, we would be exactly where we are right now. It would mean that we dont have the economic power that Trump thought we had. Better to know than to give away the farm first (like Obama does). Dont you think? Trade is business after all, and Donald knows he cant win by insulting the opposite side if he doesnt have economic power behind him.
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                • Posted by conscious1978 8 years, 2 months ago
                  Uhhmm...because insulting your trading partners fulfills their 'masochistic needs'?

                  What incentive would anyone in China have to purchase more expensive goods from the USA?

                  When they call DT's "45% tariff" bluff, what then? Prices for goods in your local stores skyrocket? Although typical for Trump, is his governmental solution 'meddling' or a "great deal"?
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                  • Posted by term2 8 years, 2 months ago
                    At this point I agree that Chinese desire to buy more expensive goods from USA is probably low. U.S. companies have been kept out of China for long enough now that the Chinese have developed products of their own. It might just be too late for us manufacturers. We aren't superior in technology or production costs anymore. I think that manufacturing could come back to the US if the government here would get out of our way
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                  • Posted by term2 8 years, 2 months ago
                    You aren't a negotiator. Trump is an expert negotiator
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                    • Posted by conscious1978 8 years, 2 months ago
                      You know this, how?

                      The point is that DT wants to insert more government rather than get it out of the way of international trade.

                      His campaign and rhetoric don't inspire a stable business environment. Who looks forward to playing Trump roulette when you could be publicly torched because you call him out or disagreed with him?

                      This looter would redefine the "bully pulpit".
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                      • Posted by term2 8 years, 2 months ago
                        You intensely dislike trump and I think it wouldn't matter what he said or did at this point . If he doesn't get in, we will have very definite evil with Hillary or Sanders. Hillary did nothing beneficial as Secretary of state. Maybe Sanders would stop our involvement in useless wars, which would be nice, but he is a real wacko philosophically. One of them will be president and neither of us will really make any difference in that
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              • Posted by Esceptico 8 years, 2 months ago
                I 100% agree with you on all points here. I, too, am surprised and disappointed that some in the Gulch are so emotionally unhappy with Trump and seek a sort of utopia in politics which does not, and most likely will not, exist. Snowden is a hero, same with Wikileaks and Manning. Whistleblowers always suffer most for what they do to help those of us who are ignorant of what the government is secretly doing against us. Viva Trump.
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                • Posted by term2 8 years, 2 months ago
                  Trump opened the politically correct shackles on all of us. I think no matter what happens, he has opened Pandora's box (and so has Sanders somewhat- he speaks his mind also), and people will be more willing to say what they are thinking without fear of being labeled politically incorrect. I think bringing issues out in the open will lead to good things. I would rather people who think negroes are biologically inferior and subhuman just come out with it, so not only do we know where they stand, but THEY also get to hear what they are saying and have a chance to think about it.
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                  • Posted by Esceptico 8 years, 2 months ago
                    Good points all. When "free speech" is limited to specified locations at universities and to even murmur something at which some one may take offense is a major issue, it is so far from what I was taught that "sticks and stones may break my bones, but names will never hurt me."
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              • Posted by 8 years, 2 months ago
                I believe that many here see DT as a potential fascist
                by taking him literally and failing to see the negotiator
                in him in action. . he routinely exaggerates just like I would
                in selling my seven-hundred-dollar boat -- I'll take two thousand
                for it! . what's your counter-offer? -- j
                .
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                • Posted by term2 8 years, 2 months ago
                  Exactly !! He isnt going to put on a 45% tariff on imports from china. It would kill off walmart, among many other things like MY business . He is telling them to open up THEIR markets to our goods, OR consequences will follow...

                  Obama is an idiot negotiator. Look at Iran. Give them 150 billion NOW and then perhaps they will do what they should do later? I think Obama should stay home and take his useless Kerry with him. THEY are the evil ones, not Trump. I would have expected on this forum a lot of talk about the evil in those candidates, but essentially nothing has come out. Only hatred for Trump.
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                  • Posted by conscious1978 8 years, 2 months ago
                    What happens when they (or any other country) call this reality show blusterer's bluff? Insult them into agreement?

