straightUp Loc: California

Bob Seger, really? (I didn't know you're that old) ;)

You touch on a bit of truth here... I mean, I don't know what you're calling a "shellacking" (you remind me of those exuberant Superbowl fans that get in the face about a 21-24 victory.) It was hardly a shellacking but there is nevertheless a very real impact. I would say we are being rocked by the results of a surprising election. Most of us are over the election itself. We know Trump won... so you don't have to keep telling us... Oh, unless you WANT to because, you're still pumped, I guess I kinda get that.

Most of us are struggling to come to terms with a president we really don't want. You don't remember what that was like in 2008 or in 2012?

We do question the electoral college and I hope one day that will change so that all American citizens will have equal power at the ballot. I don't know why people think that's such a bad idea. But we're talking about future elections not redoing 2016 to get Trump out.

We do question Trump as well and all his appointees and the list of reasons is endless and you will deny all of them anyway, so there's no point.

But we understand that like it or not, Trump is the president. So now we watch him and we read his executive orders and we watch the people he is aligning himself with and we watch the Republicans and we read their proposals (at least *I* do).

And what is unfolding in front of us is a familiar agenda. I keep hearing people say how Trump is different... how he isn't a politician. But he *is* a politician. That's his job now. And the agenda that I see Trump unfolding is the same right-wing agenda I saw ten years ago. Basically, as much free-reign for money as possible... even at the expense of civil rights and consumer protection. There's nothing new here. How long have people been talking about immigration reform? How long have people been talking about healthcare reform? How long have people been talking about trade reform?

Trump hasn't come up with a single original idea yet. In fact, all of his executive actions so far have been taken right from the same hit-list of age-old issues that he campaigned with. On one hand, that says something for his integrity. But on the other hand, at least for me because I have studied a lot of these issues over the years, it's a concern because I can see a fundamental conflict between two strategies with regard to these issues, one that favors the 1% and one that favors the 99%. And despite what Trump said about standing up to Wall Street, his promises and the actions he is backing them up with are a match with the strategy that favors the 1%.

So... I'm disappointed with the election and i'm concerned about Trump, the Republicans and that strategy for the 1%. But I'm not batshit crazy. Some people on the left are. There's a lot of people on the left or are guilty of the same things I accuse people here on the right of doing... reacting without considering etc... and some of them are... batshit crazy, no argument from me there.

I am staying calm (for the most part) but I am watching the same thing I always watch... the Bill of Rights, which if sustained will keep the door open for the people to storm the castle if they need to. If that door closes THEN I will go batshit crazy. In the meantime, I will remain as objective as I can be which doesn't mean I can't be critical of what Trump does if I have good reason to be. And because I don't trust him like you do, I will be looking for ways to legally end his term as soon as possible. But far, far more important than that, I am engaging and contributing to a swelling liberal movement on the ground.

I recommendation to all liberals on OPP is to do the same... Because, while the media focuses on the high-visibility of a demagogue in the Oval Office and OPP spins threads in reaction to him, you will find a much brighter and very uplifting experience if you touch base with this awakening. The ACLU and several other civil-rights and left-wing organizations that have been around for decades have recently broken records in funding. Protest assemblies are bigger than they've been since Vietnam. The Democratic Socialists are breaking membership records. Bernie Sanders's organization is already working the local and state issues and hitting the courts everywhere and we're all waiting for the Obamas to join, which we know they will do, as soon as Barack is back from surfing. ;)

kankune Loc: Iowa

Hey StraightUp..remember we can agree to disagree. Just give him a chance at least. It's a whole new business up there from the last 8 years...maybe the last 10. It takes some time to build. Is our President far from perfect. He'll yes!!! But we all are and I do believe completely that he loves this country. And hey....I love Bob Seger and I'm not that old. lol

lindajoy Loc: right here with you....

Bob Seger I like... it was more for the title than the song itself....

Sure I remember 2008 and 2012 and while there was dissection there was not any of what is going on now.. The hate and venom rule... Nothing more...

Ridiculous so many work so hard on dividing rather than manning up and see what we can do to bring some mutual cause rather than this internal meltdown that makes us even more of a laughing stock in the World wide arena...

Also sorry, but I don't see patriots fighting for the benefit of our country but do see many that would rather it fall because their chosen didn't pull it off, Thank God...The progressive globalist upset because they weren't able to pull off their leftist mantra of socialism full fledged and using you as their slaves to do the dirty work.. Once that is achieved you will mean nothing to them... Look at the many countries Soros has destroyed... Did he do one thing for the people he brainwashed into his BS.. I truly thought you smarter and up on what is really going on.... Sorry....

We'll agree to disagree because no matter what logic is discussed nothing changes...

You aren't helping America you are helping to destroy it!..

Carol Kelly

Sometimes it's best to wait and see how things stack up. Don't be so ready to criticize everything and everyone, especially the elected President of the USA.

Big Bass

New York Times? BWAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!

straightUp Loc: California

Well, my last post to lindajoy will explain why I don't think it's a whole new business... maybe a different *direction* from the last 8 years, I can see that, but from what I see, it's the same business we had 10 years ago and that didn't go so well for us. Anyway, we'll see what happens. As for Bob Seger, I saw him with the Doobie Brother way back in the 80's it was a good show. I just laugh because it was sooo polyester and that's all I can think of when I hear Bob Seger now.

straightUp Loc: California

Ya know Carol... I hear that from you folks NOW. I wasn't hearing that from you before. Funny how tables turn eh?

lindajoy Loc: right here with you....

