The Trump

[sidd]

Rob Urie at counterpunch argues that class based analysis trumps (sorry!) identity based analysis.

" ... which is the more effective reactionary force, the Democrats’ neoliberal nationalism or Mr. Trump’s racialized version?"

"Here’s the rub: Mr. Trump’s critique of neoliberalism can accommodate class analysis whereas the Democrats’ neoliberal nationalism explicitly excludes any notion of economic power, and with it the possibility of class analysis."

"The common bond here is a class war launched from above that has uprooted, displaced and immiserated a large and growing proportion of the peoples of the West. This experience cuts across race, gender and nationality making them a subset of class. If these problems are rectified at the level of class, they will be rectified within the categories of race, gender and nationality. Otherwise, they won’t be rectified."

"The liberal solution is to change the political culture without changing the economic relations that drive the culture. "

Read the whole thing even if you disagree.

https://www.counterpunch.org/2018/08/03/donald-trump-and-the-american-left/

sidd

[sidd]

That Real News Network segment had a good zinger at the end:

"US corporate media is today's Berlin wall"

sidd

[Neven]

Private discussion after worship this morning: Will "fake news" become the term used to describe serious journalism (as apposed to hack jobs like Fox)?

Glenn Greenwald gives a partial answer to that in his latest article on Brazilian politics:

THE VITAL POINT that U.S., British and western European elites – still traumatized by and incapable of explaining Trump, Brexit and the rise of über-nationalistic parties – have spent two years desperately evading is now also more vivid than ever in Brazil. Authoritarianism does not sprout up randomly. Demagogues cannot thrive when political institutions are healthy, just and equitable.

Threats to liberal democracy and the erosion of political liberties are possible only when the population loses faith, trust and confidence in institutions of authority. That is when societies become vulnerable to appeals by those who threaten – or who promise – to burn it all down. That is when media outlets and experts lose their ability to warn the public of lies and dangers: because the public, for good reason, sees those institutions and those experts not as guardians against dangers, deceit and suffering but as prime perpetrators of them.

When the population sees those authorities as the author of their suffering, then denunciations of Trump, Brexit, Marine LePen and Bolsonaro are not just ineffective but counter-productive. The more someone is hated by the once-elevated-but-now-despised precincts of elite authority, the more attractive their targets of scorn become.

The elite factions in the U.S, the U.K. and democracies throughout Europe have been learning this lesson the hard way. And now, so, too, are Brazilian elites. Behavior like what we are now witnessing – coalescing behind a monumentally corrupt coalition, whose only purpose is to maintain and extend the old, corrupt order, after having spent years pretending that they wanted the opposite – is precisely why they have lost all credibility and authority to stop true threats to democracy.

If Brazilian media, financial and political elites want to understand why Brazilian democracy is rapidly unraveling, their time is not best spent staring at, dissecting and denouncing Bolsonaro. Far more useful in seeing the true causes of Brazil’s plight would be a very large mirror.

After they’re done using it, they can pass it to their North American and European elite counterparts, who, reflected in it, will also see the real sources of the anti-democratic, authoritarian trends they spend all their time impotently denouncing.

[Neven]

Trump's lies on the economy:

[Neven]

More on Trump lying in general:

[TerryM]

Neven

I was amazed to see that Obama actually oversaw larger tax cuts than Reagan. What ever happened to funding programs that might actually have helped some of his less affluent constituents, or made reasonableness expensive?


Terry

[Pmt111500]

As practise, Ohio 12th district should be recounted by hand. There's no certainty the election there has been fair and just.

[Pmt111500]

Is the Trumpistan government planning to do some extra measures in Florida? The alleged hacks on the election system in use in Florida do sound like the government should ensure fair elections, f.e. by counting the votes by hand.

[mostly_lurking]

Is the Trumpistan government planning to do some extra measures in Florida? The alleged hacks on the election system in use in Florida do sound like the government should ensure fair elections, f.e. by counting the votes by hand.

Agreed. And Voter ID. Like every country in the world.

[Susan Anderson]

Y'all might like to be aware of Pompeo-Bolton support for (and financial rewards from) the MEK. This is dangerous nasty stuff. https://theintercept.com/2017/07/07/mek-iran-rajavi-cult-saudi-gingrich-terrorists-trump/

[AbruptSLR]

When these emoluments cases enter the discovery phase, we may finally see Trump's tax returns:

Title: " Don Franzen Talks with Erwin Chemerinsky on Trump and Emoluments"

https://lareviewofbooks.org/article/don-franzen-talks-with-erwin-chemerinsky-on-trump-and-emoluments/#!