                    I think many view him like their favorite team...woohoo...this isn't a game. Why forgive him what would not be tolerated in any other candidate?
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                • Posted by conscious1978 8 years, 2 months ago
                  Lost, on some that demonstrate blindness to the significance of Trump's history and Pragmatism, are the individuals that don't think Trump will protect our current rights.

                  The 'group think' which scoops all individuals that are against the 'reality show' host into a "Trump haters" bucket is the same rationale used by others driven by 'identity politics'.

                  Many of those defending Trump would never tolerate what they forgive him in another candidate.
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                • Posted by $ MichaelAarethun 8 years, 2 months ago
                  But in what direction does he exaggerate and in what direction is his moral compass pointed? Some don't care it seems what type of leftist occupies the seat of power as long as it isn't....choose two of the others. I cannot get my compass to swing that far left.... especially when so much of the nation is disenfranchised by rigged voting.

                  My oath was and still is to the Constitution. I see no reason to change except use it instead of scrabbling after solutions with no answers that have a record of failure.

                  the following remark at least to my arrangement by conscious 1978 on identity politics only makes me more and more sure my oath was correct .....

                  as for potential. he's left of center by any definition being a Republican the word potential does not apply.
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            • Posted by $ MichaelAarethun 8 years, 2 months ago
              Except for one small minor detail thumbs up. That is tarring everyone with a hate brush. I expected that from Term2 who is more to be pitied than anything and don't accept it from anyone.

              I find the only hate mongers are those stopping by on a drive by and they don't last.

              But consider his words and line that up with the proper political organization...It's national socialism. Consider his past and his present rhetoric again national socialism for he is in fact a Republican therefore a socialist ill virtue of their stance with the democrats as those who want government over citizens by any means possible and corporatist no doubt there and has evidenced the requisite fascist tendencies.

              I don't use the definitions of the left and fall into their trap.

              Left is government over citizens, it is all socialist and socialism is all fascist in nature meaning control citizens by any means needed.

              He is further left than regular Republicans and RINOs no doubt there. They are the right wing of the left. Trump therefore gets close to the unmentionable Ominous Parallel comparison and that particular group along with RINO DINOS are not the center except of their own bailwick

              Center Constitution

              Center of the left RINOS -DINOS

              Center of the extreme left National and International Socialism

              A much more useful and accurate way of populating the left with everyone and every political belief in it's proper place.

              to complete the picture the right would be what Libertarians? Perhaps but those who believe in Citizens controlling government as citizens are supposed to be the divine power meaning ability to divine what is proper. That was the theory when the nation was founded. The extreme right are anarchists and forms of hermits.

              Hate...that's for the left .....Pity would be accurate when we bother to categorize at all. Perhaps despicable in extreme cases.

