2018 midterm elections

[cwolff]

So, because someone is calling him a kook, he is on the path to taking full control over every faucet of the Government for the rest of his life?

No gelly, no of course not. You know this because I wrote "Here's an example". Why do you do that? It's like your practicing for the special ed debate team.

[Gelston]

No gelly, no of course not. You know this because I wrote "Here's an example". Why do you do that? It's like your practicing for the special ed debate team.

If I was practicing for a special ed debate, you'd make the perfect person to practice against.

Give a logical example.

[Fortybox]

So, because someone is calling him a kook, he is on the path to taking full control over every faucet of the Government for the rest of his life?

No silly. He is a dictator for exercising his right to free speech. He is taking over by being elected President.

Why can't you see this??

[drauz]

He's taking over right now. It's happening before your very eyes. We are all frogs in a pot and the heat is slowly being turned up. He went from crazy outsider to the leader of that party to president checked by congress and "adults in the room". Here's an example:

"What concerns me about the American press is this endless, endless attempt to label the guy as some kind of kook not fit to be president," he said.
The comment went viral almost instantly. Why? Because Graham was at one time among those who labeled Trump a "kook" not fit for office.
"I think he's a kook," Graham said in February 2016. "I think he's crazy. I think he's unfit for office."

He's pressing a relentless grinding attack on the foundations of our nation and he's winning.

Nothing answer. He is a bad president that has little self control and the filter from his brain to his mouth seems to be broken. He has ideas you don't like, that doesn't make him a dictator. I don't think you actually think he is or will be one. I think you want him to try to become one though. The Democrats will swoop in and save the day like something out of a fairy tale. Hes not a dictator and he won't serve past 2 terms if that. He'll run the country for a few more years at least and that'll be it.

[time4fun]

No, tell me. Exactly how is he a dictator? Don't say "One day he will be!" Tell me how he is one. You called him one, tell me how he is going to take over.

He's not a dictator- he doesn't have the legal authority to be a dictator. But he is an authoritarian at heart.

He has attacked the free press- borrowing a dictator's language and calling them "the enemy of the people". He has regularly labeled any negative press as "fake news", his DoJ has removed references to the responsibility to uphold the freedom of the press from their guidelines, and during his rallies he would rile his supporters up and encourage them to harass the press in attendance.

He has attacked the rule of law. He has fired several people who were overseeing investigations into him and his campaign, and he tried to fire the Special Counsel who is now overseeing that investigation- twice. He has also attacked the AG repeatedly for recusing himself from an investigation that DoJ guidelines clearly stated he couldn't be in charge of, and he has attacked the Deputy AG- the one person who is able to protect the Special Counsel. He has fired and defamed every major DoJ witness to the Comey firing. He has decided that it's inappropriate for him to be investigated simply because he doesn't want to be, and he has done everything in his power to keep it that way.

He has attacked his own Department of Justice because they are investigating him- spreading conspiracy theories that the FBI and DoJ are out to get him for political reasons. He has also tried to inspire witch hunts against Democrats in the DoJ- which is a classic authoritarian move: removing anyone from government who isn't a member of your own party (which is illegal, by the way). He has directed the DoJ to go after his political opponents- which is something that only happens in authoritarian regimes. He actually interviewed his US Attorney nominees for the two districts with jurisdiction over his campaign and businesses- something that is not done.

He has also called for the jailing of private US citizens- something that is not in the purview of the Executive. It can't be overstated how disturbing that is.

And all the while he has repeatedly praised dictators while defaming democratic leaders of allied nations.

We're adults here, so we don't need to sit around and pretend these things aren't happening. And you're welcome to agree with the behaviors, but this is right out of the authoritarian playbook. And I don't care how you feel about Donald Trump personally- stop and think about how you would feel about it if the next person to do all of this were a Democrat. Would it still feel appropriate and defensible?

[Gelston]

I couldn't care less if he is authoritarian. As long as he stays within the context of his Presidential power, it doesn't really matter what leadership style he invokes.

[Fortybox]

He's not a dictator- he doesn't have the legal authority to be a dictator. But he is an authoritarian at heart.

He has attacked the free press- borrowing a dictator's language and calling them "the enemy of the people". He has regularly labeled any negative press as "fake news", his DoJ has removed references to the responsibility to uphold the freedom of the press from their guidelines, and during his rallies he would rile his supporters up and encourage them to harass the press in attendance.