Extract: "In the entire history of the American Republic, this has never come up before, and hence the word “emolument” never given judicial interpretation — until just recently, on July 25, when a federal district court in Maryland concluded the case against President Trump could go forward. Professor Chemerinsky recently spoke with me regarding the Maryland and other pending emoluments cases, and what the future may hold for this president as they work their way through the courts."

[Susan Anderson]

One of my favorite reporters, The Boston Globe this time:

By so thoroughly demonizing any journalist who disagrees with him, Trump has further degraded our already diminished political discourse. His supporters have so willingly imbibed his hateful language that the divide between conservative voters and journalists will almost certainly remain a yawning chasm.

But as serious as this is, it’s far from the most vital concern right now. Mere weeks after five journalists at the Capital Gazette in Annapolis, Md., were gunned down in their newsroom (for reasons unrelated to Trump’s rhetoric) we cannot ignore the very real possibility that one of Trump’s loyal supporters will consider putting the president’s words into deadly action. In a society that is swimming in legally purchased firearms, all it takes is one unstable person.

Some will of course argue that this is hyperbole. That Trump is merely spouting off, and no one takes his rhetoric seriously.

Tell that to NBC News’s Katy Tur, who spoke this week of getting a message from someone hoping that she is raped and killed.

Tell it to CNN’s Brian Stelter, who along with Don Lemon, was threatened with being shot because he had allegedly labeled all Trump supporters “racist” (he did not).

Tell it to New York Times columnist Bret Stephens , who received a voice mail on his office phone in which he was told “I don’t carry an AR but once we start shooting you f—ers you aren’t going to pop off like you do now. You’re worthless, the press is the enemy of the United States people.”

Tell it to all the journalists out there who have been threatened via e-mail or social media by Trump supporters over the past three years.

Those who believe that the president’s rhetoric is not contributing to these sorts of threats are fooling themselves — or refusing to face the reality of what he is doing. How any patriotic American can look at this language and still support this president is impossible to understand. How congressional Republicans can continue to remain silent in the face of such flagrant and dangerous attacks on journalists is one more reminder of their complicity in Trump’s degradation of our democracy.

Trump could stop this. He’s been warned about how dangerous his rhetoric is and has been asked to stop pouring gasoline on the fire. With one tweet and one presidential statement, he could begin toning down the primal anger of his supporters. But he chooses to do the opposite.

Increasingly it feels more like a question of when, not if, someone gets hurt. And if that does happen, make no mistake: The president of the United States will not be able to wash the blood off his hands.

[Don't know if this link will work; it might be tied to my subscription: https://www.bostonglobe.com/opinion/2018/08/06/trump-escalates-dangerous-war-press/lff5QlJEd1rvf52iID2UaO/story.html]

[sidd]

Ohio rally: "I'd rather be Russian than Democrat"

https://www.cleveland.com/expo/news/erry-2018/08/e178a851af7984/heres-who-we-saw-at-donald-tru.html

sidd

[mostly_lurking]

Beware the opinionated opinions leading into the 2018 Mid-Term Elections

And that attitude still exists right now.
Russia, impeach, Mueller,impeach,now we got him, it's coming,Russia,Blue wave,Russia,Impeach.
Oh,well.

[AbruptSLR]

The South's contribution to the American Revolution and Civil War were both based on slavery, and Trump's call to 'Make America Great Again' is a dog-whistle to return to such dark days of the past:

Title: "Omarosa book claims there are tapes of Trump using N-word on ‘Apprentice’ set"

http://thehill.com/homenews/administration/401213-omarosa-book-claims-there-are-tapes-of-trump-using-n-word-on?__twitter_impression=true

Extract: "Former White House staffer Omarosa Manigault Newman says in her new book that President Trump repeatedly used a racial slur during tapings of his show “The Apprentice” — and that it was documented on tape."

[AbruptSLR]

Of course if Putin has Trump in his pocket, and if Putin would prefer Iran as a satellite rather than an ally, then he might be very happy to standby while Trump first attacks Iran so that Putin could then step in as a savior, much as Stalin did in Poland in September of 1939.

It certainly looks like the US & Russia are teaming against China & Iran:

Title: "Is Russia Facilitating Trump’s Strangulation of Iran?"

https://www.counterpunch.org/2018/08/03/is-russia-facilitating-trumps-strangulation-of-iran/

Extract: "Could it be, then, that Russia sees it as in its own interests to facilitate Trump’s quest to chase Chinese investment out of Iran in order to preserve its trade routes and access to European oil markets?"

