The president-elect has made changing his mind a way of life. Why would his young presidency be any different?
By RUAIRÍ ARRIETA-KENNA, POLITICO
In May, Politico compiled the most comprehensive list ever of the then likely GOP presidential nominee’s history of self-contradictions, flip-flops and even flip-flop-flips. Over the course of four decades of radio and TV interviews, newspaper and magazine profiles, books written about him and books written by him, rambling campaign speeches and late-night tweets, Donald Trump has created a vast archive of arguments with himself.
Well, the candidate who told his supporters he likes to “tell it like it is” is now the president-elect—and he still hasn’t found a comfortable resting place on many of the issues that defined his history-making candidacy. Since his surprising election, Trump has switched his stands on everything from his signature border wall to his rather low opinion of the man he is replacing in the Oval Office. He has a way to go to before he matches the sheer volume of self-disagreement that he racked up prior to Election Day, but his batting average over his brief time as the 45th president is perfection itself—15 about-faces in 15 days.***
On his predecessor:
“I think president Obama has been the most ignorant president in our history…President Obama when he became president, he didn’t know anything. This guy didn’t know a thing. And honestly, today he knows less. Today, he knows less. He has done a terrible job.” (Press conference in Florida, July 27, 2016)
“I have great respect…I very much look forward to dealing with the President in the future, including counsel. He explained some of the difficulties, some of the high-flying assets and some of the really great things that have been achieved.” (White House, November 10, 2016)
On anti-Trump protesters:
“Just had a very open and successful presidential election. Now professional protesters, incited by the media, are protesting. Very unfair!” (Twitter, November 10, 2016, 9:19pm ET)
“Love the fact that the small groups of protesters last night have passion for our great country. We will all come together and be proud!” (Twitter, November 11, 2016, 6:14am ET)
On Obamacare:
“It’s gotta go.” (CNN, July 30, 2015)
“I like those [the prohibition against insurers denying coverage because of patients’ existing conditions and a provision that allows parents to provide years of additional coverage for children on their insurance policies] very much.” (Wall Street Journal, November 11, 2016)
On the border wall:
“Jeb Bush just talked about my border proposal to build a “fence.” It’s not a fence, Jeb, it’s a WALL, and there’s a BIG difference!” (Twitter, August 25, 2015)
“There could be some fencing.” (60 Minutes, November 13, 2016)
On gay marriage:
“If I’m elected, I would be very strong on putting certain judges on the bench that I think maybe could change things…I don’t like the way they ruled…I would strongly consider [trying to appoint justices to overrule the decision on same-sex marriage].” (Fox News Sunday, January 31, 2016)
“It’s irrelevant because it was already settled. It’s law. It was settled in the Supreme Court. I mean it’s done…And I’m fine with that.” (60 Minutes, November 13, 2016)
On locking her up:
“If I win, I am going to instruct my attorney general to get a special prosecutor to look into your situation. There has never been so many lies, so much exception. There has never been anything like it. We will have a special prosecutor. I go out and speak and the people of this country are furious. The long time workers at the FBI are furious. There has never been anything like this with emails. You get a subpoena and after getting the subpoena you delete 33,000 emails and acid wash them or bleach them. An expensive process. We will get a special prosecutor and look into it. You know what, people have been—their lives have been destroyed for doing one-fifth of what you have done. You should be ashamed.” (Second Presidential Debate, October 9, 2016)
“I don’t want to hurt the Clintons, I really don’t…It’s just not something that I feel very strongly about.” (New York Times, November 22, 2016)
On deporting illegal immigrants:
“We have at least 11 million people in this country that came in illegally. They will go out.” (CNN-Republican Debate, February 25, 2016)