              Your definitions have been faulty for a hundred years.....I reject them ...
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          • Posted by $ MichaelAarethun 8 years, 2 months ago
            Hate mongers generally blame others for their inability to control their emotions. Wildly casting the blame for their own short comings anywhere but upon it's source. Themselves.
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      • Posted by $ Olduglycarl 8 years, 2 months ago
        No matter how we see it, no matter who the private trump is...we still need "PRINCIPLES" , stead fast, not relative and not variable but of the kind our forefathers had...not liberal principles, not progressive principles but AMERICAN principles as in the rule of law as set forth in the constitution.
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        • Posted by 8 years, 2 months ago
          and DT has emphasized that he has followed the law
          in every transaction while doing business. -- j
          .
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          • Posted by $ Olduglycarl 8 years, 2 months ago
            We do understand that in order to do business one sometimes feels they must kiss perverted asses, however, if one is integrated and principled, they should be able to compete honestly and turn the tables on those asses and stand as an example of what "Conscious" integrated value creating human beings are capable of.
            In other words, he often takes the unprincipled way out.
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    • Posted by $ allosaur 8 years, 2 months ago
      About it not being brain surgery~
      It looks pretty obvious to the dino.
      Guess who wants to be vice president?
      Chris Chistie? Yeah, but he ain't the one.
      Sarah Palin? Maybe.
      Hint: He used to do brain surgery for kids.
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      • Posted by term2 8 years, 2 months ago
        Look at who Trump goes after in the debates and who doesnt go after him. I say he would check out Kasich for VP.. Kasich just sticks to the issues I think, and stays out of the fray pretty much. He knows he CANT be elected president, but with his fiscal responsibility he prob could add to a Trump presidency.
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        • Posted by Danno 8 years, 2 months ago
          VP position has no power. Since Kasich wants minimum wage, Treasury is too dangerous. But Chief of Staff, yes. After Ben dismantles public schools and removes federal funding, he can also work on the healthcare problem. Cruz goes to Justice. Rubio loses.
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          • Posted by $ MichaelAarethun 8 years, 2 months ago
            Au contraire as LBJ himself would say. He or she, regardless of ability, useful only as a vote getter and assassination proofer, lurk in the back ground until the Vietnam Wars are in full bloom. Until the public wonders at their own stupidity in not demanding some one quaified to be President - WHAT a novel concept.
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          • Posted by $ MichaelAarethun 8 years, 2 months ago
            Oh how the left does bob, duck and weave to retain some sort of legitimacy. Yet it's all Republican promises and the worth -essness of their word has been demonstrated far too often for anybody their pimps and shills to countenance.
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        • -1
          Posted by $ allosaur 8 years, 2 months ago
          Wise of you to point that out.
          Kasich lacks Ben's ornamental black face but I agree.
          I now can see how Kasich would add more value to Trump than a retired brain surgeon who speaks out against PC.
          Way to go, term2!
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          • Posted by term2 8 years, 2 months ago
            It was interesting to see the body language on Trump during the last debate. He walked right past Rubio and ignored him (I think he has little respect for "little Marco" as he calls him). I think he really doesnt like Megyn Kelley (who is a bit of a bit$% I have to say). Trump is cordial to Cruz, but does call him out for his lies. Cruz has a bit of an evil side to him I think. It leaks out every so often, but is carefully controlled.

            I watched the democratic debates also. Sanders is honest at least, but a wacko in terms of philosophy. Hildebeast is just evil- lies, manipulates, changes positions more times than a chameleon changes colors. I didnt trust her after she said she would quit as sec of state IF Obama was RE-ELECTED (and she did). Now, she is promoting what a great job Obama has done.
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          • Posted by term2 8 years, 2 months ago
            I would leave it up to Trump to pick his advisors and running mate. He has to be a pretty good judge of character and abilities to have gotten where he is now.
            He might be thinking of Carson for something like FDA commissioner or something else medical. Christie was a prosecutor I think in a past life, and might be in line to be AG. Who knows. Trump is no dummy when it comes to surrounding himself with good people
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            • Posted by $ MichaelAarethun 8 years, 2 months ago
              So was Adolf...And he talked the same talk and walked the same walk as did his shills.
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              • Posted by 8 years, 2 months ago
                AH was a fascist hiding behind "national socialist"
                words, a ferocious bigot and anti-semite, a nasty
                person who surrounded himself with Dr. Mengele
                and the like, carving on people for sport. . if you see
                those characteristics in DT, I have a good eye Dr.
                whom I would like to recommend. -- j
                .
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              • Posted by term2 8 years, 2 months ago
                As they say, when the people are ready, the leader appears. Germany was ready and Hitler took full advantage by saying the things that resonated, while hiding his true intentions. We have the congress here standing in the way of another HItler type. The president here could never get away with the things Hitler got away with (fortunately).