Make no mistake about it; if Trump is conspiring with Putin to start a major war with Iran, it helps their cabal (working with Israel and Saudi Arabia) to have a destabilized Turkey:

Title: " Lira collapses as Erdogan tells Turks: They have 'their dollars,' we have 'our god'"

https://www.cnbc.com/2018/08/10/lira-hits-all-time-low-as-erdogan-tells-turks-they-have-their-dollar.html

Extract:
•   "Turkish lira hits all-time low versus the U.S. dollar.
•   The country's economy is viewed as imbalanced due to rampant inflation.
•   The United States has also threatened to impose "big sanctions" over a U.S. pastor."

Edit, see also:

Title: "Trump Authorizes Doubling of Tariffs on Turkey's Steel, Aluminum"

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2018-08-10/trump-authorizes-doubling-of-tariffs-on-turkey-s-steel-aluminum

[AbruptSLR]

Further to my last post, do not forget that it was a lame-duck GOP House that impeached Bill Clinton, so the GOP/Trump will likely be at their most dangerous (with regard to starting a major war with Iran and to simultaneously shut-down the Mueller investigation, say by impeaching Rosenstein) between November 2018 and early January 2019.

[Susan Anderson]

Further to my last post, do not forget that it was a lame-duck GOP House that impeached Bill Clinton, so the GOP/Trump will likely be at their most dangerous (with regard to starting a major war with Iran and to simultaneously shut-down the Mueller investigation, say by impeaching Rosenstein) between November 2018 and early January 2019.

Yes, the lame duck potential have worried me since I began counting. Approx 150 days until Monday January 7.

[gerontocrat]

Make no mistake about it; if Trump is conspiring with Putin to start a major war with Iran it helps their cabal (working with Israel and Saudi Arabia) to have a destabilized Turkey:

Um, that's just crazy fantasy talk. Just because someone says something in the news media doesn't mean it's based on reality. Some things are so ridiculous they can't even qualify as a "conspiracy theory".

But not beyond the realms of possible random neuron movements inside the head of El Presidente Trump ?

I mean who knows what his Master Plan for World Domination is ?

[AbruptSLR]

Make no mistake about it; if Trump is conspiring with Putin to start a major war with Iran it helps their cabal (working with Israel and Saudi Arabia) to have a destabilized Turkey:

Um, that's just crazy fantasy talk. Just because someone says something in the news media doesn't mean it's based on reality. Some things are so ridiculous they can't even qualify as a "conspiracy theory".

But not beyond the realms of possible random neuron movements inside the head of El Presidente Trump ?

I mean who knows what his Master Plan for World Domination is ?

If Trump and Putin are conspiring to start a major war with Iran, then it makes perfect sense for the USA to progressively pass off military ties with Pakistan to Russia.  This would free US forces to focus on an assault on Iran from Iraq, while Russia cuts off potential Chinese aid to Iran through Pakistan.  I just saying.

Title: "Pakistani military to be trained by Russia"

https://www.axios.com/pakistan-military-to-be-trained-by-russia-edd0b6ae-446d-4ca1-883a-8bfa7371391f.html

Extract: "Pakistan and Russia signed an agreement this week that said Pakistani military officers would be trained at Russian Federation military institutes, the Associated Press reports.

The context: This comes after reports that the U.S. is cutting back on military training for Pakistani soldiers in the U.S., per the AP. The agreement "underscores Pakistan's increasing reliance on Russia for its military needs." Go deeper: Pakistan's future as the "most dangerous country in the world""

[AbruptSLR]

Too difficult to know with certainty as I haven't worked out if he is still beating his wife yet.

Besides, America already achieved World Domination long before El Presidente Trump was sworn in.

Since you bring up the topic, Donald Trump has indeed been publically charged with violently raping his then wife Ivana Trump.  If Trump is a malignant narcissist (psychopath) then starting a major war to increase his power would seem very logical to Donald:

Title: "Donald Trump sexual misconduct allegations"

Extract: "Donald Trump, an American businessman and current President of the United States, has been accused of sexual assault and sexual harassment, including non-consensual kissing or groping, by at least nineteen women since the 1980s. Those accusations have resulted in three widely reported instances of litigation: his then-wife Ivana made a rape claim during their 1989 divorce litigation but later recanted that claim; businesswoman Jill Harth sued Trump in 1997 alleging breach of contract while also suing for nonviolent sexual harassment but withdrew the latter suit as part of a settlement for relating to the former suit; and, in 2017, former Apprentice contestant Summer Zervos filed a defamation lawsuit after Trump called her a liar.[5]

Two of the allegations (by Ivana Trump and Jill Harth) became public before Trump's candidacy for president, but the rest arose after a 2005 audio recording was leaked during the 2016 presidential campaign. Trump was recorded bragging that a celebrity like himself "can do anything" to women, including "just start kissing them ... I don't even wait" and "grab 'em by the pussy". Trump subsequently characterized those comments as "locker room talk" and denied actually behaving that way toward women, and he also apologized for the crude language that was leaked. Many of his accusers stated that Trump’s denials provoked them into going public with their allegations.