“What we are going to do is get the people that are criminal and have criminal records, gang members, drug dealers, we have a lot of these people, probably two million, it could be even three million, we are getting them out of our country or we are going to incarcerate.” (60 Minutes, November 13, 2016)
On the generals:
“Well the generals under Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton have not been very successful.” (Commander-in-Chief Forum, September 7, 2016)
“We have some great generals. We have great generals.” (60 Minutes, November 13, 2016)
“Well, I’ll be honest with you, I probably do [know more about ISIS than the generals do] because look at the job they’ve done. Okay? Look at the job they’ve done. They haven’t done the job.” (60 Minutes, less than a minute later)
On nuclear Japan:
“Well I think maybe it’s not so bad to have Japan — if Japan had that nuclear threat, I’m not sure that would be a bad thing for us.” (New York Times, March 26, 2016)
“The @nytimes states today that DJT believes “more countries should acquire nuclear weapons.” How dishonest are they. I never said this!” (Twitter, November 13, 2016)
On the Electoral College:
“The electoral college is a disaster for democracy.” (Twitter, November 06, 2012)
“The Electoral College is actually genius in that it brings all states, including the smaller ones, into play. Campaigning is much different!” (Twitter, November 15, 2016)
“I’d rather do the popular vote.” Says he was “never a fan of the electoral college.” (New York Times, November 22, 2016)
On the Trump University lawsuit:
“Trump University has a 98% approval rating. I could have settled but won’t out of principle!” (Twitter, February 29, 2016)
“I don’t settle cases…I won’t settle because it’s an easy case to win in court.” (Morning Joe, March 3, 2016)
“I settled the Trump University lawsuit for a small fraction of the potential award because as President I have to focus on our country” (Twitter, November 19, 2016)
On man-made climate change:
“I am not a great believer in man-made climate change.” (Washington Post, March 21, 2016)
“I think there is some connectivity. Some, something.” (New York Times, November 22, 2016)
On the Paris climate agreement:
“We’re going to cancel the Paris Climate Agreement” (Policy address in North Dakota, May 26, 2016)
“I have an open mind to it.” (New York Times, November 22, 2016)
On torture:
“Torture works. OK, folks? You know, I have these guys—‘Torture doesn’t work!’—believe me, it works. And waterboarding is your minor form. Some people say it’s not actually torture. Let’s assume it is. But they asked me the question: What do you think of waterboarding? Absolutely fine. But we should go much stronger than waterboarding.” (South Carolina, February 17, 2016)
“[Mattis] said, ‘I’ve never found it to be useful…Give me a pack of cigarettes and a couple of beers and I’ll do better.’…I was very impressed by that answer… [Torture is] not going to make the kind of a difference that a lot of people are thinking.’’ (New York Times, November 22, 2016)
On the New York Times:
“Wow, the @nytimes is losing thousands of subscribers because of their very poor and highly inaccurate coverage of the ‘Trump phenomena.'” (Twitter, November 13, 2016)
“I have great respect for the New York Times. I have tremendous respect…The New York Times is a world jewel. And I hope we can all get along.” (New York Times, November 22, 2016)
Sebastien Zorn Said:
You’re childish, not a child.
@ yamit82:
Touche. Madison would be proud of you.
comment in moderation …????
Trump is known to change his opinions based on the last person he speaks with who praises and compliments him personally. With Trump flattery will get you almost anything…. The guy needs to be liked it seems above all over factors.
Federalist #10 Never more timely:
The Utility of the Union as a Safeguard Against Domestic Faction and Insurrection (continued)
Daily Advertiser
Thursday, November 22, 1787
[James Madison]
To the People of the State of New York:
http://www.constitution.org/fed/federa10.htm
@ honeybee:
Have to correct myself now. I just double-checked that timeline I enclosed. in 1776 there was just the Declaration of Independence. In 1777 Virginia ratified the Articles of Confederation (not the other states?)
Aah, I see. That first timeline was incomplete.
“The Continental Congress adopted the Articles of Confederation, the first constitution of the United States, on November 15, 1777. However, ratification of the Articles of Confederation by all thirteen states did not occur until March 1, 1781.