                Trump has taken advantage of the anti-establishment feelings so prevalent now, which I think is a good thing. He is also definitely against the politically correct chains people have been shackled with lately. I think he would be good for the USA for 4 years to shake things up and tell us when the emperor has no clothes. I am not thinking that he is a john galt with steadfast principles- but I think he is electable and a hell of a lot better than Hildebeast and particularly Sanders.
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                • Posted by $ MichaelAarethun 8 years, 2 months ago
                  So did those who chose Adolf over the leader of the German Communist Party .
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                  • Posted by term2 8 years, 2 months ago
                    If we think about it, a president should not be in control of peoples' rights or shifting assets of one citizen to another. Voting for one who has that power shouldnt really be done. The president should only be an administrator of the constitution, with no powers to redistribute wealth or change peoples rights. In todays climate, I could see someone not wanting to vote at all actually.
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            • Posted by plusaf 8 years, 2 months ago
              As I said after watching the First Republican Debate... "any one of them might be good as President, but ONLY if they appointed ALL the Others to Cabinet posts...."
              Think how great Carly would be with a goal of downsizing organizations!
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              • Posted by term2 8 years, 2 months ago
                I think Carson would make a good cabinet person, as would Kasich and Rand Paul. The others probably not so good. Christie was a prosector in a past life and might be good as AG.
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          • Posted by 8 years, 2 months ago
            "ornamental black face?" . what an obnoxious slur! -- j
            .
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            • Posted by $ allosaur 8 years, 2 months ago
              I apologize. My thoughts were that Ben being selected to run as Trump's vice president would be a rather cynical device if only to pull in black votes.
              Carson was my choice as front runner at the beginning of the presidential race. He started to lose me when he spoke of tinkering with the second amendment (owning an AR-15) in an urban environment.
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  • Posted by $ AJAshinoff 8 years, 2 months ago
    This union exemplifies thew adage that politics makes for strange bedfellows.

    I do wonder if George Clooney, or Jerry Springer, or Raham Emanuel chose to run as a conservative under the R banner for President, how much time it would take spewing popular talking points to the Right/Conservatives, before they'd buy it? 6 months, a year?
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  • Posted by Spikeygrrl 8 years, 2 months ago
    Greetings.

    After giving this much more than a fair shot, I will return to this site ONLY when the platform it uses for Comments is far less obscure and annoying. As far as I can tell so far, members may reply to a new thread in common, but may not comment to a previous comment on the same thread.

    -- Spike
    who 30+ years ago did her first MA thesis on Rand and the Austrians, and still considers herself "a student of Objectivism."
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    • Posted by plusaf 8 years, 2 months ago
      Part of that is in the architecture of the comments database. It's not very clever in showing which comments are in reply to which previous comments, because even a direct reply may end up physically far removed (visually) from the triggering comment.
      Some other sites come close to doing this well, but this one could/should be better.
      Hell, even Reason's comments sections don't permit ANY voting, which even FaceBook has recently improved! Up/Down voting clicks are cute and easy to tabulate, but don't allow for 'I agree/disagree' "nuances" at all, let alone "that's a good point/gee-that's-stupid."
      Maybe some day. But hey, programmers and user interface designers fall in love with and marry and worship their creations and no outsider can possibly know better or suggest an improvement.
      Been there, seen that for about 34 years in industry. Little difference here.
      Standard human practice.
      Check back once in a while and see if anything changes.
      Cheers!
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      • Posted by Spikeygrrl 8 years, 2 months ago
        I, too, find this format exasperating.

        If "the management" here is accepting suggestions, Disqus is both flexible and robust. Users can both very easily post and reply to posts without tearing their hair out.

