Trump vs. Biden

[Julius_Van_Der_Beak]

Power was always the bottom line, yet Trump running as an anti-establishment populist concealed that a bit and made the party more palatable to voters disenchanted with the other prospects in the 2016 election.

Trump IS the party now in terms of the voters, while also being a very big torn in the side of party leadership. As you said he was useful in helping them appoint an unprecedented amount of judges in a single term, but now that he has outlived his usefulness and is threatening to actively harm the party in the wake of his election loss, he is very much an enemy to them trying to hold onto power.

This is almost like a movie, and I wonder how it's going to play out. Independent policy polling indicates that lots of right-leaning voters actually favor progressive policies when separated from the context of Democrats and Republicans, yet can the Democrats actually get their messaging out in a way that can appeal to said policy with these people while not coming across as judging them as well? The answer seems to be probably not considering the Democrat party leaders refused to acknowledge that they have a messaging problem and blamed their lost House seats on progressives. There is definitely an opportunity right now for Democrats to win over some of those not so devout, single issue voters who were willing to cast their ballot for Trump while not being apart of the cult. Too bad they'll probably continue to do nothing while sitting on their high horses, though.

The thing is I don't think the Democratic party, as a whole, actually wants to do those things to begin with. Obama admitted in his new autobiography that the reason they never pursued a public option with health care was that the Democratic party was beholden to the pharmaceutical lobby, for example.

That's why they're so quick to blame the actual progressives for any setbacks the party faces, even though the progressives don't actually control the party; it's the centrists who are running the show.

 

[Totenkindly]

Grifter keeps griftin', takes credit for whatever he can....

'Well that was weird as s***': Reporters caught on hot mic baffled by Trump's minute long press conference

...his reluctance to appear in public clearly did not outweigh his desire to take credit for the stock market.

"I just want to congratulate everybody," Mr Trump said, entering the room just moments after the meeting was announced.

"The stock market Dow Jones Industrial Average just hit 30,000, which is the highest in history. We’ve never broken 30,000, and that’s despite everything that’s taken place with the pandemic," he said.

"Never been broken, that number. That’s a sacred number, 30,000," he added.

... The stock market surged this week amid positive news about the coronavirus vaccine and the announcement from the General Services Administration (GSA) that president-elect Biden could begin the transition process to his administration. It also comes after Mr Trump warned on the campaign trail that the stock market would tank if Mr Biden were elected, which was not the case.

 

[Stigmata]

The thing is I don't think the Democratic party, as a whole, actually wants to do those things to begin with. Obama admitted in his new autobiography that the reason they never pursued a public option with health care was that the Democratic party was beholden to the pharmaceutical lobby, for example.

That's why they're so quick to blame the actual progressives for any setbacks the party faces, even though the progressives don't actually control the party; it's the centrists who are running the show.

I believe that 100%. The most aggressive you see the Democrats get is when a progressive runs against a moderate Democratic incumbent.

 

[Julius_Van_Der_Beak]

I believe that 100%. The most aggressive you see the Democrats get is when a progressive runs against a moderate Democratic incumbent.

He wasn't an incumbed, but remember how quickly they all coalesced around Biden after South Carolina? If they could have actually shown that level or organization and competence in the 2016 general election so we never had to deal with Trump, I would probably be feeling more charitable towards them right now.

 

[ceecee]

Grifter keeps griftin', takes credit for whatever he can....

'Well that was weird as s***': Reporters caught on hot mic baffled by Trump's minute long press conference

Why is anyone covering Trump pressers anymore?

 

[The Cat]

The thing is I don't think the Democratic party, as a whole, actually wants to do those things to begin with. Obama admitted in his new autobiography that the reason they never pursued a public option with health care was that the Democratic party was beholden to the pharmaceutical lobby, for example.

That's why they're so quick to blame the actual progressives for any setbacks the party faces, even though the progressives don't actually control the party; it's the centrists who are running the show.

I would really like them to get that stimulus going...they speak so eloquently in their republican apologizing...wheres the beef?

 

[Totenkindly]

Why is anyone covering Trump pressers anymore?

Personally, I would be ecstatic if the media just completely ignored him and we heard no news anymore at all. Only the people on Twitter would hear from him. But otherwise a complete blackout of news would get the point across.... as well as being probably the worst punishment of its kind. It would signal his irrelevancy.

 

[The Cat]

Personally, I would be ecstatic if the media just completely ignored him and we heard no news anymore at all. Only the people on Twitter would hear from him. But otherwise a complete blackout of news would get the point across.... as well as being probably the worst punishment of its kind.

but they never will because theyre obsessed with "ratings"... the business of the integrity of the msm news

 

[Z Buck McFate]

I believe that 100%. The most aggressive you see the Democrats get is when a progressive runs against a moderate Democratic incumbent.

God's honest truth (give or take "incumbent").