Another type of accusation was made, primarily after the audio recording surfaced, by several former Miss USA and Miss Teen USA contestants, who accused Trump of entering the dressing rooms of beauty pageant contestants. Trump, who owned the Miss Universe franchise, which includes both pageants, was accused of going into dressing rooms in 1997, 2000, 2001, and 2006, while contestants were in various stages of undress. During a 2005 interview on The Howard Stern Show, Trump said that he could "get away with things like that".

Sexual misconduct allegations have been made against Trump by at least 19 women. Trump has denied the allegations, saying that he has been the victim of media bias, conspiracies, and a political smear campaign. In October 2016, Trump publicly vowed to sue all of the women who have made allegations of sexual assault (i.e. non-consensual kissing or groping) or sexual harassment against him, as well as to sue the New York Times for publishing allegations, but as yet has not followed through."

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Donald_Trump_sexual_misconduct_allegations

[Martin Gisser]

Ohio rally: "I'd rather be Russian than Democrat"

https://www.cleveland.com/expo/news/erry-2018/08/e178a851af7984/heres-who-we-saw-at-donald-tru.html

sidd

Reported even on Russian TV:
“Look, these T-shirts are now being sold in the United States and are in high demand in the Republican camp.”


https://talkingpointsmemo.com/news/russian-tv-host-features-trump-fans-id-rather-a-russian-than-a-democrat-shirt

[Neven]

Ohio rally: "I'd rather be Russian than Democrat"

https://www.cleveland.com/expo/news/erry-2018/08/e178a851af7984/heres-who-we-saw-at-donald-tru.html

sidd

Reported even on Russian TV:
“Look, these T-shirts are now being sold in the United States and are in high demand in the Republican camp.”


https://talkingpointsmemo.com/news/russian-tv-host-features-trump-fans-id-rather-a-russian-than-a-democrat-shirt

The hysteria in the blue team leads to hysteria in the red team, which only underscores the fact that Russiagate is fuelled by internal US politics. They are all looking stupid, but the blue team fans are supposed to be the smart ones.

[Tor Bejnar]

Are Republican leaders so unwilling to condemn Trump because their voters support him so vigorously, or do these voters support Trump so vigorously because so few Republican leaders have dared condemn his actions?

Asked by New York Times' Mark Leibovich in his penned profile entitled "This Is the Way Paul Ryan's Speakership Ends," as reported in my favorite political blog, Electoral-vote.com.  Then there are three perspectives on Speaker Ryan's recent tenure.

[AbruptSLR]

Too difficult to know with certainty as I haven't worked out if he is still beating his wife yet.

Besides, America already achieved World Domination long before El Presidente Trump was sworn in.

Since you bring up the topic, Donald Trump .......

SIGH

the topics I raised were the OBVIOUS Logical Fallacy by G. and the fact of timing in America's world domination. Feel free to ignore all that and get down in the gutter. It's weak.

As Trump is almost certainly a malignant narcissist, the moral gutter is where his mind lives.

[AbruptSLR]

Due to the U.K.'s current refusal to join the U.S. in sanctioning Iran, the Trump Administration will likely support Boris Johnson's coming bid to replace Theresa May in the late Fall of 2018:

Title: "US to London: ‘Back us on Iran’"

https://www.politico.eu/article/woody-johnson-iran-sanctions-uk-us-to-london-back-us-on-iran/

Extract: "America’s top diplomat in London has urged Britain to support Washington’s push to renegotiate the Iran nuclear deal and impose economic sanctions in the country, days after the EU vowed to stand by the agreement.

“America is turning up the pressure and we want the U.K. by our side,” Woody Johnson, the U.S. ambassador in London, said in an oped for the Telegraph published Sunday, calling on Britain “to use its considerable diplomatic power and influence and join us as we lead a concerted global effort towards a genuinely comprehensive agreement.”

U.S. President Donald Trump’s decision to pull out of the Iran nuclear agreement — which he insisted was a “bad deal” that would not thwart Iran’s nuclear ambitions — in May dealt a heavy blow to European allies, who vowed to stand by the deal, known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA).
…
Trump’s plea for British support on Iran has already been rebuffed by British officials, the Sunday Telegraph reported, citing continued U.K. support for the agreement."