The Articles of Confederation: Primary Documents of American History …”
http://www.loc.gov/rr/program/bib/ourdocs/articles.html
Here’s the French Revolution Timeline
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Timeline_of_the_French_Revolution
and the Haitian Revolution
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Haitian_Revolution
@ honeybee:
Don’t say,”snatch” in front of the c-h-i-l-d-r-e-n.
@ honeybee:
I stand corrected. Though the U.S Constitution was ratified in 1788 and the Bill of Rights in 1789.
http://www.softschools.com/timelines/us_constitution_timeline/170/
In 1776, we had the Articles of Confederation.
But, the Founding Fathers were students of History and the Greek and Roman republics, in particular though there were quite a few failed experiments in democracy in various places in between.
The French Revolution did confirm their worst fears and up close. Jefferson replaced Franklin as U.S. Ambassador to France after the Revolution. Not mention its even more disastrous closer corrollary, the Haitian Revolution.
The fear of extremes is all in the Federalist Papers. (1787-8)
Sebastien Zorn Said:
Do you keep a book of old jokes?? A funny movie about a jewel heist ” Snatch”.
Sebastien Zorn Said:
1776 ??? A little early to be worrying about the French Revolution.
@ Felix Quigley:
Omein to that!
People lose track of reality.
Remember if Obama/Clinton had won Obama/Clinton would now be flooding all these swing states with millions of illegal immigrants, and with Muslims especially, and the attack on the Constitution especially on the Electoral College in full swing…The Supreme Court would be “fixed” forever within weeks probably. Anf much more.
Terrific kdrama that explores this very issue beautifully called, “Assembly” (2015)
https://www.viki.com/tv/27882c-assembly
I found this article interesting. He’s probably right.
The first independent president
http://www.israelhayom.com/site/newsletter_article.php?id=38277
also:
Trump’s vision for America
http://www.israelhayom.com/site/newsletter_opinion.php?id=17737
The founding fathers deliberately designed the system so that the higher up you go, the more diverse constituencies you must represent. And so that it would be difficult to get elected and impossible to govern for long with a narrow partisan agenda. They were truly terrified of the prospect of the American Republic going the way of so many others, from Ancient Rome to the French Revolution. And self-destructing.
The system works. Trump is a pragmatist. Watch the ease with which he will reverse many of Obama’s Executive Orders. Legislation crafted through compromise and consensus is harder to undo.
Here’s a great example of what happens to the best laid plans when a President tries to exclude his enemies:
“Why didn’t the United States sign the Treaty of Versailles? | Reference …
“They were mostly Republican foes of President Wilson who believed that the League of Nations was a British fabrication to protect its empire. Because the opposing factions in the Senate could not come to an agreement, the United States did not sign the Versailles Treaty or join the League of Nations.”
https://www.reference.com/…/didn-t-united-states-sign-treaty-versailles-ccf61f2e5458e2…”
I can’t find the reference but I remember learning in school, high school, I think, that if President Wilson had sent his chief Republican opponent in Congress — was his name Long? — to Paris as his representative — which he had the opportunity to do — he might have gotten it passed. In the end, the Republicans took advantage of Wilson’s own ideological rigidity by attaching an unrelated rider having to do with taxes that Wilson found unacceptable so Wilson didn’t support his own bill.
Trump may very well have this example consciously on his mind. I heard him say in an interview that President Theodore Roosevelt was his hero and that he had read everything he could get his hands on about him. Which makes him an avid amateur historian of this very period.
So, Romney might be his best choice.
Funny thing, the Bolsheviks definition of “Democratic Centralism” — and one of the the things that they broke with the Mensheviks about — was that the party minority who is defeated in a vote on a policy issue — must then be the ones to actively promote the policy. Here it becomes a voluntary thing just to stay in the game.
Dov Hikind’s statement that the police should profile Muslims because that’s who commit terrorism just reminded me of Willie Sutton’s famous line. Willie Sutton was a famous bank robber who became a folk hero in the 50’s — and, I believe, who also never killed anyone, he was the safe-cracker in the middle of the night type* — because when he was finally caught and asked, “why do you rob banks?” he innocently replied, as if it was the most obvious question in the world, and as if he was being asked where not why since it was apparently inconceivable to him ask why, “Because that’s where the money is.”
