EconomistDon

Aren't you glad that Conservatives were not so juvenile and small-minded to riot when the worst President in our lifetime was reelected to four more years in 2012? Conservatives respect the Constitution and the political process that selects a President every four years. Its unfortunate that liberals are not mature enough to give the same respect.

straightUp Loc: California

Don't give me that shit Don. I can remember the antics carried on by conservatives in 2012. They just didn't rally in such large numbers, which actually makes sense. When someone is narrowly elected and enters office with the lowest ratings in history, you're going to get larger crowds in the streets. And you can call Obama the worst president all you want but I know better. I could bury you in reasons why Bush was far worse. Also, the polls and opinions across the board overwhelmingly indicate his popularity at levels that Trump has never reached and probably never will.

What I think is even more appalling than the rough edges of the liberal crowd now, is the utter lack of maturity among Republican leaders in 2012. They sat down with their arms folded like pouty little brats and did nothing but boo and hiss the president. They loaded every emergency bill with stipulations for defunding the ACA even when it caused the government to shut down. Democrats have never done that and they're not doing it now. Because for the past 5 years, the Democrats in the government ARE the adults.

straightUp Loc: California

So far none, which isn't to say he isn't trying. That's because his unsuccessful attempts to take civil rights away have so far been stopped by the courts for constitutional reasons.

Before I get into a comprehensive response, I want to make sure you understand the difference between civil rights and civil liberties because I've noticed a lot of people get them confused, probably because it really is a legal technicality, but it's the law anyway and as a conservative I would expect you to have respect for them.

Civil Liberties is what most people automatically think about. They are the liberties that are guaranteed by the Federal government, the most famous of which are embodied in the Bill of Rights, such as the right to bear arms or the right to free speech.

Civil Rights are more numerous because they are more specific and they result from laws and court decisions established at all levels of the government from municipal to federal, but they all share a common theme based on the equality clause of the 14th amendment, which is itself based on the founding idea that all men are created equal and that certain rights are inalienable... a stipulation that I often think the right wishes didn't exist.

So when Trump starts isolating ethnic groups for unequal treatment he is at the very least violating the equality clause that a large number of civil rights laws are based on. In most cases which the ACLU will be taking there are clear violations of our civil liberties.

That being said. I'll give you some examples...


Trump has called for the jailing and revocation of citizenship for U.S. citizens who burn a flag. That's a direct violation of the 1st Amendment's guarantee that the government shall not infringe on our right to free speech.

Trump has suggested the use of torture or waterboarding, which is patently unconstitutional and violates international treaties that the U.S. government has signed. The Constitution specifies that any treaty ratified by the federal government becomes the law of the land... that includes the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the Geneva Convention and a number of other agreements that prohibit torture.

The ban on Muslims is obviously a law based on religion, which is a direct violation of the First Amendment's guarantee that the government will do no such thing, The ACLU is stating that it may also be a violation of the Fifth Amendment.

Trump's castigation of the Hamilton cast for their statement to Vice President Pence shows a complete disrespect for free speech and he continues to make it clear that people with dissenting opinions will not be tolerated.

Trump has repeatedly extolled the virtues of ethnic profiling, which is an activity that often involves an invasion of privacy and the seeks a result that is itself a violation of the equality clause.

stop and frisk... I can remember Trump debating the virtues of stop and frisk. Stopping someone and searching them is a violation of the 4th Amendment. The ex police commissioner of New York said in response to Trumps plug, that stop and frisk, didn't really work and the liability of violating the Constitution wasn't worth the policy.

...Like I said... it's all talk so far and it's possible We the People can stop Trump from striping civil rights and liberties from people, but he is very clear about his feelings... So it makes sense to at least prepare the counter-attack.



Fragments of both sides, depending on the issue.


Various elements that aren't compliant with the ideals of either side.


Coming from you, those are compliments. :)

archie bunker Loc: Texas

Justify granting rights under the US Constitution to people in other countries.

EconomistDon

Take off your blinders man. Democrats don't even show up for confirmation hearings making it difficult to fill Trump's cabinet positions. Trump had only four positions filled at a point when Obama had eleven and Clinton had 17 filled. Chuck Shumer is leading the charge encouraging Democrats to stay home and "not do their jobs". You talk about arms folded pouty little brats, there they are. You must be sooooo proud.

And when was the last time you saw a bunch of Conservatives riot, breaking store windows and setting cars on fire? The answer is never. And I hope you are aware that the Podesta emails revealed the truth that trouble-makers at Trump campaign events were organized by Democrats and paid for their services. Of course, those of us with eyes could see that the "spontaneous" protesters all had matching professionally printed signs. Again, you must be soooo proud of the borderline illegal mayhem caused by your insolent party. THAT is lack of maturity. Shame on you and all the disgusting Democrats that you support.

BTW, I was no fan of George W. He was owned by the political establishment, just as Obama and Hillary are. The political establishment is tight with the military industrial complex who dragged Bush into Iraq and drove Obama to topple Libya. They tried to topple Assad in Syria and desperately want a new cold war with Russia. That is why they are fomenting all the current hate against Russia.

BigMike Loc: yerington nv

Oh BS! They just talked that way and did everything that f****r wanted. Who are you trying to kid?