[AbruptSLR]

Trump's bad behavior has been so normalized today that it is worthwhile revisiting what the Young Turks said about his money laundering activities from last year:

Title: "Trump's Been Laundering Russian Mob Money For Decades, Allegedly"



Extract: "Russian mobsters needed a lot of property from a sleazy businessman who never asks questions... Cenk Uygur, host of The Young Turks, breaks it down. Tell us what you think in the comment section below. http://www.tytnetwork.com/join

"In 1984, a Russian émigré named David Bogatin went shopping for apartments in New York City. The 38-year-old had arrived in America seven years before, with just $3 in his pocket. But for a former pilot in the Soviet Army—his specialty had been shooting down Americans over North Vietnam—he had clearly done quite well for himself. Bogatin wasn’t hunting for a place in Brighton Beach, the Brooklyn enclave known as “Little Odessa” for its large population of immigrants from the Soviet Union. Instead, he was fixated on the glitziest apartment building on Fifth Avenue, a gaudy, 58-story edifice with gold-plated fixtures and a pink-marble atrium: Trump Tower.”"

[AbruptSLR]

I think that this video from February 2018 is worth watching:

Title: "DAVID CAY JOHNSTON: LIVING IN TRUMP'S AMERICA"



Extract: "In his new book, It’s Even Worse Than You Think, Johnston is going where the media won’t—into the weeds—to shed new light on the Trump administration’s policies and bureaucratic choices and how they will change America. Join Johnston for a revealing conversation about the Trump administration’s impact on our finances, health care, safety and much, much more."

[Susan Anderson]

http://doonesbury.washingtonpost.com/strip

[mostly_lurking]

Darrell Scott @ 17 min :  "The most pro-black president we have had in our life time."


The most racist Nazi president ever. He really duped them all.  /s

[mostly_lurking]

Wow, it has gotten to this.

https://www.usatoday.com/story/opinion/2018/08/10/donald-trump-russia-election-inept-monarch-abolish-presidency-column/923543002/

[AbruptSLR]

If Trump is colluding with Putin, then economic fragility in Turkey would most likely play right into their hands:

Title: "The reason Turkey's economic collapse is so scary is because Iran, Russia, and Syria are waiting in the wings"

https://www.businessinsider.com/what-if-turkey-collapses-from-lira-crisis-iran-russia-syria-are-waiting-2018-8

Extract: "What if Turkey collapses?

It's not outside the realm of possibility. Turkey's currency is in freefall. Inflation is at 15% and climbing. Its economy could enter a recession. The US has imposed economic sanctions on the country because President Erdoğan refuses to hand over an American preacher who has been jailed there."

[AbruptSLR]

Trump is working to cripple Iran's ability to move money around the world and to receive payment for its exports.  When FDR did a similar thing to Japan they reacted by bombing Pearl Harbor:

Title: "The White House's next Iran fight"

https://www.axios.com/trump-administration-iran-sanctions-swift-financial-messaging-8fae6cd6-11c9-42a8-9d5b-6d3140a7ae83.html

Extract: "On a White House conference call with Iran experts last week, a senior administration official said the Trump administration will reimpose sanctions on financial messaging services later this year. That might sound boring. But the administration official was referring to what could soon become another major fight between the Trump administration and Europe.

Why this matters: In the context of Iran sanctions, "financial messaging services" refers to SWIFT (Society for Worldwide Interbank Financial Telecommunication) — a linchpin of the global financial system that facilitates payments across borders and connects more than 11,000 banks around the world.

•   SWIFT cut off Iran from the global financial system in 2012 as a result of American pressure on the Europeans to crack down on Tehran. Then SWIFT reconnected Iran after Obama secured the nuclear deal with Iran.
•   "SWIFT is the backbone of the global financial system and without access to SWIFT Iran can't move money around the world, cannot get paid for oil, pay for their imports and would have a difficult time financing its activities abroad," said Mark Dubowitz, an Iran hawk who heads the Foundation for Defense of Democracies and was on the call last week.
•   "The administration seems committed to financially and economically squeezing the regime using all instruments of national power," Dubowitz added, "and has already signaled that it will bring back the SWIFT sanctions to deny Iranian banks access to the SWIFT system.""

[SteveMDFP]

•   "SWIFT is the backbone of the global financial system and without access to SWIFT Iran can't move money around the world, cannot get paid for oil, pay for their imports and would have a difficult time financing its activities abroad," said Mark Dubowitz, an Iran hawk who heads the Foundation for Defense of Democracies and was on the call last week.

Of course, they can conduct trade using BitCoin (etc) now.
The Trump administration is being criminally stupid here.

