padremike Loc: Phenix City, Al

How can Trump destroy the Freedom of the Press by merely criticizing them? In my opinion, he legitimately criticizes them. Perhaps you should consider the abuse of the free press by becoming King Makers (Obama - was conveniently never vetted by the Press and hardly ever a harsh word spoken) or King K**ler (Trump) because they h**e him, and the once free Press became a political arm of the Marxist Progressive Party. Gaining control of the Press and news media is a Marxist agenda item but you probably already knew that right?

slatten49 Loc: Lake Whitney, Texas

How can one convince a Trump supporter that Trump is doing wrong as president?

From BruceSpielbauer, blogger

It is almost always a lost cause. Most of those who still support him after all that we know today will not change.

They remind me of my cousin, who continued to support his “hero” and “god” Richard Nixon, even after the world heard the smoking gun tapes. and even after Nixon was forced to resign in humiliation. My cousin will go to his grave as a Nixon supporter. (He will also, curiously, go to his grave as a Trump supporter.)

Trump Supporters — They are not a single group, they are not a monolith. Some of them support Trump because they are very gullible and fall for conspiracy theories, and paranoid beliefs in “deep state” bulls**t, and vague “mainstream media conspiracy theories” and Q-Anon and “false f**g operations.” You know, the poppycock stuff.

Some of them continue to support him because they really are closet w***e s*********ts, and they recognize his code-switching and dog whistles. They know what he means when he says “some of them are good people.” Neo-N**is. And, all W***e S*********ts. They also are happy when Trump’s policies (immigration) — reinforce their own bigotry, their own neo-N**i beliefs, their misogyny, their xenophobia.

Some of them continue to support him because they are the evangelical extremists, and they really do believe that Trump was “sent by God” to rid the godless government of those godless policies that allow such “sins” as a******n, or L**T independence.

Some of them continue to support him, because they are the actual “one-percenters,” the extremely wealthy, and the CEOS of corporations, or the presidents off corporations and the vice presidents of corporations. They care not about social policies, nor about foreign policies, nor about domestic policies — they care only about the almighty dollar. And, those tax breaks were the single best thing that has happened to them since Reagan, to be sure. Their tax breaks were “permanent.” Their tax breaks were HUGE, both for the rich, and for the corporations. Many in the middle class got a very tiny tax break, to help sell it to those who do not read — but the middle-class tax break will expire, in just a few years.

After the e******n of 2020…Some of them will continue to support him, because they just enjoy the “sh*t show” and the entertainment value of having a nightmare in office who is also a clown, and also incompetent. Really. I also have one of these people in my own family. They just love it, when he is even more outrageous than “The Real Housewives of Peoria.” Some are stoners — they tend to be very low-information citizens. I know of some that remind me of Beevis and Butthead. Really.

There are a few other pocket groups, as well, with even smaller numbers. Add them all up, and it appears they are about 40% of the current Republican Party. That party had such respect, 30 years ago.

Look at the list above — how can you possibly convince any of those “sub-groups” to change? How can you “convert” a Neo-N**i? How can you convince a CEO at Chipotle, who is giggling all of the way to the bank? His first priority is money. In fact, his second and third priority is money. How can you convince a religious extremist that being gay is not a sin? Good luck with that. You can’t. It is a lost cause.

Instead, spend your energy on resisting each and every policy which is dangerous, or which does damage. Speak out to your elected officials, and do it often. Call, and E-Mail, and even write them, whenever something important comes up. (Yes, it does make a difference, especially if you call, and especially if you write them a letter.) Do careful research, before you cast any v**e, at any level. Stay informed. Follow legitimate journalism. Support those who are trying to make this a better nation, and resist those who are only thinking of themselves.

slatten49 Loc: Lake Whitney, Texas

Possibly, but given his record capacity for lying...….

old marine Loc: America home of the brave

After 8 years the Democrats still haven't figured out they have been hoodwinked.

rumitoid

No, it is not "pure Trumpism": he thoroughly not only believes it but expects and demands it. His way or the highway and the lemmings will s**mper along, dutifully, excitedly, and with tails wagging. (Do lemmings have tails? Well, they should.) How do you consider something outrageous and wrong by Trump as something "that set their hair afire"? It is reporting. No h**e is needed. I personally find it amusing how many on the Right delude themselves into thinking that any criticism of Trump's words or actions are nonsense and just the result of a Hillary loss. Makes the president perfect. How quaint.

There is a term in physiology called "idealization of the father." It comes down to an essential "Father knows best," an authoritarian mantra. No matter what the father does or says to the child, from beatings to shaming, the child believes he deserves it and it comes from love. Records show that many children in dysfunctional homes believe this. In a very sad statistic, children in dysfunctional home stay longer in parental or guardian relationship by 4 years. Desperate for the approval they will never get. Their psyche is in a great quandary: finally acknowledge the abuse or keep hoping. The only true freedom, acknowledging the abuse, means that their entire existence was living a lie and that they suffered all those years for nothing.

padremike Loc: Phenix City, Al

Trump will be in your head forever. The presidency is not a decision by consensus! The buck stops.....do you actually believe Obama, (may his tribe decrease) did not rule with an iron fist? "E******ns have consequences.) You just don't like Trump and are convinced he and Putin s***e the e******n and jointly run America. What psychological sickness would you like to tag on that line?

Bad Bob Loc: Virginia

old marine Loc: America home of the brave

I agree with you.

I recall a song by Merle Haggard that tells it like it is.

"When you are cutting down my country hoss
you are walking on ths fighting side of me.
If you don't like it, leave it. Let this song be a warning."

Good advice hoss..........

old marine Loc: America home of the brave

BURP..........

Morgan

The ACA isn't spinning out of control at all, and now there aren't any standards in place, which means the insurance companies can rip people off as they had been. They will be paying for nothing and finding that out when they need it the most...yep ~GOOOO Trump

EmilyD

Because of the mandate, Obama thought he could force everyone to buy into it, or pay a penalty. Since young people don't think they are going to get sick any time soon, they opted out of buying it, and then waited for the IRS to tax them. Because they were not buying into it, the premiums and deductibles began to increase more and more. People are paying $7,000 per year deductibles and their monthly premiums are around $400 per month - about $5,000 per year (and I think those are low estimates because they're a few years old). Would you call $12,000 a year "affordable"??? And it's getting worse every darned year! Good luck with that, if you're on it, but most sane people choose something else these days. It has been on a downward spiral for almost 5 years now. At least Trump got rid of the mandate forcing people to buy it. That was a major relief for people!

padremike Loc: Phenix City, Al

Do you know why gas is $8 a gallon in France and why the people are r**ting over the increase in gas tax? This is the price of free health care.

old marine Loc: America home of the brave

Why do you blame President Trump he has nothing to do with insurance companies.

Most insurance companies are owned and controlled by Demo rats.

woodguru

Even further than Trump has?

old marine Loc: America home of the brave

Emily. The SCOTUS ordered Obama to remove that mandate because it was unconstitutional BUT Onama refused to follow the SCOTUS orders and did not remove it.

After President Trump was elected, the SCOTUS ordered him to remove the unconstitutional mandste. He did and the Democrats have constantly blamed him for gutting Obamas unaffordable medical plan.