Thank You Randy for a very ineresting post. I will state now I don't hate Mr Trump or ALL Republican/onservatives. I don't care for what the GOP has become since GW Bush. I come from a family that were JFK progressives. Both my parents were college professors my dad also a 20yr AF Officer as a combat pilot. My Mom volunteered for the Peace Corps for 5 yrs before college and her career teaching American Lit. My first election for President was in 92 the same year I entered the AF and I liked the paltform of Gov Clinton as my parents did also. In their opinion Gov Clinton reminded them of JFK,young,Well educated and progressive. I continued to see the democrats as the better choice for leading the country even though Mr Bush did win in 2000 . I will not say that I have made bad choices in my political view. As a NCO of the AF I recognized that Pres. Bush and later Pres. Trump were duly elected and therefore CIC. In my opinion once that occurs then my personal thoughts and comments negative or positive were not to be made on social media. I also supported Pres Obama and Pres Biden now. I was mostly overseas when Pres Trump was CIC and did not do too badly financially the military was supported by the people. I consider myself a BlueDog Dem fiscally conservative(I am worried about the current ecnomic system)but also supportive of some needed social programs at the federal level. Is our fed gov't bloated..YEs some streamlining is needed. Am I in favor of a Stronger exec? NO. Am I woke to social problems..Yes Absolutely. This does not mean I support extreme and radical factions of my party including ANTIFA,BLM and any group that thinks violence is the answer. I also don't see DEI programs in our military as being divisive. The young persons I served and led in 30yrs of service were some of the best. I believe the new genZ and Gen X are the future leaders of our nation. I support LGBTQ persons but also know there are only 2 genders M/F. What adults do in private is their business.

Do I think every school district in America is led by liberal extremists grooming children and encouraging mutilation of young children. NO it may be happening in a large number of districts but nation wide? Are drag storytime in every public library nationwide...NO! Are Gay teachers dangerous to children or grooming them into accpeting a gay lifestyle?...NO! Have the Ed.unions become Marxist nationwide and should be eliminated? No I believe that public schools are needed but underfunded. Yes Parents should have the final and total say in their childrens education. We are parents of twin daughters in public schools and even our district is underfunded and our teacher's could use more pay. Do we need some adjustments in higher ed? Yes but not purges of All liberal educators. Do I think we have gotten away from principles that Amerca was based on. Yes but that does not mean we are falling into Marxist atheism. I have no problem with school prayer as long as it does not make Non Christian students feel obliged to participate. I do agree with separation of church and state within the gov't.

Finally, This is my opinion on Mr Trump(It is Not TDS by any means). I don't think he deserves another term as POTUS. I also think the states denying any legal candidate a spot on their ballot as wrong and strongly believe that SCOTUS will overturn all these cases. Mr Trump deserves to be on all Ballots. The way to ensure he does not win is for Americans to not vote for him. Which I think will happen. I also think that young first time and second time voters for president will be the deciding factor. Will there be one house control of congress in Jan 2025? I don't know. Who will I vote for in 2024? I am certain it will not be for the GOP Unless a Reagan Republican shows up. It most likely not be for the incumbent either. In an earlier post I called for not voting for either Mr Trump or Pres Biden because it is time for new ,younger, more progressive thinking leaders.

As a veteran of 34 years on active duty, in the reserves and finally, in the ANG I would have nothing to do with anyone who called veterans losers or suckers. I am surprised you bring this up as a criticism of President Trump since the President never uttered those words. A left wing rag carried the story that "anonymous" sources reported the President made those comments. In contrast, half a dozen non-anonymous sources, including an aid who discussed the bad weather and the inadvisability of a helicopter flight with the President, the French President and John Bolton (not a fan of the President) claimed the President never made such comments. In addition, the President vehemently denied such comments immediately upon hearing the accusations. The best left wing fact checkers can say is that the people willing to give their names only said they never heard the President say such things, that not hearing is not the same as not happening, and they are waiting for additional evidence proving that the President did not say these things. I hope you see that this is an extraordinarily weak argument and that it is impossible to prove a person DID NOT say something.