[Buddy]

Things I am watching in the economy that could/will effect Traitor Don:

1)  Credit markets.  We're in a bubble in the corporate credit market IMO.  Watch CDS's (credit default swaps .... basically insurance on corporate debt).  They are likely to increase in coming weeks/months.  The situation in Turkey is not helping.

2)  China stock market.  As I have said before ..... it is poised to head lower still.  The trade war certainly doesn't help.  Well done Donnie.

3)  Apple/China:  China may use Apple as a pawn in the trade war.  Apple now gets about 25% of its revenue from sales in China.  The Chinese are not thrilled with the way that Traitor Don is treating the Chinese.  There are a few things that could happen with Apple, and none of them are good.  Cook met with Trump this weekend..... it wasn't because Cook likes Trump.

4)  Oil:  If China continues to slow down ..... oil is heading lower.

All of these things are happening right as we head towards elections in the US ..... and continue with the RussiaGate investigations.

I doubt that much of the above will resolve itself in a way that will help Traitor Don in the midterm elections this fall.

The Green Slime off the Florida coast likely isn't going to help a beady eyed climate denier, Medicare fraudster like Rick Scott in his senate race.  It also won't help the Republican candidate for Governor of Florida, or the Republican running for Attorney General in Florida.  If Republicans lose the Governorship and AG in Florida ...... Donnie will not have many rounds of golf left before he goes to "the Big House".

[mostly_lurking]

I need someone to explain this. If Trump's presidency is "the worst ever" how is the "direction of country poll" at the highest it's been since Obama in Nov 2012 ? 

[Buddy]

Below is the latest Gallup Poll:  56% disapprove, 39% approve.  Traitor Donald's worst readings were back in December at 60% disapprove, and 35% approve.

But as I noted several weeks ago ..... his numbers are heading back towards his record worst numbers.  As more and more information comes out about the Mueller investigation, the Cohen investigation, Trump's daily lies, Trump's nondisclosure agreements, etc ..... expect those numbers to grow worse over time.

As far as why Trump's numbers are so abysmal?  Let's see.....

1)  Trump is the worst person in the oval office for the environment ..... EVER.  He is taking the US BACKWARD's towards the days of pre-Nixon.  I believe Nixon was the president who first started the EPA ....  and now Traitor Don is trying to destroy it.

2)  Trump continues to deny that global warming is an issue.  This is likely the WORST part of his administration.  And this is the most costly ..... as those dollars to "fix things" will only get bigger and bigger the more we ignore the issue.

3) Trump supported and signed the most REGRESSIVE tax cuts in modern history.  A full 85% of the benefits of the tax cuts will go the wealthiest Americans.

4) Traitor Don is dismantling many of the good aspects of healthcare.  The worst aspect is that he wants to bring back the pre-existing conditions clauses that healthcare companies love ..... and prevents people who change jobs or insurance from obtaining insurance at reasonable rates.

5)  Traitor Don has presided over the worsening of relationships with our closest allies:  Germany, UK, France, Canada ..... you name it ..... Traitor Don has trashed it.

6) Traitor Don continues to cozy up to little Vladimir because Russian's have financed the Trump organization via money laundering for perhaps as long as 30 years.

7)  Traitor Don continues to meddle where he shouldn't.  He shouldn't bad mouth the FBI or our other intelligence agencies.  He should cooperate with the Mueller investigation instead of interfering with it.

Traitor Don is the least prepared occupant of the Oval Office.  He doesn't read .... he doesn't learn.

9)  Traitor Don has had the most turnover of anyone I can remember.  A full 61% of Traitor Trump's senior staff have left after 18 months.  That.... is gobsmacking.

https://www.axios.com/trump-18-months-white-house-staff-turnover-56c8327c-0e22-477a-9963-e551a1b51b21.html

10)  Traitor Trump continues to lie.  And lie.  And lie some more.  More than anyone I have ever seen BY A MILE.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/trump-lies-and-lies-and-lies/2018/07/25/3f19d0fa-9048-11e8-bcd5-9d911c784c38_story.html?utm_term=.e987bcebc718

11)  Mexico isn't paying for the wall.  EVER.  NEVER.  Just another in a laundry list of Donnie's lies during his campaign.

12)  He has produced FEWER JOBS in his first 18 months ..... than Obama produced in his last 18 months.  In other words ...... job creation has SLOWED DOWN DURING TRAITOR TRUMP's REIGN.

https://secondnexus.com/news/politics/trump-average-monthly-job-creation-less-obama/

13)  Traitor Trump talks and writes like an 8th grade bully with a 6th grade education.  LITERALLY.

