President Donald J. Trump

[21st Century Man]

Actually, I viewed Trump as the third party candidate. I have troubles with both the democrats and republicans. Many more problems with the democrats though.

lol.  Me too.  The Republicans under the Bushes were also a can't do party.  Mainstream Republicans are interested in maintaining the status quo not cutting the size of government or any other proactive measure that would benefit the populace.

[Dr. MD MD]

👍  I guess there are no historians or social psychologists in the Trump administration, otherwise they'd know better than to intimidate through propaganda and attempt to silence or censor peoples' freedom to speak freely and share information. Trump's thin skin, weak ego has left this administration with zero tolerance for criticism.

There's no way he'd stand up to the brutal, non-stop criticism that Obama received from the press. Oh wait! 

[boxman]

Actually, I viewed Trump as the third party candidate. I have troubles with both the democrats and republicans. Many more problems with the democrats though.

That is why I myself hoped he would win over Hillary, just in the small hope that he would change things up or at least completely wreck the 2 party system
But him filling up his cabinet with people from Goldman sachs or rich elitist donators just does not give me much hope and neither does his narcissistic behavior I am seeing.

I honestly really hope I am wrong about him.

[Dr. MD MD]

That is why I myself hoped he would win over Hillary, just in the small hope that he would change things up or at least completely wreck the 2 party system
But him filling up his cabinet with people from Goldman sachs or rich elitist donators just does not give me much hope and neither does his narcissistic behavior I am seeing.

I honestly really hope I am wrong about him.

Bring back corruption! That was my safe space! 

[GravitySucks]

That is why I myself hoped he would win over Hillary, just in the small hope that he would change things up or at least completely wreck the 2 party system
But him filling up his cabinet with people from Goldman sachs or rich elitist donators just does not give me much hope and neither does his narcissistic behavior I am seeing.

I honestly really hope I am wrong about him.

I view it as a trade off. The people he has picked like Tillerson, weren't sitting around begging for a job. He will make far less as SoS than as CEO. But he doesn't need the money. That is one thing about picking people that are very qualified and very rich. They aren't normally in it for the money. And they have the most to lose if they muck it up.

Ponder that for a few. It is a different perspective.

I would rather have someone successful in business than someone that just has a political or academic career for nearly every appointment.

[boxman]

Oh I actually forgot one thing I agree with him on..
Climate change ;P

I find it odd that is not a deal breaker for most here, considering how many people here that seemed to be pro AGW.
Would think if anyone took it seriously would think he would be a disaster.

[Meister_000]

He is orders of magnitude more qualified than Obama was. As far as the economy, he is orders of magnitude more qualified than Clinton (either of them).

Gravity, you are seriously starting to worry me.[I do respect the hell out of and admire the fact that you were an F-111 pilot and instructor, but . . . -- back to your comments . . .]

Barack Obama's edu, experience, qualifications before taking office:
Obama bio bits available to all:
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barack_Obama

Education:
- Occidental College
- Columbia University (BA)
- Harvard University (JD)

After graduating from Columbia University in 1983, he worked as a community organizer in Chicago. In 1988 Obama enrolled in Harvard Law School, where he was the first black president of the Harvard Law Review. After graduation he became a civil rights attorney and professor, teaching constitutional law at the University of Chicago Law School from 1992 to 2004.

- Civil rights Attorney (Law man)
- Professor, teaching Constitutional Law

Public Political Government service (experience):
- Illinois State Senate from 1997 to 2004.
- U.S. Senate representing Illinois from 2005 to 2008

Also remember (please) that _who_ any president picks to his personal "Advisors", Cabinet members, Court, and other high Gov Dept Heads has a huge impact and consequence for "The People" AND the World and it's future!

[Lt.Uhura]

I live in a relatively low cost of living area. Every job I see advertised (even jobs like HomeDepot and Walmart) all start out several dollars above minimum wage. Employers know they need to pay more to get better quality employees.

It's easy to do the math and figure out the budget of someone who makes $10 an hour. Depending on the cost of living variables for their location, people are now spending a larger portion of their take home pay on housing. Those who counter with, "If they want to make more money, they should go back to school, or get trained for a better paying job", forget that minimum wage earners are also essential to our economy. Have you tried to find help at Home Depot recently? How about child care providers, mostly minimum wage workers who can barely afford to pay for someone else to care for their children, while they work taking care of yours.