He has attacked the rule of law. He has fired several people who were overseeing investigations into him and his campaign, and he tried to fire the Special Counsel who is now overseeing that investigation- twice. He has also attacked the AG repeatedly for recusing himself from an investigation that DoJ guidelines clearly stated he couldn't be in charge of, and he has attacked the Deputy AG- the one person who is able to protect the Special Counsel. He has fired and defamed every major DoJ witness to the Comey firing. He has decided that it's inappropriate for him to be investigated simply because he doesn't want to be, and he has done everything in his power to keep it that way.

He has attacked his own Department of Justice because they are investigating him- spreading conspiracy theories that the FBI and DoJ are out to get him for political reasons. He has also tried to inspire witch hunts against Democrats in the DoJ- which is a classic authoritarian move: removing anyone from government who isn't a member of your own party (which is illegal, by the way). He has directed the DoJ to go after his political opponents- which is something that only happens in authoritarian regimes. He actually interviewed his US Attorney nominees for the two districts with jurisdiction over his campaign and businesses- something that is not done.

He has also called for the jailing of private US citizens- something that is not in the purview of the Executive. It can't be overstated how disturbing that is.

And all the while he has repeatedly praised dictators while defaming democratic leaders of allied nations.

We're adults here, so we don't need to sit around and pretend these things aren't happening. And you're welcome to agree with the behaviors, but this is right out of the authoritarian playbook. And I don't care how you feel about Donald Trump personally- stop and think about how you would feel about it if the next person to do all of this were a Democrat. Would it still feel appropriate and defensible?

So basically you think he is a big meanie head and he should be removed because you don't agree with what he says.

I think Obama is a complete and utter moron but I didn't spend 8 years moaning, complaining and thinking he was such a big meanie head that he should be impeached. I exercised my vote and my side won. You just want to throw a big temper tantrum because you didn't get your way.

Perhaps your time would be better spent convincing people to vote democrat this upcoming midterm cycle than to rant and rave on a forum where you have little impact.

[cwolff]

No silly. He is a dictator for exercising his right to free speech. He is taking over by being elected President.

Why can't you see this??

Nothing answer. He is a bad president that has little self control and the filter from his brain to his mouth seems to be broken. He has ideas you don't like, that doesn't make him a dictator. I don't think you actually think he is or will be one. I think you want him to try to become one though. The Democrats will swoop in and save the day like something out of a fairy tale. Hes not a dictator and he won't serve past 2 terms if that. He'll run the country for a few more years at least and that'll be it.

There is substance to what you say. Maybe he'll just do his 1 or 2 terms and walk away. I won't bet on that and I won't bet on the checks and balances or institutions to do their jobs.

Many of our political discussions involve some slippery slope theory and this is exactly what's going on now. Look at how far he's come since 2015: Weirdo outsider kook not to be taken seriously to an actual contender to the primary winner to the Presidency but protected from his worst impulses by "adults" to today where he's vanquished the adults and running things his way: which is to say on a whim.

There is nothing to suggest that he will voluntarily restrain himself in his reach for power

[Gelston]

There is substance to what you say. Maybe he'll just do his 1 or 2 terms and walk away. I won't bet on that and I won't bet on the checks and balances or institutions to do their jobs.

Many of our political discussions involve some slippery slope theory and this is exactly what's going on now. Look at how far he's come since 2015: Weirdo outsider kook not to be taken seriously to an actual contender to the primary winner to the Presidency but protected from his worst impulses by "adults" to today where he's vanquished the adults and running things his way: which is to say on a whim.

There is nothing to suggest that he will voluntarily restrain himself in his reach for power

He doesn't have to voluntarily restrain himself. We have 2 other branches of Government that restrain him. When his time is up, it is up.

But yeah, these 240 year old institutions are just going to crumble because of Donald Trump. They weathered DC being burned down, a Civil War, a great depression, two world wars... But Donald Trump is what will end it.

[drauz]

There is substance to what you say. Maybe he'll just do his 1 or 2 terms and walk away. I won't bet on that and I won't bet on the checks and balances or institutions to do their jobs.

Many of our political discussions involve some slippery slope theory and this is exactly what's going on now. Look at how far he's come since 2015: Weirdo outsider kook not to be taken seriously to an actual contender to the primary winner to the Presidency but protected from his worst impulses by "adults" to today where he's vanquished the adults and running things his way: which is to say on a whim.

There is nothing to suggest that he will voluntarily restrain himself in his reach for power

So even you don't trust the government but you want a bunch more government programs?