14) Budget deficits are getting BIGGER under Traitor Trump.

https://www.nationalreview.com/2018/07/trump-budget-deficits-growing-big-spending-fiscal-irresponsibility/

15)  Did I already mention he LIES A LOT?  And his lies are coming FASTER and GETTING BIGGER?    Did I mention that he is a sexist pig?

16)  Where is an agreement with Korea?  He lied about that...

17)  Where is a trade agreement with Mexico?  Canada?  Europe?  What happened to the guy that was supposed to be the "great negotiator"?  He must have skipped town....

18)  He doesn't care that Russia is STILL trying to interfere with our elections, and he does NOTHING ABOUT IT.

Yea ..... I can't imagine why Traitor Donnie's numbers are so abysmal..... can you?

[mostly_lurking]

Below is the latest Gallup Poll:  56% disapprove, 39% approve.  Traitor Donald's worst readings were back in December at 60% disapprove, and 35% approve.

But as I noted several weeks ago ..... his numbers are heading back towards his record worst numbers.  As more and more information comes out about the Mueller investigation, the Cohen investigation, Trump's daily lies, Trump's nondisclosure agreements, etc ..... expect those numbers to grow worse over time.

I'll help you.


You always find the poll with the worst numbers- all the other polls are way far from that one.
He is still at about the same average 43.3 on RCP even with this outlier poll.  Keep trying.

[SteveMDFP]

You always find the poll with the worst numbers- all the other polls are way far from that one.
He is still at about the same average 43.3 on RCP even with this outlier poll.  Keep trying.

There are quite a few different polling outfitis.  I think the best picture derives from a weighted average of all available polls.  For the generic ballot:
https://projects.fivethirtyeight.com/congress-generic-ballot-polls/

But the picture isn't terribly different, regardless of which poll.  Dolt 45 and the Republican brand retain about 40 percent approval, wherever you look.

The real question is why?  It should be 20% or less, if the bulk of Americans were informed and rational.

The sad reality is, I think, 40% or more are oblivious, or nationalistic, or bigoted.  Or greedy.  It's a sad reality.

The mainstream media slavishly play Dolt's speeches and tweets.  These are designed to appeal to that 40%, even as they dismay the 60%.

If the media concentrated on what this administration does, rather than what it says, we'd all be in a better place.

[Neven]

If the media concentrated on what this administration does, rather than what it says, we'd all be in a better place.

That's exactly it, but it's a conscious choice on their part. A good alternative would be welcome too.

[mostly_lurking]

The real question is why?  It should be 20% or less, if the bulk of Americans were informed and rational.

The sad reality is, I think, 40% or more are oblivious, or nationalistic, or bigoted.  Or greedy.  It's a sad reality.

Oh boy, that attitude is EXACTLY whats wrong with the left.  Keep it up with deplorable type comments and you will have the GOP in power for another 20 years.

[SteveMDFP]

The real question is why?  It should be 20% or less, if the bulk of Americans were informed and rational.

The sad reality is, I think, 40% or more are oblivious, or nationalistic, or bigoted.  Or greedy.  It's a sad reality.

Oh boy, that attitude is EXACTLY whats wrong with the left.  Keep it up with deplorable type comments and you will have the GOP in power for another 20 years.

Well, you can criticize my perception, or you can address the question.  What's your interpretation of the persistent 40% support for this fustercluck of a President?

[Buddy]

Confucius say:

"When your adversary is digging himself into a hole...... let him keep on digging, or give him a bigger shovel." 

[mostly_lurking]

The real question is why?  It should be 20% or less, if the bulk of Americans were informed and rational.

The sad reality is, I think, 40% or more are oblivious, or nationalistic, or bigoted.  Or greedy.  It's a sad reality.

Oh boy, that attitude is EXACTLY whats wrong with the left.  Keep it up with deplorable type comments and you will have the GOP in power for another 20 years.

Well, you can criticize my perception, or you can address the question.  What's your interpretation of the persistent 40% support for this fustercluck of a President?

OK, look , I know what forum I'm in, it is mostly a left wing echo chamber and that's fine- each person is entitled to their opinion . I myself am pretty left wing on many subjects BUT NOT ALL.
 
Now in the US there is a 2 party system which doesn't give people like me with "non one side of the map" opinions on a plethora of subjects an easy choice. In each election one has to decide what is more important for him AT THAT TIME. In this election for me it was #neverhillary.  I fought for Bernie as hard as anyone could and when that was fucked by the DNC I fought just as hard against Hillary -without even once praising Trump. At the time he did look like a mad man to me (Yes, even I was duped by MSM after all these years). The night SHE LOST was one of the best in my long life. Since then I have seen him at work and he does get things done- now you can call it a "clusterfuck" if you want but if you think his 43% of support are all -and I quote : "Non-informed,greedy,nationalistic and irrational" people then you are misinformed. Yes, of course there are some just as the left have many unrealistic people supporting them. I bet you don't talk to many Trump supporters but I do. Many are highly intelligent well informed non-selfish people.