        I, too, will check this site every couple of months to see whether or not the current aggravating list-management fiasco has been replaced with a much more user-friendly platform.
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  • Posted by Herb7734 8 years, 2 months ago
    Strange bedfellows? Maybe. Then again, maybe not. Dr. Carson may wish to stay in the game. There are many things he can contribute, and he sees Trump as the vehicle to bring him there. He could be right. He's a lot closer to things than you or I, and in any case, if he can bring his talents to the future administration, that could be a good thing.
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    • Posted by $ MichaelAarethun 8 years, 2 months ago
      So did a number of 1930's Germans. But what he is selling is Al Jolsen to Trumps Adolf Hitler.
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      • Posted by Herb7734 8 years, 2 months ago
        I am very tired of the Hitler analogies. Trump won't kill millions, and is now way as evil as Hitler. I don't like him all that much, BUT.....
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        • Posted by $ MichaelAarethun 8 years, 2 months ago
          It appears I'll have to do this again. Trump is a RINO Republican at best. They are the right wing of the left by having joined the DINO's in a coalition of those who believe, primarily, in government control of citizens by any means. One need only look at the closed elections, disenfranchisement of 46% of eligible voters, and 85% of the Senate voting on Dec 31st against civil rights and the bill of rights. So let's just say he is the right wing of the left's poster child candidate and their are Ominous Parallels to ....deleted by complaint..... just as the rest of the left's candidates exhibit ominous parallels to the other well known fascist leaders. The amount of deaths is relative. LBJ takes credit for 60,000 of his own soldiers. Rachel Carson hundreds of thousands through starvation. ....BUT .....the body politic wanting change can see no further nor find their way back to the center than baby steps slowing down the move to the left. He is a socialist corporatist with fascist tendencies well exhibited. Draw your own conclusions.
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  • Posted by bassboat 8 years, 2 months ago
    This is an example of the talent that Trump will have for his cabinet. This is easily the most talented group of candidates ever assembled. With them on the on the cabinet we can change government dramatically smaller.
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    • Posted by ewv 8 years, 2 months ago
      Government is not going to become "dramatically smaller" in the forseeable future no matter who is president, let alone a couple of cabinet members. Trump has shown no inclination to reduce the power of government at all, let alone protect the rights of the individual.
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    • Posted by $ MichaelAarethun 8 years, 2 months ago
      somehow I'm not getting the list of talent with your comment I'm wondering if you would mind re-posting them. thank you
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      • Posted by bassboat 8 years, 2 months ago
        This is my opinion on the pool, Cruz, Carson, Christie, Rubio, Fiorina, Jindal, and Paul would all be excellent cabinet members. I'll pass on the rest.
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        • Posted by $ MichaelAarethun 8 years, 2 months ago
          That would take a bold step by Cruz as the present only possibility. He would have to turn his back on the right wing of the left The Rino Repubicans and seek votes from the disaffected disenfranchised 46% who have opted out of playing a rigged game. To do that he would have to appeal to them but stating something like that which you just wrote or even further by picking a VP candidate that appealed to that bloc of votes. He would have to draw a line in the sand and state the Constitution is the Center. It is not the center of the left nor the extreme left. He isn't going to make it as the Rinos answer to Trump and the rest of the leftist candidates.
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  • Posted by STEVEDUNN46 8 years, 2 months ago
    why would ben endorse trump. well look at the other choices. cruz pretends to be anti-establishment. lok at his history. he has been part of the establishment for years. Rubio is part of the establishment with a personality of a third grader. trump is a successful businessman. people that work for him or deal with him have a high opinion of him. anyone that has been around successful people know what it takes. that is what we need to reign it waste and corruption. no one has all the right views to please everybody. and trump does not please carson completey but he is the best that is currently running on the conservative side. ignore his rants. look at what he has done and will do.
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    • Posted by term2 8 years, 2 months ago
      100% right. He tells it like it is. Isnt restrained by stupid political correctness. He tells us what we were thinking already, which accounts for his popularity. He is a good judge of employees (had to be to get where he is). He will clean out the stupid political appointees Obama has saddled us with (start with the AG and IRS heads). He will get the respect of foreign countries, which is a good thing in this dangerous age.
      For 4 years, this is exactly what the country needs.
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      • Posted by $ MichaelAarethun 8 years, 2 months ago
        Your country perhaps. Not mine. You need a dictator we only need to return to the center and leave left wing fascists in their well deserved 70 year old graves.
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        • Posted by term2 8 years, 2 months ago
          Thinking like yours is going to get Hillary or Sanders elected in November to Lord over all of us. If that's what you want in order to destroy the country and end the reign of ststism, just admit it. It is an arguable position -"To stop the motor of the world"
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    • Posted by $ MichaelAarethun 8 years, 2 months ago
      Cruz only selling point is he is perhaps the only one left that hasn't sold out and there is no proof of that.

      The whole discussion is only important to those who buy into the two party system crap when in rubber meets the road crap it's one left wing coalition.

      Two do other than poke well deserved holes who take any of this seriously one had to be anti constitutionalist and support the notion that 'hopefully' one of these turncoats will turn the other way. What are the odds of any thing but a left wing socialist fascist thing being allowed on the final ballot?

      My hundred says the end result is 95% of the votes go to left wing socialist fascists and the rest by a very faulty default. None of the arguments face the real issues and important questions but just sort of lie there and whine. If this is the best the country can offer you deserve what you are asking for.