I knew what you were doing with Seger it's why I told you what I said°~~》title..

And kankune he was being his cute self with his comment on my age and the smilee face.. He knows I'm younger and because of that in the past anyway, he used it joking with me about not being old enough to know better... like I said, before the election he was alot more fun...lolol..

straightUp Loc: California

gotcha.


I strongly disagree with that perception. LOL I seem to remember the right trying to disqualify him by saying he wasn't even born in the U.S. Obama shows his birth certificate and they said it was fake. Trump himself made a huge deal out of it. Not too long ago Trump said he believes Obama WAS born in the U.S. but Obama isn't running for president so it doesn't matter. So was Trump lying when he was pushing the birther movement? That's just scratching the surface... I remember the reaction on the right... there was PLENTY of hate and venom.


Yeah, there's a lot of dividing going on. I think a big problem is that we don't focus on the real divides like (1% - 99%) because we are so obsessed with the superficial divides (Republican - Democrat).


Did you mean to say progressives?


I haven't seen any. Honest. Every progressive I've ever talked to want America to succeed. I think you might be referring to fringes... I don't speak for them.


Yeah, I've heard these arguments a lot... Sorry, I categorize them as conspiracy theories that don't really hold up. You loose me as soon as you tell me the progressive aim is socialism. Did you know the progressive agenda was initiated by the Republicans as a way to avoid socialism? I did a long study in college on Cold War propaganda and I'm pretty sure I know how the fear of socialism was fit into political rhetoric.


Well, yes... if your idea of America is a nation being exploited by a tyrannical plutocracy, or a nation in which people are not treated equally, then yes... I aim to destroy THAT America. I want a different America that treats all people with respect and dignity, like the one the progressives were building from 1890 to 1970. I like that one.

jack sequim wa Loc: Blanchard, Idaho

Another PinHead leftist response based in pure ignorance, and liberal media blather.

Had you spent time doing simple research, you could have prevented yourself sounding so stupid.

Why you leftist read one website article, or watch MSN, CNN, then post nothing but garbage.

Here's a link to get you started, and for your edification there areally hundreds of links allowing you to "Research "

http://www.investors.com/politics/editorials/how-dodd-frank-kills-small-banks-and-chokes-the-u-s-economy/

Ed Graham

Trump just doesn't get it! Government is not his private domain where people can spend or not- their choice. As Jefferson said: "The role of govt is to do for the people what they cannot do so well for themselves." The Consumer Protection Agency is a good example of that premise.

lindajoy Loc: right here with you....

There ya go breaking it all up so I can't reply to each...Ya dang brat, you do it on purpose!!! 😚😲

You know something straight we really don't differ much in our error all objectives and concerns... We just voice it differently...Well other than I am no progressive either...

I don't believe we're looking at or working to a tyrannical plutocracy...

I think we had 8 years of too much progressive liberalism to the extreme and a heck of a lot of division thrown in there to promote hate...

Now we've got almost a straight Republican everything and many fear what that will bring considering the "balance" of either parties dictatorship is severely limited for the Dems this time, just as it was the last 8 years for the Republicans... Maybe that is the new balance for the moment...

There was plenty, I mean yuuugggggeeee amount of things I didn't agree with and while admittedly I strongly believe BO worked against anything to better our country and I do not respect him I always had faith in we the people to keep it on the fringe...Heck there is plenty, yugggge amount of things the Republicans did not do to move this country along either...

But damn it, before we had US, you and I and everyone else that fought for the cause, the foundation, the moral fiber of our land... We do not have this now and we do not because everyone is so filled with hate we now don't care and aren't trying to find mutual ground no one will like but at least finally gets us back on track... When is it enough?? Haven't we had enough BS that we can rise above it and at least try??

I am so sick of the fake news, lying leftist globalist owned media I've lost patience, trust none of them and wouldn't put not one channel on of any of them.. They feed us so much propaganda it's ridiculous and bought no less... Did we learn nothing in how corrupt those that really run this country are in this election??

You know it's not the one in office but them.. The difference with Hillary was they already owned her.. With Trump they do not so it'll take longer...

You're an intelligent man all I'm asking you to do is join me "in hope" that we can collectively bring back our Nation as it was formed and preserve our freedom..We're not the animals these scumbag politicians need us to be to succeed in their agenda and goals!! We're better than them... We are the United States, not them.. If they succeed to strip society then there is no nation either!!!

Radiance3

===============
What a stupid comment. Just so he could say anything without understanding the very essence of what he is saying. He makes up and defines his own stupid comment.
Little knowledge is dangerous!

Did you know what Barrack and Michelle did for 8 years of lavish vacationing, spending billions of taxpayers' money? Did you track that down? What about his golfing? What about Michelle's 26 staff assistants? What about Michelle's mother given a lifetime pension of $160K for being a dependent at the WH? What about his LIES, and LIES to the American people? What about ISIS that he empowered all over the Middle East, and now surreptitiously entered the US?
There's countless US destructions for 8 years. What about bankrupting the US with $20 trillion debt? What about IRAN's $150 billion, plus $1.75 billion cash give away? It would take 100 pages to write those they call achievements.

kankune Loc: Iowa

You GO Rad....great post!!

rich boise Loc: Idaho

Before any comment on a NYT story you should check to see if there is even a little truth involved.