*Two funny movies about that: The Hot Rock (1972) Robert Redford, George Segal, and the remake Blue Streak (1999), Martin Lawrence. Both hilarious comedies about jewel thieves who have to break into what is now a police station to recover the jewels they stashed before they were arrested.
And a moving one: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alias_Jimmy_Valentine (1928)
based on an O.Henry Story called, “A Retrieved Reformation”
O. Henry, after whom one of the top American Literature Awards is Named, wrote many stories with ironic twists. His most famous are “Cop and the Anthem” — which a film short of was made in the ’40s and included with others in one film. — and “Gifts of the Magi” on which a Honeymooner’s episode was based (the one where he sells his bowling ball
to get her an accessory for something she cherishes which she sold to get him a bowling ball bag.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/O._Henry
Ultimate Irony: He was born on Sept. 11 (albeit 139 years earlier, 1862).
This got sent into the moderated Bardo (Tibetan Buddhist Purgatory):
This, as well. OK, shortest I can get it. :
Two forces trying to stop the submarine program — it’s a no-brainer that Israel needs it In Israel, accusations of lobbying
http://www.timesofisrael.com/netanyahus-lawyer-says-submarine-probe-will-prove-no-wrongdoing.
In the U.S.
http://www.timesofisrael.com/former-us-defense-official-calls-on-trump-to-halt-israels-sub-program/
“Dov Zakheim says controversial plan to acquire new submarines from Germany comes at US taxpayers’ expense”
In fact, the aid is a drop in the bucket for Israel which holds back Israel’s development and costs Israel jobs for the sake of the alliance. It helps the U.S. because it must mostly be spent here.
I also noted, from the article, that it has Israeli systems on board. That’s great!
Another problem with Israel having to buy American stuff is that the U.S. often forbids Israel from altering or servicing the electronics even though Israelis are better at that.
And the F-35 is junk according to Caroline Glick. It will absorb the cost of nearly all the aid. It’s that expensive and they don’t even know if it can be made to work!
Any wonder? As Trump pointed out, our own stuff is obsolete and they are cannibalizing old machines to fix current ones.
Great film about Submarines. In fact, I think it is one the greatest war movies of all time. Exciting score. First rate. Saw it 4 times without stopping in the theater when it came out.
Das Boot – Trailer
https://youtu.be/7pzKyeIex2Y
More in the spirit of the silly comparisons of Bibi and Ben Gurion:
How’s this for a silly headline:
Is Washington Beacon becoming a Left-Liberal pro-radical Muslim paper:
http://freebeacon.com/columns/harlan-ellison-show/
Article eulogizing science fiction writer Harlon Ellison on Home Page mentions that the 82 year old writer is/was a Left-Liberal. Well, Ellison… Harlon Ellison, Keith Ellison, hmmmmm. It’s a very short jump.
A rose by any other name would smell as sweet.” Shakespeare
Politically incorrect Alzheimer’s joke:
Two older friends sitting in the living room of one of them.
“I have this great doctor. My doctor just recommended this great stuff for memory. Works like a charm!”
“Really. Who’s your doctor? What’s it called?”
“Ohhh. Tip of my tongue. What’s the name of a flower, you know, it’s pink, smells sweet, has a green stem with thorns?
“Rose?”
[snaps fingers] “Right! Thanks. [calls into kitchen] Rose, What’s the name the name of that doctor?
If Trump really wants to be bi-partisan, why not a Democrat like, say, Dov Hikind?
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dov_Hikind
http://assembly.state.ny.us/mem/Dov-Hikind
https://twitter.com/HikindDov?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Eauthor
On his twitter page, I see he wonders if Schumer and dems support Keith Ellison because of the their ties to Soros and he wonders if dems didn’t vandalize park with anti-semitic and pro-Trump graffiti and calls for stopping the Iran deal. Read the Wikipedia article. He considered running as a Republican for national office.