      But don't start pointing fingers after words your own words will come back to haunt you as you seek to justify your actions.
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  • Posted by Dobrien 8 years, 2 months ago
    To the Trump ticket adding Dr Carson is a real positive. "It is better to light one candle than to curse the darkness" Ghandi
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    • Posted by $ MichaelAarethun 8 years, 2 months ago
      Wrong culture. and the quote is not from ghandi. The bible, The Christopher organization, Eleanor Roosevelt, JFK among others. If Carson is the positive for Trump he has a net total of one positive.

      A better quote would be 'He was not afraid of the dark.'
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      • Posted by Dobrien 8 years, 2 months ago
        I don't think any one culture has a lock on good ideas.
        The quote credit was probably not the best choice after some research I find it attributed to many people including Ghandi , JFK and others on different searches. I never spoke to Ghandi nor heard him talk . I had heard he said it somewhere and posted without verification.
        It most likely is an old Chinese proverb or Confusius saying.
        The meaning is --in the face of bad times or hopelessness it is more worthwhile to do some good however small in response.
        Thank you for your comments.
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    • Posted by term2 8 years, 2 months ago
      Carson is a very slow and considerate thinker. A good thing.
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      • Posted by $ MichaelAarethun 8 years, 2 months ago
        and a sell out it would appear. If his principles are that shallow he should join as the resident Goebbels.
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        • Posted by term2 8 years, 2 months ago
          Not sure any people in politics in this country now have consistent principles. A lot of education and perhaps one or two generations would be needed before that would be a realistic liklihood.

          Not sure why Carson ran for president actually. He is way too soft spoken to be actually listened to once elected. Not to mention he seems to be a bit over the top with his religious stuff. But he does seem to have the capacity to think things through which is encouraging.
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          • Posted by 8 years, 2 months ago
            I think that he, like (for examples) Steven Seagal or
            John Wayne, is accustomed to having people listen intently
            because of his distinction and reputation. . it fits his character
            and his temperament, too. -- j
            .
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            • Posted by term2 8 years, 2 months ago
              There are a few people I would go to dinner with- including Ben Carson (he appears to be very well educated and interesting) , Oprah Winfrey (just to learn how she negotiated through show business to get where she is at), Joan Rivers (too late for that one ! but she had a work ethic that was great), Donald Trump (I would like to hear the story of his life in a relaxed setting), Mark Cuban ( he intrigues me with his apparently free market ideas). Mr Wonderful from shark tank ( he tells it to you straight and I like that). There are others, but Ithey dont come to mind this minute, but its an interesting exercise to make a list. Imagine having all of them at a dinner party.

              I would refuse dinner with Obama, Harry Reid, Nancy Pelosi and many others because they are useless evil people. Bernie Sanders is at least an honest wacko, but no dinner with him either.
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  • Posted by $ MichaelAarethun 8 years, 2 months ago
    Yes but they all add up easily using mathematical proofs. Donald is left wing socialist fascist corporatist. Carson claimed to be different.

    Donald is a political outsider skilled only in buying votes
    Carson is not.

    Donald is popular

    Carson is not

    Donald is national socialist supremacist
    Carson is not.

    Marriage made in political heaven.
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  • Posted by gwilhelm56 8 years, 2 months ago
    Trump may not be a Textbook Conservative, but he IS A CAPITALIST... Something that this Country needs a REMINDER that that is Not necessarily a BAD THING!!! Some in here apparently need such a LESSON!!!!
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    • Posted by $ MichaelAarethun 8 years, 2 months ago
      State Economics as well as it's predecessor recognizes that Socialism must depend on capitalism for it's financing as it has no way of doing it on it's own. The skim is still in effect as in Sec Treas Reuben the sandwich and the Mexican Bail Out (Tesoro Bonos") rip off which served to fatten his personal accounts by stealing from Social Security, Railroad Retirement Trust and a few others. I see Trump as the ultimate looter of the left and that's saying a lot considering they do nothing but loot.
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    • Posted by conscious1978 8 years, 2 months ago
      Capitalists are admirable; but Trump is a Pragmatist. I don't buy his 'reality show' rhetoric, and he hasn't demonstrated he has more than a soundbite grasp of many important issues.

      Candidates won't be 'perfect'. However, he has proven he will use political influence and power in disregard of others rights.
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