We have a great deal in common, Radar. But not everything. Nevertheless, I found your post to be educated, thoughtful, and well reasoned. I sincerely enjoyed reading it, and I thank you. I also deeply thank you for your service.
I would like to focus on one thing you mentioned.....prayer in school.
In my school days, up through the eighth grade, we had a time at the beginning of school where we said the Pledge, and we had a minute of silence for those who wanted to pray. I remember, in a few early grades, someone leading a prayer over the innercom. I even have some hazy memories of teachers leading the room in a prayer. NEVER did I hear anyone coerced, in any way, if they did not want to pray. We had Jewish and Jehovah Witness students that simply sat in silence during our morning ritual.
In 50 years as a very active Christian in various Southern Baptist Churches, I have NEVER, not even ONCE, heard a person advocate for any kind of mandatory prayers in school.
The oft repeated mantra that Christians want to pass laws to legally force their beliefs on others is not only false, but blatantly stupid. The essence of Christianity is that of individuals WILLING choosing God. Forcing others to follow our beliefs is wrong, and every Christian knows this.
As for the separation of church and state.......I believe in it to the extent that the Constitution forbids a government sponsored or controlled church.
But there is NOTHING WRONG with setting aside a minute or two for students to pray if they want to. The Pledge should be spoken and honored in class, for those that choose to participate. The Ten Commandments in the hall way or the class room is not indoctrinating anyone. The teacher having a Bible on her desk is not evangelizing anyone. And none of these are creating a government Church. If anything, these activities will help teach even non-Christians to be respectfully patient with other people's rituals, and to be tolerant of ideas that they do not believe in.
However, a number of people, some of them on OPP, decry even a minute of silence to be 'emulating' pray, and thus must be banned. Some of them also say that Christians should not be allowed to be judges, since they have a higher allegiance than to justice (or, to be snide, not to the Democratic party). One OPP poster, a couple of months ago, even expressed the opinion that Christians or other people of faith should not be allowed to serve in ANY government position, because it was a violation of church and state.
Something to consider, Radar.
It is not that I have any major political disagreement with a good solid blue dog democrat, but I have to look at what the elected Democrats are supporting and advocating and implementing.
There is little good on that list.
You can be a Democrat, and work to move the party away from their current extreme, and back to the center, and still decide to vote for Trump this November, if you come to believe that a Trump win is better for the country than President Biden continuing in office, as I do.

Thank you Randy for your usual level headed response to a fellow liberal. I think I may just have to visit Mobile in the summer just to meet Radar and his family. Besides I haven't been fishing on Dauphin Island or Mobile since I left FL in 2015 plus the food and people are good down to earth Americans(even the conservatives ) we have a long way until Nov. I will also take your advice to Radar and see what happens in the coming months. To be honest though I don't think he( Mr Trump)will be able to overcome all his legal issues. That leaves the other GOP Slate I still need time to consider who to support but as I have stated recently in answer to another of Radar's posts I don't think either man should be elected for another term.

"Americans"? There are two words that come to mind when you use verbiage such as that. I won't use them because I have respect for you.
Sir, I am an American!! And a Texan before that!!
I read your thread about why you despise Trump because of his comments about the military, and all, and, I can see how you would feel that way about him. The guy is a jackass all the way around. I get it!

That being said; I/we have been degraded as much, or more because of our approval of his policies that worked for America.

Speaking only for myself, I'll tell you that I harbor extreme resentment for the left in this country for the same reasons you despise Trump.

I have done nothing but work my entire life, and sacrifice for my family, and help others when I can. Never been arrested, pay my bills, and taxes, and mind my business.
However, because I don't tow the party line, especially democrats, I've been called every derogatory name in the leftist book. I'm sure there are multi-millions out there just like me.

Comments like you just made only fuel the fire that is burning now.
The insinuation that someone voted for a man you can't stand isn't "American" is infuriating to me.

All I have to say is that a dumpster fire is not near enough a good description for what is going on now.
But, all of you "AMERICANS" got rid of Trump.

Way to go dumba**!!

"Americans"? There are two words that come to mind when you use verbiage such as that. I won't use them because I have respect for you.
Sir, I am an American!! And a Texan before that!!
I read your thread about why you despise Trump because of his comments about the military, and all, and, I can see how you would feel that way about him. The guy is a jackass all the way around. I get it!

That being said; I/we have been degraded as much, or more because of our approval of his policies that worked for America.

Speaking only for myself, I'll tell you that I harbor extreme resentment for the left in this country for the same reasons you despise Trump.

I have done nothing but work my entire life, and sacrifice for my family, and help others when I can. Never been arrested, pay my bills, and taxes, and mind my business.
However, because I don't tow the party line, especially democrats, I've been called every derogatory name in the leftist book. I'm sure there are multi-millions out there just like me.

Comments like you just made only fuel the fire that is burning now.
The insinuation that someone voted for a man you can't stand isn't "American" is infuriating to me.

All I have to say is that a dumpster fire is not near enough a good description for what is going on now.
But, all of you "AMERICANS" got rid of Trump.

Way to go dumba**!!