Bear Klein Said:
No it would be good Ol’Bill, keep him out the White House secretary pool .
bernard ross Said:
Romney is to weak . Bolton is a ” SOB with elbows”.
Bear Klein Said:
all the news went quiet on the investigations suddenly its not news, but it should be.
@ honeybee:
romney 4th at 7%
@ bernard ross:
The good news is any of these people would be way better than John Kerry!
Trump will decide who he wants in the end.
Just think if Hillary were choosing which nightmare would then be Secretary of State. Huma?
Sebastien Zorn Said:
Buy your own slacks !!!!!!!!!!
@ bernard ross:
I like Bolton, Romney is just a repeat of Kerry.
when I voted a few minutes ago guiliani was at 47% with bolton second… guiliani now dropped to 36% and petraeus is coming up… bolton still at second. I dont see why they consider petraeus at all. I voted guilianai…. since doj is gone, and he is a good speaker who thinks on his toes.
I for one am very happy Trump is the President-elect. Hillary would have been a 100% disaster.
On what happens exactly with his agenda and appointments I will give him 3 to 6 months to perform before judging at least.
If he leaves Israel alone or better yet actually supports building Jewish Towns in Judea/Samaria and great Jerusalem I will be very very happy. If he actually moves the US Embassy to Jerusalem I will be extra pleased.
I expect him to lower taxes and get rid of Obama care as he can do this by reconciliation without any Democratic votes.
I expect him to restrict potential Islamic terrorists into the USA as he can do this without congress. I expect him to secure the border.
If he wants he can get all his appointees through without the Democrats if he enacts the nuclear option (that Harry Reid used). That means he only would to negotiate with GOP Senators.
Supreme Court Appointee needs Senate Approval so that require DEM Senators. This will prove to be very tough. He might need to do a Recess appointment. Obama actually could still try this during the Christmas Recess.
General Mathis needs a bill passed by Congress to waive the seven year requirement between military retirement and taking a job in the Cabinet as Def. Sec. So I think that is why his appointment has gone quiet. May happen but it will potentially complicated. If the bill is passed now Obama could veto it.
Just think what this dialog might be now if Hillary Clinton had been elected.
We will find out Trump does in crisis situations and unsuspecting problems that arise. I am sure everything will not be perfect but again I am very happy Trump is President.
Ted, I agree with the posting on American Thinker. Trump’s hard-core rightist appointees will be setting national policies after Inauguration Day on January 20 2017. That’s only eight weeks away. Until that day, Trump can be expected to play smoke and mirrors. I trust his judgement and his instincts.
Arnold Harris, Outspeaker
Sebastien Zorn Said:
link not working
On devos, if she is a problem for Jews or Israel this is an area where Israel supporting, and anti muslim supporting, dems and gop can agree in confirmation process.
Sebastien Zorn Said:
focusing on jobs should not interfere with the course of justice. Thats why there is a DOJ to whom he should leave those decisions after choosing someone who will pursue justice. He will have a difficult time with the dems, his own party AND the embedded pols in civil service. Thats is why it is important to choose the right and competent people to run things in the DOJ and FBI, and then he can step back and focus on jobs… the course of justice does not require his presence but it requires his non interference. Or, he can choose a special prosecutor in consultation with the dems… the bernie dems 🙂
Sebastien Zorn Said:
I dont have a side.. I am not a gop or dem, nor a lib or conservative,… I’ll go where the facts lead. the problem is usually whose facts are true where i dont have personal knowledge. As to the backpedaling, I dont know, not enough facts yet, there are many reasonable alternate explanations, like this one
Sebastien Zorn Said:
@ yamit82:
if true, not good. Trump probably taking advice from estab gop who dont tell him the whole story… perhaps gingrich. I am speculating that Trumps knowledge bank of politcal personel is limited.