My father was a railroad clerk who was able to raise a family, buy a home and a new car right off the showroom floor--all on a salary barely above the minimum wage of the time.

When Donald Trump fills out his administration with billionaires who represent Corporate America, is it any wonder that many folks are skeptical he might not care about the struggling middle class?

[GravitySucks]

Gravity, you are seriously starting to worry me.[I do respect the hell out of and admire the fact that you were an F-111 pilot and instructor, but . . . -- back to your comments . . .]


Barack Obama's edu, experience, qualifications before taking office:
Obama bio bits available to all:
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barack_Obama


Education:
- Occidental College
- Columbia University (BA)
- Harvard University (JD)


After graduating from Columbia University in 1983, he worked as a community organizer in Chicago. In 1988 Obama enrolled in Harvard Law School, where he was the first black president of the Harvard Law Review. After graduation he became a civil rights attorney and professor, teaching constitutional law at the University of Chicago Law School from 1992 to 2004.


- Civil rights Attorney (Law man)
- Professor, teaching Constitutional Law


Public Political Government service (experience):
- Illinois State Senate from 1997 to 2004.
- U.S. Senate representing Illinois from 2005 to 2008


Also remember (please) that _who_ any president picks to his personal "Advisors", Cabinet members, Court, and other high Gov Dept Heads has a huge impact and consequence for "The People" AND the World and it's future!

So, which of those positions gave him executive experience?  When did he have to hire anyone?  Look at his record voting in the senate. He never sponsored any bill and never voted (except as present) unless the democrats need his vote. He didn't want to have to defend his record.

Trump is orders of magnitude more qualified than Obama was.

I am not a fan of Senators running for President. Totally different skill set.

btw - I wasn't a pilot. I worked to certify aircrews, but not in actual flight training.

[21st Century Man]

Gravity, you are seriously starting to worry me.[I do respect the hell out of and admire the fact that you were an F-111 pilot and instructor, but . . . -- back to your comments . . .]

Barack Obama's edu, experience, qualifications before taking office:
Obama bio bits available to all:
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barack_Obama

Education:
- Occidental College
- Columbia University (BA)
- Harvard University (JD)

After graduating from Columbia University in 1983, he worked as a community organizer in Chicago. In 1988 Obama enrolled in Harvard Law School, where he was the first black president of the Harvard Law Review. After graduation he became a civil rights attorney and professor, teaching constitutional law at the University of Chicago Law School from 1992 to 2004.

- Civil rights Attorney (Law man)
- Professor, teaching Constitutional Law

Public Political Government service (experience):
- Illinois State Senate from 1997 to 2004.
- U.S. Senate representing Illinois from 2005 to 2008

Also remember (please) that _who_ any president picks to his personal "Advisors", Cabinet members, Court, and other high Gov Dept Heads has a huge impact and consequence for "The People" AND the World and it's future!

Law degrees do not necessarily make a leader nor does government service.

[boxman]

My father was a railroad clerk who was able to raise a family, buy a home and a new car right off the showroom floor--all on a salary barely above the minimum wage of the time.

Yeah things certainly have changed. Alot of people seem to live under the illusion that it has gotten better and that we are better off now, but it is just not true.
Used to be normal a few decades ago to have a single income with the wife of the household spending the day at home doing chores, and yet even the low income groups had it better off a few decades ago and it was also easier to "climb the ladder".

If you are from a low income family you are much more likely to stay that way today as well.

[paladin1991]

IT'S NOT WHAT YOU THINK.  Dow reaches new all-time high today.  I am not posting this to tout Trump's positive affect on the economy--I'm thinking that there has been a major correction coming for some time and it's going to happen soon.  Trump will have to deal with it and that will be a test for him. 

I'm wondering what all my money managing, business savy fellow BelGab posters are thinking about this.  I am leaning towards cashing out, taking the proceeds in small denomination bills and burying it in a Chase and Sanborn can in the backyard.  Can I get some free advice here?   

