Posts Made By: James Brown

Originally Posted by Rod Kaufman

Yup, that electoral process has worked out real well in recent times, usurping the will of the people by electing such disasters as Dubya and Trump, contrary to the massive votes of the people as represented by the popular vote...

And, why are you still holding a grudge against W?  History will show that he was a pretty good guy and president.

Originally Posted by Rod Kaufman

Yup, that electoral process has worked out real well in recent times, usurping the will of the people by electing such disasters as Dubya and Trump, contrary to the massive votes of the people as represented by the popular vote...

Trying to run up my post count here, but just because I like the way it sounds:

One State, One Vote!   

By:  Jim, the original originalist!!

Can you imagine?  WY, SD, and ND having the same political influence as CA, NY and IL!  I would love it!

Originally Posted by Russ Carroll

Most conservative media opposed Trump running again, and you see some pushback from elected GOP officials, but here is the problem: DeSantis, Cruz, Graham - they are not, nor have they ever been, afraid of Donald Trump. They are afraid of Greg and Richard and the 30% of Americans that would literally vote for Trump if he shot someone on 3rd Ave. 

As a result, a fractured GOP primary season without a dominant front-runner is likely to produce another Trump nomination. Until this death grip on our compatriots here is lifted, Trump is the GOP, and we are in for another dreadful 4 years of a Democratic presidency.

While I agree that this is the most likely scenario, I have some hope.  Two points:

1.  Do you remember the point in time when Buttigieg, Klobuchar, Harris and everyone else dropped out of the D primary in what looked like a coordinated effort to pave the way for Joe.  Was it really coordinated?  I'm not sure, but the secondary candidates at least put party first.  If one candidate goes head to head against Trump there is a good chance he can be beaten.

2.  You are misreading Greg and possibly Rich (and by proxy voters like them). Greg has stated that he is a "lesser of two evils" guy, so he'll vote for Trump over Biden.  That is all, he dislikes Trump for a lot of good reasons.  So do many Greg-like voters.  I would bet my 21 mm Ethos  against a donut that Greg would vote for Cruz or DeSantis over Trump in a primary.  Rich recently said that DeSantis was rapidly becoming his favorite politician.   So I think Rich would possibly vote for DeSantis over Trump.  

2A.  Because of the above, I think that voters like me will be the problem.  I would prefer Rubio, Romney, or Haley.  Rubio and Romney are the guys who might split the votes of me and Greg and almost certainly would split the votes of me and Rich in a Rubio/Trump primary, for example.  So, us Rinos and moderates need to fully support Cruz, DeSantis or whomever can be acceptable to Republican voters who are not "never Trump" already.  

3.  The people who actually think the 2020 election was stolen - the hard core MAGA types who would riot in DC again if they had the chance will support Trump, but the mid-terms show that their numbers are declining.  With one fairly hard right candidate who can match Trump in a "fistfight" primary, I think he can be beat.

I was listening to NPR and their glee at having Trump back in the field was palpable.  The left has anointed Trump as the candidate in '24.  According to them it is a done deal.  We Rs have to combat that - hopefully with all of the money backing "a palatable to Greg and Rich but not-Trump candidate" there is a shot. 

Originally Posted by Richard Davis

Gee Jim, who would have thought that all I needed to do was to ask the question of you and keep you from dodging it and you, the Queen Bee would release your pheromones and the rest of the drones would line up and provide the regular hysterical responses?   

I answered your question dodgeball.  Just up above #26.  What are the odds of you admitting that?  What are the odds of you answering my question?  By the way, after I did answer your question, the rest of my participation here is just mocking you - the low-hanging fruit in other words.

Originally Posted by Russ Carroll

I wish you were right, but I don't believe it. Greg and Rich might even say they would vote for DeSantis over Trump, but I think when the time came to vote, Trump would get their vote in a primary. I had hoped that Desantis antics (bashing Disney, unkind comments, etc.) would be enough red meat for the Greg and Rich's of the world, but just look at their behavior on these forums? The more guttural and in-the-gutter the attack on the libs destroying the free world, the better to them IMO. I don't even know if they realize this, claiming to be much more pragmatic than that. We'll see...

PS I apologize in advance for talking about you in the 3rd person (Greg and Rich). I was not trying to slight you in any way. I'm just trying to make a point in the context of our group.

Ditto - this is convenient, but maybe offensive to Greg.   

Originally Posted by Rod Kaufman

A couple of questions if you don't mind:
1. Would vote a Trump-DeSantis ticket?
2. Other than inflation/gas prices, what bothers you so much about having another 4 year Democratic presidential term?

Hi Rod:  I know that you asked Russ, but I'll answer too. 

I would not vote for Trump - DeSantis v. Biden  I would hope that DeSantis would say no to that ticket as well.  Who knows in politics though.  If the Ds go off the rails though, and it were Trump - DeSantis v. AOC or Sanders or Warren, I would probably vote for Trump DeSantis.  that would be the mother of all "lesser of two evil" votes.  I think the risk to our economy/democracy is higher with a socialist than Trump.  I only say this because I have a lot of confidence in the system.

I think that Biden is in over his head on the economy, foreign affairs, and domestic policy.  I think DeSantis would do a better job.  We can flesh out the details in 2023-24 as the race develops.

Jim

I had a bad feeling, I think a lot of us did.

Melvin A. Maki
Grants Pass, Oregon
July 21, 1951 - November 9, 2022


https://www.tributearchive.com/obituaries/26355452/melvin-a-maki/grants-pass/oregon/hull-and-hull-funeral-directors

I've sent a PM to Mel, on the outside chance there are multiple 70-something Melvin Makis of Grants Pass, Oregon. It is not a big place though.  We have PM'd a lot in the past about TEC telescopes and politics.  Nothing since this summer.  I wish I could verify this better.  Maybe Mel will show up with a witty, "The reports of my demise are greatly exaggerated"  I am not hopeful.

If any of you have better information, Facebook or a recent PM, please let us know.  Jim

Originally Posted by Brian McFarland

Wow, apparently he was PM'ing with lots of us (me too).  Really personable guy - I'll miss our chats.

Yes, this makes me sad.  There is no family listed on Mel's obituary, no surviving kids or spouse.  I hope this was not really the case, but I can't shake the picture of Mel being alone, and chatting with people like us from time to time.  It makes me sad, and it makes me very grateful for my family.  Moments like this should cause us all to take some time to spread some joy and love to those around us.  Mel was only 10 years older than me when he died, far too young.  Jim

Originally Posted by James Lacey

GOP mega-donors have made it clear they will not support him. The RNC said it would not pay his legal bills. And now GOP media is disregarding, if not outright mocking him. His children have made it clear they want nothing more to do with his political ambitions. Republican leadership throws him under the bus, from Mike Pence to Republican Governors. It's painfully apparent this man from Florida is done. All that remains to be seen is if he ends up being a Republican spoiler in 2024 and decides to run independently.

I hope you are right James.  

Originally Posted by Rod Kaufman

And when the bridges, roads and highways get fixed in Georgia, and in every other state, it's because of the Biden infrastructure bill. And if the GOP succeeds, your social security and medicare healthcare insurance will be reduced or eliminated. Still laughing?

From one of your favorite sites, Rod:  https://www.politifact.com/factchecks/2022/oct/21/instagram-posts/debunking-fake-claim-about-cuts-social-security-if/