Saw Mike Huckabee on Fox the other day saying the only way Trump could or should appoint Mitt Romney Secretary of State is if he issues a formal apology. Big mistake. Romney would not be a good Secretary of State. That is what is at issue here.
http://www.thegatewaypundit.com/2016/11/breaking-mitt-romney-preparing-apology-trump-interested-secretary-state-job/
BREAKING: Mitt Romney Is Preparing Apology to Trump – Is Very Interested in Secretary of State Job
Jim Hoft Nov 24th, 2016 5:20 pm
@ bernard ross:
At the risk of skirting the edge of chit chat, I must note, with some amusement, that the way you and I keep switching sides in disagreeing about whether Trump is backpedaling, much like what you said about Libras, I am reminded of two stories like that:
1) The novel, “Magic Mountain” by Thomas Mann, in which two philosophers vie for the adherence of a young man to their philosophy in a Tuberculosis sanitorium on the eve of WWI, but they keep switching sides and continuing the debate.
and
2) A Kdrama called, “Which Star are you from” in which, at the end of the last episode, when the Romeo and Juliet lovers finally are allowed to come together, hilariously, they are so much in love that they argue, go away, convince themselves of the other one’s point of view and then come back and argue again, each taking the opposite position from before.
https://www.viki.com/videos/1083224v-which-star-are-you-from-episode-16
Is Trump Really Backpedaling?
@ yamit82:
I had to search for the article:
http://www.debbieschlussel.com/83731/betsy-devos-affirmative-action-pimp-islamo-panderer-guess-who-her-brother-is/
Yes. She’s an alarming choice for Education Secretary. Another article I read credited her family with being major funders of the “Gingrich Revolution” in the early ’90s*. Maybe this is part of some kind of larger deal and this is the trade-off. Otherwise, surely Trump wouldn’t pick a pro-Muslim anti-Israel “Educator.” Unless, nobody told him, do you suppose. When he changed his mind early on it really seemed like he just learned something new that was already out there but he didn’t know it before — a lot of the time.
“May you live in interesting times.” – Ancient Chinese curse.
* “Prince and DeVos Families at Intersection of Radical Free Market Privatizers and Religious Right
Rachel Tabachnick
Wed Nov 23, 2016 ”
http://www.talk2action.org/story/2011/5/16/123025/506
Her brother, who runs their empire with her, appears to be anti-Muslim, Christian-Supremacist. What’s her story? Is there a conflict between them? Or did she not realize who she was funding?
@ bernard ross:
Betsy DeVos: Funded Pro-Muslim, Anti-Israel Curriculum; Affirmative Action Pimp; Guess Who Her Brother Is
@ bernard ross:
The electors vote on Dec. 19 and Dems have been doing their dirty tricks thing to strongarm them into voting against Trump. Plus, the Republicans do not have a filibuster-proof majority. He may not even have enough support within his own party on every issue. Trump said it. “I want to focus on jobs…” It’s entirely possible that he must choose. He has said over and over that he will not govern by executive order like Obama.
e.g.,
“Electoral College members harassed, threatened in last-ditch attempt to block Trump
#HamiltonElectors movement calls on voters to unite behind moderate Republican”
http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2016/nov/22/gop-electors-harassed-threatened-foes-maneuver-blo/
“Nov 9, 2016 – Republican Donald Trump is the president-elect with a majority … about his policy priorities as he heads to the White House in 2017. … have a majority, but they don’t have a filibuster-proof majority, so it’s … Whether he can get a majority of his own party to approve of that … ”
http://www.wpr.org/can-president-trump-get-things-done-conservative-majority
“Manafort claims anti-Trump Republicans are tied to Clinton
BY HARPER NEIDIG – 08/14/16 07:00 AM EDT”
http://thehill.com/blogs/ballot-box/presidential-races/291369-manafort-claims-50-anti-trump-gop-officials-are-tied-to
He may have to just pay the two dollars. (Old Jewish joke on which this little film is based. It was also the basis for an Ephraim Kishon short story which I read as a boy. I believe Hitchcock’s North by North West is also based on it in the beginning. Cary Grant has various chances to get out of it but no, he knows his rights!)
