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bethyada
8 years ago

Many readers here baulk at the idea of voting for Clinton. Dismissing Clinton seems relatively easy for those who lean right. I wonder whether Trump is a test of wisdom for these people. Trump’s policies are not without merit. A flatter tax with a much simpler code is desperately needed. Those who claim that opening the gates to Barbarians will eventually destroy Rome have a point. And really, the media who probably deserve someone sticking it to them (though not necessarily so crassly). So I can see why same people find some appeal (at least abstractly). However, it should also… Read more »

ashv
ashv
8 years ago
Reply to  bethyada

I agree that some of these criticisms of Trump have merit. The question, though, is why you believe a wise, honourable man could receive the majority vote, or would even be allowed to seek it. I think the comparison to Samson is apt — not a paragon of virtue, but a defender of the righteous nonetheless.

(And really I think Trump’s lack of piety is more honest than Cruz’s public persona. If your father is an evangelical pastor, that’s one thing; if he’s a twice-divorced evangelical pastor, that’s another.)

bethyada
8 years ago
Reply to  ashv

Well I think you had Carson.

But it is not so much that I was asking for perfection (though that is not an unworthy goal). I just think that Trump is just so faulty. If I wrote out all my policies and found Trump espoused everyone of them I still couldn’t vote for him—I assume that everything he says could be a lie. I am not suggesting they all are lies, there is just no way of knowing. And Trump is no Samson, a Herod maybe.

ashv
ashv
8 years ago
Reply to  bethyada

This is what baffles me, though. Why assume Trump us uniquely dishonest? Why does anyone else in the field have more incentive to be honest?

bethyada
8 years ago
Reply to  ashv

How can you tell a politician is lying? He is moving his lips.

bethyada
8 years ago
Reply to  ashv

I don’t know enough of the US system. I don’t think you have enough representatives which can exacerbate the problem. I guess I don’t find everyone as dishonest. It seems to me that Sanders is more honest than Clinton even though he is to the left of her and I think his ideas extremely errant. I guess I assume that some people do actually care to some extent. Ron Paul seemed like he believed in what he stood for. I do think there are degrees of honesty. Trump strikes me as someone who has pretty much no concern for the… Read more »

mkt
mkt
8 years ago
Reply to  bethyada

I think you’re drinking the Kool-Aid re: Sanders. He has skeletons in his closet, and his economic projections are out of science fiction. Even honest Left-leaning economists admit that, and he must know they’re disingenuous.
He also met with riot-starting, tax-evading, perpetually-lying Al Sharpton, who’s worse than David Duke IMO. But the media is portraying him as the benevolent old man who just wants to help…and even conservatives are buying it.

bethyada
8 years ago
Reply to  mkt

Perhaps you’re right about Sanders, I don’t know much about him and I am not particularly sympathetic to socialism. Though I do know plenty of Christians that lean that way and are genuine.

Christopher Casey
Christopher Casey
8 years ago

Trump has essentialy the same campaign policy as yosemite sam.

https://youtu.be/paMulmvrlbc

bethyada
8 years ago

How do I embed? I haven’t been able to do it with images

Christopher Casey
Christopher Casey
8 years ago
Reply to  bethyada
bethyada
8 years ago

I see you just posted the link (as per my phone). The video appeared in my browser.

Christopher Casey
Christopher Casey
8 years ago
Reply to  bethyada

Which browser are you using?

bethyada
8 years ago

Palemoon (Firefox)

David Trounce
8 years ago

Doug, I love ya man but you need to do better than this. Check out Noonans’ thoughtful WSJ article on the unprotected. Look at Alexandr’s Dugin’s video on liberalism and community and the dismantling of humanity in the USA. Pursue your Father Hunger line. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6uSuwYcqSsY Please give us some intelligent insight and not just a few cheap one liners. As for those who oppose Trump – Give me data and I will look at it. Saying he is a glory hound is meaningless. Saying he is proud is also meaningless. Who isn’t? So he fails the Proverbs test – so… Read more »

Christopher Casey
Christopher Casey
8 years ago
Reply to  David Trounce

“Please give us some intelligent insight and not just a few cheap one liners.”

Dougs intelligent insights are more cultural than political, and even less about who will win the election.

David Trounce
8 years ago

Agreed. And that is what I am asking for. I need more than a meme.

mkt
mkt
8 years ago
Reply to  David Trounce

I agree and mentioned Noonan’s article in another thread. It’s the best article on that topic I’ve seen–better than any Doug has mentioned.