Now after that to your question. There are very few Trump voters who have voter regret including people like me that were #neverhillary voters. He is doing basically EXACTLY what he said he would do. If you would checkout the walkaway movement you will see many people that voted Hillary that today support Trump because of 1) They see some positive things in what he does 2) They hate what the media is doing with their Trump derangement syndrome.

If I had to guess - his real support is probably closer to 50% today. Only way to know is at the ballot box ( as we have seen). Now if you want the left to get back in power- you need to do better than call his supporters...all the things you did.

/end rant ( again..sigh....)

[mostly_lurking]

Confucius say:

"When your adversary is digging himself into a hole...... let him keep on digging, or give him a bigger shovel." 

I was going to answer that you are delusional again by desperately looking for a trend that isn't there  . but I won't.

[SteveMDFP]

  He is doing basically EXACTLY what he said he would do. If you would checkout the walkaway movement you will see many people that voted Hillary that today support Trump because of 1) They see some positive things in what he does 2) They hate what the media is doing with their Trump derangement syndrome.

Except he isn't doing what he promised.  He's doing much the opposite.

He promised a health care plan that would cover everyone, at much lower cost.  Instead, he's working to undermine what progress was made with the ACA, with no replacement at all.

He promised clean air and water.  Instead, he's worked to gut what protections are in place.

He promised to shift tax burdens to the wealthy, and give the middle class and working poor some relief.  He promised to close the hedge fund loophole.  He hasn't.  He's done exactly the opposite.

He's hostile to renewable energy.  He's rattling sabers with Iran.  He's damaging relations with our allies.  He's overseen the most corrupt administration since Grant, at least.

Yes, he did say he'd crack down on immigration.  But he's managed to kidnap dozens of children in the process, who may never be reunited with their parents.  Cruelty wasn't supposed to be part of his policies.

[Susan Anderson]

If you must use a poll, try this one. Following them minutely is to miss the forest for the trees:
https://projects.fivethirtyeight.com/trump-approval-ratings/

https://fivethirtyeight.com/ provides a wide range of thoughtful analysis, and they rank the polls on reliability. Anybody who thinks Trump has a 50% approval rating isn't paying attention to anything they don't want to see or think about.

[mostly_lurking]

  He is doing basically EXACTLY what he said he would do. If you would checkout the walkaway movement you will see many people that voted Hillary that today support Trump because of 1) They see some positive things in what he does 2) They hate what the media is doing with their Trump derangement syndrome.

Except he isn't doing what he promised.  He's doing much the opposite.

You are cherry picking. Of course he hasn't done it all . He is 18 months in. For answering the question why he has support - what is important is what Trump supporters think- not you. Ask almost any one of them. They practically all say he is.  At the most they are pissed about the wall not being up yet and Hillary not in jail -  now those 2 things won't push ANY Trump supporter towards the left.

[mostly_lurking]

If you must use a poll, try this one. Following them minutely is to miss the forest for the trees:
https://projects.fivethirtyeight.com/trump-approval-ratings/

https://fivethirtyeight.com/ provides a wide range of thoughtful analysis, and they rank the polls on reliability. Anybody who thinks Trump has a 50% approval rating isn't paying attention to anything they don't want to see or think about.

Also on 538 Trumps polling as quite stable at around 42% - just a bit lower than on RCP. There is no downtrend. If anything there is a very slight uptrend for him.

As far as him having 50%-   there is still a stigma to saying you are a Trump supporter and there are many closet supporters- they will never admit it even in a poll.

edit:  Now this is from Rasmussen so suspect on this forum but still he is at 50%  ( and Buddy was so quick to say how bad his trend is on Rasmussen...) but the surprisong thing is support among African Americans: 31% (!).  Now you can believe it's skewed because..Rasmussen but maybe a few percent off - it still is another reason Why Trump still has his support

[AbruptSLR]

As Omarosa is the most Trumpian of all former WH staff, when Trump criticizes Omarosa he is actually criticizing himself:

Title: "Trump compliments Kelly "for quickly firing that dog" Omarosa"

https://www.axios.com/trump-tweets-omarosa-firing-that-dog-785d7033-73d0-478c-b80f-3129a81422ab.html

Extract: "As one former senior White House official told Axios' Jonathan Swan over the weekend: "She may be the purest of all the Trump characters. ... She may be the most Trumpian. She knows media, she knows about physical presence, like Trump does...that's why I think he's rattled.""