PAY THE TWO DOLLARS
https://youtu.be/ZKT8QoboD1g
Sebastien Zorn Said:
I cant… Trump is doing what he criticized… obstructing the natural course of justice and creating a double standard. its not trumps call its the call of all the victims and the US justice system. there will be no unity based on this lie.. law and order will not arise from sweeping it under the rug. Much more important is the entire network surrounding them and especially Soros….this can all be exposed by starting with the clintons, podesta, lynch, doj, etc and Soro funding BLM riots which are a form of sedition and terrorism. In fact, Trump is the one who spoke of how serious were their crimes and now he appears to be poopooing that seriousness which must bring into question whether he told the truth… if he wishes to remain credible he must allow a transparent restart of the investigation to run its full course… if not he becomes another BS pol.
Furthermore, the only thing that can stop the endemic corruption are exactly these sorts of prosecutions by the next gov… if they know the next gov will prosecute them then they will be more motivated to be clean. Its an insult to the voters who voted for trump and its not about trump but about the voters.
Sebastien Zorn Said:
voting is over for a couple of years… but it appears that trump responds to the mails of his voterss… it appears that he took romney off the table for sos becuase everyone became upset. However, they are now trial ballooning Petraeus which to me seems absurd. However, I remember that hillary was given the sos as a “basket to carry water” by obama.
here is another way to look at trumps answers to interviewers queries:
Sebastien Zorn Said:
Imagine, if you will, that Trump was asked that question by one of the media hounds and he then answered:
yes
no
maybe
all of the above.
I wonder if they might devolve into a state of (constructive) confusion?
I am always of the opinion that it is best to put ones enemies into chaos rather than seek their stability…. whereas Israel keeps beleiving the opposite.
If the enemy isnt slaughtering Israel today Israel thinks it is due to their stability and makes a creed and policy of it.
Same with world trade… when china was in poverty and clearly an enemy the US prospered and now that china has mfn trading status the US is approaching poverty and china has used US purchases to build a military that threatens the pacific and the USA.
The false logic behind these paradigms is based in false hopes for the future rather than in scientific fact….that being nice and making their lives better will change them into being like us and they will turn into nice guys…. a failed paradigm still in fashion.
@ bernard ross:
I have mars, dragons’s head, and ascendant in Libra. Does that mean you will cut me some slack?
bernard ross Said:
Always and continuously. My only loyalty is to our people. I have an open mind and when information changes, my opinion changes. I supported Putin based on his philo-semitic and pro-Israel record and then retracted it when Russia voted to assign the Temple Mount to the Arabs and then acted like it was nothing and we were being over-sensitive.
I switched from independent to Republican so I could vote for Huckabee and then voted for Cruz in the Primary when it was just the two of them because Caroline Glick endorsed Cruz as Israel’s champion in the Senate, and I looked into it and agreed, while Trump had backtracked and was talking about “neutrality?” Remember?
Then he forward-tracked again and allied with Cruz and Huckabee on fully supporting Israel so I supported and still support him. But, now he is talking about jump-starting talks again? Going back on waterboarding, climate-change, the wall, Muslim immigration, I agree with the 2 provisions of Obamacare he wants to keep so I won’t grouse about that. I can see both sides of the prosecuting Hillary question, so I won’t dwell on that.
But, I am an independent secular Jewish-American Zionist, a Second Generation Holocaust Survivor whose eyes are open, at last (16 years now) — you want identity politics? That’s my identity. Live with it.
I had a famous Progressive Jewish professor — a former mentor who had known me since I was a Leftist — who, when I told her that I was a 2nd Gen determined not to let it happen again, and that that’s what determined my politics, she said, and I quote, “people like you should not be allowed in politics.” Yeah? well the feeling’s mutual, babe.
As far as Trump goes, I will not let Republicans, Dems, or anyone else take my vote for granted anymore.