David Trounce
8 years ago
Reply to  mkt

…so far

mkt
mkt
8 years ago
Reply to  David Trounce

Yeah, apparently Obama’s latest-of-late term abortion support never phased Max Lucado. Murdering babies…nah, not getting political about that. But a mean, ol’ rude white guy! That’s it. I’m finally speaking up!
I can’t believe how even conservative Christians can’t discern this stuff.

David Trounce
8 years ago
Reply to  mkt

To be sure, even the Apostle Paul would meet with Lucado’s disapproval for his indecent mention of self mutilation.

I would love to see Max’s decency test. I wonder if I would pass it?

J. Frank Norris
J. Frank Norris
8 years ago
Reply to  mkt

Yeah, it’s amazing watching guys like Russellette Moore and Maxine Lucado go after Trump, when they’ve treated Obama with kids gloves. Moore nearly had a hysterectomy about Trump speaking at Liberty University, but had nothing to say when Bernie Sanders spoke there months before. And Romney, McCain and the GOP establishment? Imagine if they’d treated Obama like they’re treating Trump. McCain actually denounced one of the speakers at one of his rallies, WLW talk show host Bill Cunningham, for using Barack Hussein Obama’s full name. Romney wasn’t much better. But you never, ever, offer anything but the mildest criticism of… Read more »

Capndweeb
Capndweeb
8 years ago
Reply to  David Trounce

Why I don’t trust Trump? I’m from Minnesota and I have lived through Jesse Ventura at ground level. Trump and Ventura are analogous.
I’ve also bought a used car or two and learned to see the signs of a slick salesman selling a bad car.

David Trounce
8 years ago
Reply to  Capndweeb

I don’t envy you one bit having to live through Jesse Ventura. But simply saying that Trump is analogous to Ventura doesn’t make it so. Tell me why.

Capndweeb
Capndweeb
8 years ago
Reply to  David Trounce

Ego.

David Trounce
8 years ago
Reply to  Capndweeb

lol. Well that simply makes him analogous with everybody.

Capndweeb
Capndweeb
8 years ago
Reply to  David Trounce

No, I’m talking giant, self-destructive ego that eventually blows up and eventually turns him into who Jesse Ventura is now. In the meantime, he’s all puff and pomp and all the wonderful things he says he is and he is going to do turn out to be lies. Like the used car salesman who tells you what a sweetheart car that Volkswagen TDI is gonna be.

mkt
mkt
8 years ago
Reply to  Capndweeb

Jesse Ventura? I’d take him, Hulk Hogan and everyone other pro wrassler from the 80s over that politician you have in MN: Al Franken.

mkt
mkt
8 years ago
Reply to  mkt

should read “every other pro wrassler from the 80s over that other politician…”
And I’ll blame Trump for that error.

Capndweeb
Capndweeb
8 years ago
Reply to  mkt

mkt, I will most certainly not die on that hill. I already admitted I am from Minnesota. Embarrassing me further borders on cruel and unusual punishment. In a better world, I would hope none of us would be exposed to any the personalities you mentioned.

Bike bubba
8 years ago
Reply to  David Trounce

David, the reason I don’t believe Combover when he makes those campaign claims is his history; brutal lies to two ex-wives and four sets of investors he clobbered in his bankruptcies. The guy makes Clinton and Obama look honest in comparison.

David Trounce
8 years ago
Reply to  Bike bubba

Hi Bike, I would be interested to read a good source on the two things you mentioned. Can you recommend one or two places online (preferably sites with good research and not just media fluff).

Dunsworth
Dunsworth
8 years ago
Reply to  David Trounce

Brutal lies to wife #1:

It is well known and undisputed that his affair with Marla Maples began before he divorced Ivana.

Brutal lies to wife #2:

Less clear, but it seems to be the case that he had known affairs before his separation from Marla, and definitely before his divorce was finalized.

Four sets of investors clobbered in bankruptcies:

His four bankruptcies are a matter of public record. By definition, investors get clobbered in bankruptcies.

David Trounce
8 years ago
Reply to  Dunsworth

Thanks. So he is an adulterer and a pretty standard business man. Sort of like a Philistine blend of David and Solomon.

David Trounce
8 years ago
Reply to  David Trounce

I am pretty sure I said “standard business man” and was referring to a cut-throat mentality in many business men.