 

[ceecee]

I would really like them to get that stimulus going...they speak so eloquently in their republican apologizing...wheres the beef?

Mnuchin Plans to Put $455 Billion Beyond Yellen’s Easy Reach - Bloomberg

Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin will put $455 billion in unspent Cares Act funding into an account that his presumed successor, former Federal Reserve Chair Janet Yellen, will soon need authorization from Congress to use.

The money will be placed in the agency’s General Fund, a Treasury Department spokesperson said Tuesday. Most of it had gone to support Federal Reserve emergency-lending facilities, and Mnuchin’s clawback would make it impossible for Yellen as Treasury secretary to restore for that purpose without lawmakers’ blessing.

When someone asks - why isn't the federal government helping cities, states, small businesses right now.....you can point to this ball lick.

 

[Jaguar]

.

 

[Julius_Van_Der_Beak]

Mnuchin Plans to Put $455 Billion Beyond Yellen’s Easy Reach - Bloomberg



When someone asks - why isn't the federal government helping cities, states, small businesses right now.....you can point to this ball lick.

Ball lick sounds too charitable. I prefer ass lick.

 

[Jaguar]

Mnuchin Plans to Put $455 Billion Beyond Yellen’s Easy Reach - Bloomberg

Would you expect anything less from someone who repeatedly broke foreclosure laws for a living, before his current job? Certainly not.

 

[tony_goth]

I may look like a troll or something, but Trump's and Biden's function and office are essentially identical. I mean, with the same kinds of responsibilities and expectations from Trump/Biden's country and other countries.

Trump is to be replaced by Biden, but the presidency itself is not to be replaced by another presidency.

The only difference I see between them is, Trump is more outspoken and less tactful than Biden. That doesn't mean the presidency itself is going to become less outspoken and more tactful.

I do prefer Trump (maybe because his personality is closer to my wife's than his opponent's) but the people chose Biden. It's the procedure and I think everyone has to respect it (not because I value democracy - I'm an anarchist - but because I value the fact that the power transfer has a procedure which prevents the country from becoming a dictatorship).

The difference between Trump and Biden is, I think, how citizens will be entertained. I think entertainment needs variety. Trump and Biden have the same official duties, they'll just won't use the same style. Pretty much like cars will have various cosmetic appearences and minor functionalities, but the same major function : driving from point A to point B.

EDIT : I've known countless teachers. Some will write more lines in their mails than others, some will tolerate class chitchatting/sleeping while others won't, some will have a louder voice than others, etc. Their essential authority will be the same. It's formative to be faced with authorities who have various styles, I don't want all teachers to have the same type (e.g. INFJ-6). Neither do I want all presidents to be ESTJ-8 even if I do like this type combination.

 

[Julius_Van_Der_Beak]

Do you guys think Bush would have been re-elected if he'd called 9/11 a hoax created by Democrat Hillary Clinton and denied New York aid because it didn't vote for him? The war in Iraq was a fuckup, but in 2004, that wasn't yet a fact that was impossible for anyone to deny (well, some pundit types and politicians on both sides still deny it, but not regular people).

I think if Trump had handled Coronavirus in the way people expect Presidents to act in a crisis, he would have acquired a halo like Dubya did and would have won re-election.

 

[Stigmata]

Do you guys think Bush would have been re-elected if he'd called 9/11 a hoax created by Democrat Hillary Clinton and denied New York aid because it didn't vote for him? The war in Iraq was a fuckup, but in 2004, that wasn't yet a fact that was impossible for anyone to deny (well, some pundit types and politicians on both sides still deny it, but not regular people).

I think if Trump had handled Coronavirus in the way people expect Presidents to act in a crisis, he would have acquired a halo like Dubya did and would have won re-election.

Absolutely. All Trump had to do was get out of his own way, listen to the scientists, and he could've made a shit ton of money selling MAGA branded PPE. He still would've been able to hang his hat on the pre-covid economy while also claiming how he kept America safe from it's most grave threat yet. If he does that I don't think Biden would've had much of a chance.

 

[Totenkindly]

I agree with both of you.

I think this was an opportunity for Trump to show his mettle and essentially he proved himself unfit to lead in a clear and explicable way. There were so many opportunities to step up and simply be adequate, and instead he was his own worst enemy. I mean, I wanted him gone for many reasons, but I think if he had simply been adequate / equal to the typical president, he had enough supporters and wouldn't have as many detractors to tip the scale, regardless of all the earlier awful things.

I remember thinking through the daily news from March onwards, it was like he was trying to lose. Like, every decision made seemed to be the worst among his available choice. And yet these were his instincts at work on how to handle this. It showed he had no real idea how to actually lead during a crisis and was solely concerned about his own popularity.

 

[Siúil a Rúin]

I agree with both of you.