Buy precious metals.  Lead and a firearm.

[Lt.Uhura]

I'm wondering what all my money managing, business savy fellow BelGab posters are thinking about this.  I am leaning towards cashing out, taking the proceeds in small denomination bills and burying it in a Chase and Sanborn can in the backyard.  Can I get some free advice here?   

I just took my paltry 401k out of stocks & bonds and put every last penny in a guaranteed pool fund. 1% interest is better than losing money at this point in my life. Wealthy investors might eventually recover from a "correction", but retirees, or those close to it won't have that option.

Don't put your cash in your mattress, they're on to that!

[GravitySucks]

Lol! You're kidding right? If just TWO new members sign up at Mar-A-Lago that's his entire salary right there. The presidential salary is small potatoes compared to the money that will roll in for those who'll pay to play. He's doing PR for his companies every time he tweets, goes on TV. Again, pay attention: Mar-A-Lago membership rates doubled after Trump took office. What a coincidence. Ka-Ching! Maybe he'll consider a 10% discount for the BellGab members who've spent countless hours defending him. A special BG rate of only $180,000. 

Did you happen to see this paragraph?  Maybe it wasn't in the article you read.

[Meister_000]

So, which of those positions gave him executive experience?  When did he have to hire anyone?  Look at his record voting in the senate. He never sponsored any bill and never voted (except as present) unless the democrats need his vote. He didn't want to have to defend his record.
Trump is orders of magnitude more qualified than Obama was.
I am not a fan of Senators running for President. Totally different skill set.

btw - I wasn't a pilot. I worked to certify aircrews, but not in actual flight training.

You're being silly if you're implying that Trump's experience as a kind of buisness-"Executive" equates-with and qualifies-one-for the *Duties Responsibilities and Powers* of THE EXECUTIVE BRANCH of the U.S. Government. i.e. The PRESIDENCY.

[I will (time permitting) spell-out some of those *Duties Responsibilities and Powers* later -- given that you oblige me to, and you will then take note of the quantity of LEGISLATIVE and LEGAL matters entailed therein.]

[Meister_000]

A Bill for the More General Diffusion of Knowledge 1779 -- Thomas Jefferson
[Preamble only]

"Whereas it appeareth that however certain forms of government are better calculated than others to protect individuals in the free exercise of their natural rights, and are at the same time themselves better guarded against degeneracy, yet experience hath shewn, that even under the best forms, those entrusted with power have, in time, and by slow operations, perverted it into tyranny; and it is believed that the most effectual means of preventing this would be, to illuminate, as far as practicable, the minds of the people at large, and more especially to give them knowledge of those facts, which history exhibiteth, that, possessed thereby of the experience of other ages and countries, they may be enabled to know ambition under all its shapes, and prompt to exert their natural powers to defeat its purposes; And whereas it is generally true that that people will be happiest whose laws are best, and are best administered, and that laws will be wisely formed, and honestly administered, in proportion as those who form and administer them are wise and honest; whence it becomes expedient for promoting the publick happiness that those persons, whom nature hath endowed with genius and virtue, should be rendered by liberal education worthy to receive, and able to guard the sacred deposit of the rights and liberties of their fellow citizens, and that they should be called to that charge without regard to wealth, birth or other accidental condition or circumstance; but the indigence of the greater number disabling them from so educating, at their own expence, those of their children whom nature hath fitly formed and disposed to become useful instruments for the public, it is better that such should be sought for and educated at the common expence of all, than that the happiness of all should be confided to the weak or wicked:" . .

[K_Dubb]

Always amazes me how brainwashed you americans are brainwashed to see it as left vs right no matter what.
Why is everything black and white for you guys?? Both right wings and left wings have certain policies that are good and bad, but yet you divide yourself into camps where you hate every single policy from the other camp.

The rhetorical mechanism responsible is exactly the one you used to say "you americans are brainwashed".  I'm convinced you know this and designed your comment as an ironic gesture to highlight it by proximity.  Well done.

[Dr. MD MD]

Gravity, you are seriously starting to worry me.[I do respect the hell out of and admire the fact that you were an F-111 pilot and instructor, but . . . -- back to your comments . . .]