David Trounce
8 years ago
Reply to  David Trounce

I think the attempt by American businessman to get out of bankruptcy any way they can is fairly standard – and by standard I mean often cut throat. What he said about forgiveness is one of the things that intrigues me. I can’t imagine another politician admitting it. I am open to criticism of Trump – I think there are plenty of things the man has done that are indefensible. He has an open and unashamed love of money that will destroy him if he does not come to Christ and repent. What I am searching for are specific objections… Read more »

David Trounce
8 years ago
Reply to  David Trounce

I am afraid I am going to need something weightier than, “A British journalist who claims…..”

David Trounce
8 years ago
Reply to  David Trounce

Hmmm, no. I am no where near ready to throw a final vote for Trump.

But I do want to move beyond pleasantness, social graces and a cultural view of decency as my standard.

I remember giving my first sermon in a Presbyterian church. I preached my heart out. Afterwards all the ladies commented on how lovely I looked and what a nice tie I wore.

Dunsworth
Dunsworth
8 years ago
Reply to  David Trounce

David’s adulteries destroyed his country, even though David repented. Trump doesn’t think there’s anything to repent of.

David Trounce
8 years ago
Reply to  Dunsworth

Yeah, yeah, I totally agree that the guy has some serious moral weaknesses. They all do. David was not moving himself toward repentance either. He was dragged to the altar.

Pointing the finger at his moral problem just seems redundant and cheap – unless we are talking about a criminal. What I am wanting to hear are people’s views on his policies.

Here is one. On December 1, 2015, Donald Trump said that as president he would defund Planned Parenthood and look at overturning Roe v. Wade.

jillybean
jillybean
8 years ago
Reply to  David Trounce

The president does not have the power to overturn Roe v. Wade. The only way that can happen is if SCOTUS reverses its 1973 decision or if there is a constitutional amendment. Aside from that, does Trump have a solid pro-life history? In other words, is there any reason to believe he suddenly has a passionate commitment to protecting the unborn? All the candidates have serious moral weaknesses. Not all the candidates have gone on the Howard Stern show and talked about wanting to “bang” Princess Diana. Not all have openly been serial adulterers. How seriously should I take his… Read more »

David Trounce
8 years ago
Reply to  jillybean

That’s fair enough. Regarding SCOTUS, he did bring them into the discussion when he spoke about his difficulty with the concept of abortion so I think he gets that much.

Dunsworth
Dunsworth
8 years ago
Reply to  David Trounce

We are talking about someone with whom we want to entrust the greatest political power in the country. Yet his track record on marriage demonstrates that even his wives cannot trust him to be a minimally decent husband. Therefore, I have no interest in what he says about his policies because I don’t — in fact cannot — trust what he says about them. But to your more direct example — Trump also said that he thinks Planned Parenthood does wonderful things. http://www.lifenews.com/2016/03/03/pro-life-leader-to-donald-trump-quit-saying-planned-parenthood-does-wonderful-things/ He also said that he thinks his sister would be a great choice for Supreme Court. His… Read more »

David Trounce
8 years ago
Reply to  Dunsworth

Thanks for the links, esp. The one on his sister. I wonder if he plans to make it a family affair and rename the WH to Trump Headquarters?

This isn’t a rebuttal or a defence but planned parenthood does do other things – not that I wouldn’t hesitate for a minute to shut them down just the same.

Bike bubba
8 years ago
Reply to  David Trounce

Look at “The Art of the Deal”, by Mr. Drumpf himself, that details his philandering and cheating in business.

Christian Histo
Christian Histo
8 years ago

If nominated, Trump will be the first presidential nominee to discuss his penis size in a debate. Our nation is breaking down barriers progressing nicely. I have a dream that some day, my children and the children of my neighbors and the whole nation (ye, the whole world) will join together in one brave voice and discuss the size of each others private parts as openly as Trump did yesterday. I am inspired.

mkt
mkt
8 years ago

Didn’t see the debate, but from what I’m reading Rubio brought it up. If true, he should get credit…or blame.

Christian Histo
Christian Histo
8 years ago
Reply to  mkt

Rubio didn’t bring it up in the debate. That was all Trump.

mkt
mkt
8 years ago

But Rubio still brought it up initially. You should at least acknowledge that in your original comment.

Christian Histo
Christian Histo
8 years ago
Reply to  mkt

Trump has been calling names and making fun this whole campaign. He called Rubio a little man and mocking him for sweat and water (pull up the youtube). He mocked Cruz as a nasty guy and teased him for his (very noble) filibusters. He called Carson a child molester and mocked his personal story. He was merciless with Bush calling him low energy and bad at what he does. Trump used the word “p@ssy” and has dropped the F bomb multiple times. Rubio finally decided to fight fire with fire and did a little mocking as well. I am of… Read more »