I think this was an opportunity for Trump to show his mettle and essentially he proved himself unfit to lead in a clear and explicable way. There were so many opportunities to step up and simply be adequate, and instead he was his own worst enemy. I mean, I wanted him gone for many reasons, but I think if he had simply been adequate / equal to the typical president, he had enough supporters and wouldn't have as many detractors to tip the scale, regardless of all the earlier awful things.

I remember thinking through the daily news from March onwards, it was like he was trying to lose. Like, every decision made seemed to be the worst among his available choice. And yet these were his instincts at work on how to handle this. It showed he had no real idea how to actually lead during a crisis and was solely concerned about his own popularity.

After listening to some interviews with his niece, Mary, Trump's family has a culture of toxic positivity. Donald's mother was quite sick with severe osteoporosis and other conditions, but I remember reference to her breaking bones often. His father ignored her and she was left disregarded in her suffering. Donald was taught that. When Donald's older brother, Mary's father, was dying in the hospital, their father told everyone is was serious but not to be concerned. Donald went to watch movies that night and not one member of the family went to the hospital while his older brother died.

Their family will not ever acknowledge any type of vulnerability, illness, suffering. Everything has to be controlled and FANTASTIC to a pathological, narcissistic degree. He had no psychological framework to address the reality of a pandemic. They believe that appearances are reality, so you creative positive strong images no matter what. Donald can hardly speak the word, "therapeutics". They have zero psychological capacity to process any sort of vulnerability, even in the guise of heroism. They cannot acknowledge its existence. It's morbid, but fascinating in its extremity.

 

[Stigmata]

After listening to some interviews with his niece, Mary, Trump's family has a culture of toxic positivity. Donald's mother was quite sick with severe osteoporosis and other conditions, but I remember reference to her breaking bones often. His father ignored her and she was left disregarded in her suffering. Donald was taught that. When Donald's older brother, Mary's father, was dying in the hospital, their father told everyone is was serious but not to be concerned. Donald went to watch movies that night and not one member of the family went to the hospital while his older brother died.

Their family will not ever acknowledge any type of vulnerability, illness, suffering. Everything has to be controlled and FANTASTIC to a pathological, narcissistic degree. He had no psychological framework to address the reality of a pandemic. They believe that appearances are reality, so you creative positive strong images no matter what. Donald can hardly speak the word, "therapeutics". They have zero psychological capacity to process any sort of vulnerability, even in the guise of heroism. They cannot acknowledge its existence. It's morbid, but fascinating in its extremity.

Apparently Fred Drumpf really did a number on the family -- he seemed like a quite narcissistic and borderline sociopathic. Absolute despite any display of weakness. Supposedly he took favor to Donald because he'd molded most in his image, whereas his brother Fred Trump Jr seemed to be less equipped to handle that more ruthless, emotionless approach and pretty much drunk himself to death.

I hadn't really thought about the psychological implication of growing up that way manifesting itself into toxic positivity, which makes sense, but now I recall when his brother Robert died months back I can't really ever recall him speaking too much about it in any sort of really emotion filled way. It seemed like it all kinda happened at one -- suddenly he was sick, then dead, then everyone just sort of moved on with business as usual. I think I remember Trump saying a few positive words about his brother but absolutely nothing from his children at all about their uncle.

Clearly Fred loved his children in his own twisted way, which is why he bailed Donnie out several times, but he did an absolute number on his children which seems to have been passed long to the next generation of Trumps.

 

[Siúil a Rúin]

Apparently Fred Drumpf really did a number on the family -- he seemed like a quite narcissistic and borderline sociopathic. Absolute despite any display of weakness. Supposedly he took favor to Donald because he'd molded most in his image, whereas his brother Fred Trump Jr seemed to be less equipped to handle that more ruthless, emotionless approach and pretty much drunk himself to death.

I hadn't really thought about the psychological implication of growing up that way manifesting itself into toxic positivity, which makes sense, but now I recall when his brother Robert died months back I can't really ever recall him speaking too much about it in any sort of really emotion filled way. It seemed like it all kinda happened at one -- suddenly he was sick, then dead, then everyone just sort of moved on with business as usual. I think I remember Trump saying a few positive words about his brother but absolutely nothing from his children at all about their uncle.

Clearly Fred loved his children in his own twisted way, which is why he bailed Donnie out several times, but he did an absolute number on his children which seems to have been passed long to the next generation of Trumps.

My impression is that this is core to why he resonates with a lot of the American public. The prosperity gospel crowd is all about toxic positivity. Strangely enough, even the modern day cults tend to be about "blab it and grab it", "believe and achieve", pyramid financial schemes to get rich and revel in toxic positivity. It is a denial culture that wants everything quickly and denies all trouble and wrongdoing. Trump's family appears like they have everything - money, the women are all models, Trump has a sexual history with porn stars, etc. and they spout words like WONDERFUL, FANTASTIC. It is a lazy version of the American Dream complete with drive-through, supersized, and double fries.