Barack Obama's edu, experience, qualifications before taking office:
Obama bio bits available to all:
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barack_Obama

Education:
- Occidental College
- Columbia University (BA)
- Harvard University (JD)

After graduating from Columbia University in 1983, he worked as a community organizer in Chicago. In 1988 Obama enrolled in Harvard Law School, where he was the first black president of the Harvard Law Review. After graduation he became a civil rights attorney and professor, teaching constitutional law at the University of Chicago Law School from 1992 to 2004.

- Civil rights Attorney (Law man)
- Professor, teaching Constitutional Law

Public Political Government service (experience):
- Illinois State Senate from 1997 to 2004.
- U.S. Senate representing Illinois from 2005 to 2008

Also remember (please) that _who_ any president picks to his personal "Advisors", Cabinet members, Court, and other high Gov Dept Heads has a huge impact and consequence for "The People" AND the World and it's future!

And where did all those expensive credentials get us?! 

[Radio Activity]

Border wall alignment. Looks about right to me.

[Meister_000]

And where did all those expensive credentials get us?! 

An America still spelled with a "C".

[Dr. MD MD]

An America still spelled with a "C".

I believe it still is. NEXT! 

[Meister_000]

"You Can't Sweet-Talk a Good Spy"
"As a former CIA analyst and targeting officer, here's what I think about Trump's speech at the #CIA on Saturday."
[Vid link]
https://video.twimg.com/ext_tw_video/824055512073256960/pu/vid/320x180/YIByDpHwkMelBTnM.mp4

[Dr. MD MD]

"As a former CIA analyst and targeting officer, here's what I think about Trump's speech at the #CIA on Saturday."
[Vid link]
https://video.twimg.com/ext_tw_video/824055512073256960/pu/vid/320x180/YIByDpHwkMelBTnM.mp4

Operative word former. There's probabaly a good reason for that. She claimed that the CIA is apolitical. That's a joke! 

They should also fire that secret service officer who said she wouldn't take a bullet for him. You women are pretty fickle.

[Kidnostad3]

Always amazes me how brainwashed you americans are brainwashed to see it as left vs right no matter what.
Why is everything black and white for you guys?? Both right wings and left wings have certain policies that are good and bad, but yet you divide yourself into camps where you hate every single policy from the other camp.

You know I used to think that and maybe it was true at the time.  There was a day when there was a sane element of the Democrat party.  Men like Daniel Patric Moynihan, Scoop Jackson, John F. Kennedy, Edward Hebert, etc.  But it's just not there anymore.  You really should do your homework before opining.

[Kidnostad3]

I just took my paltry 401k out of stocks & bonds and put every last penny in a guaranteed pool fund. 1% interest is better than losing money at this point in my life. Wealthy investors might eventually recover from a "correction", but retirees, or those close to it won't have that option.

Don't put your cash in your mattress, they're on to that!

You are capable of making sense.  Who knew?

[Meister_000]

Operative word former.

Operative concept, she's qualified to render a critique. We here are (all) very-much less so. And given your track record, I doubt very much you even bothered to watch the vid -- because you know "Fake" News when you see it.

[Dr. MD MD]

Operative concept, she's qualified to render a critique. We here are (all) very-much less so.

She was reading a script with many bad jump cuts in her vid. I could do that but you go on believing that she's an actual CIA agent.  :

[Kidnostad3]

Yeah I know.  Posting this image is childish, gratuitous and in bad taste. 

[Kidnostad3]

Wait a minute cupcake.  Trump got an MBA from Wharton with dam respectable grades.  I happen to know something about B schools and Wharton's curriculum is probably the most challenging.  Maybe you'd like to share with us your academic record.  Just blank out your name and post your transcripts.  I'm waiting to be impressed.

Okay so you're not going to provide a copy of your transcripts. In that case why don't you just tell us which  prestigious grad school you got your post graduate degree from?  If you can't do that how about  posting a copy of your GED certificate.

[Kidnostad3]

Buy precious metals.  Lead and a firearm.

Yeah, I've done the metals and gun thing. But I'm thinking that buggy whips and whale bone corsets are going to make a comeback.