“Don’t worship the finger pointing at the moon. Just look where it is pointing.” – Traditional Zen Koan
And, Thank you for liking my humor.
Sebastien Zorn Said:
I forgot these:
4- sarcasm
5- slapstick
6- things change
Sebastien Zorn Said:
i wouldnt… Israel isnt…. Israels problem is not who is president is US or EU… its deciding what they want as a collective. Everyone outside is a mirror of those in Israel, not a cause. If trump said he was ok with israel annexing and deporting all pals Israel would still not do it.. the problem begins and ends in Israel.
Sebastien Zorn Said:
the whole nation wants to make his appointments, he won, I dont intent to micromanage his every move. I am waiting to see what happens.. he might fail, he might not, he might be a crook he might not… time will tell… if he turns out negative he is still better than the other choice.
I liked your humor posts and your past monty posts
and now for something completely differnet, or is it?
happy thanksgiving to all
Sebastien Zorn Said:
here are some ways I might explain it if I cared enough to look at it in detail:
1- I dont bother because they are all excerpts taken out of contexts by a hostile source prone to fibbing.
2- If the excerpts are not “false news” on the face they appear to be impulsive opinions taken on the spur from a guy who does not care how it sounds politically nor what impression the hearers have. tomorrow he will have a different opinion.. mayybe… opinions on the run are irrelevant. I noted early on that he does not operate as a politician spending all his time crafting words for posterity in stone. I stated early that I expected him to change his mind because in most cases he has no awareness of the real stories kept secret.
3- if one looks carefully some of those comments are not technically contradictory… they are simply the expressions of differnt perspectives on the same events. Libras often express many perspecitves when asked an opinion.
@ bernard ross:
How do you explain the ones from before he won and the one after he won where the article says he contradicted himself a minute later in the same interview?
I’m just holding my breath hoping he doesn’t sign the waiver on moving the embassy to Jerusalem like all the Presidents before him since it was passed.
I’m more than willing to give him a chance to do right by Israel, just as I was with Putin.
He has been appointing good people to foreign policy positions though why he appointed a world-famous pediatric neuro-surgeon as Secretary of Housing, of all things, is beyond me. Seems to me, Surgeon-General would be a more appropriate role for Dr. Carson.
So, we have a real-estate baron for President who appoints a Medical expert to be Secretary of Housing. I hope his domestic policy doesn’t wind up like that chestnut:
“Heaven is where…
The police are British
The cooks are Italian
The lovers are French
The mechanics are German
And it’s all organized by the Swiss
Hell is where…
The cooks are British
The mechanics are French
The lovers are Swiss
The police are German
And it’s all organized by the Italians”
http://www.sjacob.org/home/humour/HeavenIsWhere.html
Mike Nichols & Elaine May-adultery
https://vimeo.com/93042482
Tom Lehrer Clementine
https://youtu.be/7i4f8oohdi0
LOL, poor politico….. before a CEO takes over a company he doesnt have all the pertinent info available to make decisions,….. this would be especially true when taking over an entity with oodles of secret info. I expect that Trump might be quite surprised by some of the info he stumble upon after taking over…. e.g. when he talks of hillary creating IS indirectly by leaving the area he might find the the USA and the GCC intentionally created IS directly in the same way they did the mujihadeen in the 1980’s.
I am surprised that veteran orgs like politico, masquerading as sources of reliable info, are unaware of these most basic of realities of which even a fool like me is aware.
everything so far is merely an opinion in time based on limited info…. as info becomes available, opinions harden into policies.
After the inauguration things will be clearer, but even later things change in the real world….. politico did not know that… but I did.
Did anyone read, ‘ZOA: Don’t Appoint Gen. J. Mattis as Secretary of Defense – He’s Hostile to and Misunderstands Israel’ ?
Looks like ZOA took it down (too much criticism?) but it can still be read here:
http://shemittahrediscovered.blogspot.com/2016/11/fwd-zoa-dont-appoint-gen-james-mattis.html