President Trump

You're fired.............fentastic, believe me, it will be yuuuuuuuuuuge

 

You can take quotes out of context and frame any kind of reality you want. The quote from Schumer likely came pre-election.

The timing of all this is extremely curious. I'm glad everyone here can crack jokes and make light of the situation but the reality is that what has transpired is absolutely f***** up. The entire purpose of non-political government bodies is being forcefully kept down.

 

Really? Elections have been influenced by foreign powers, the role of the judiciary completely undermined, the removal of top non-political whistle-blowers? This has been happening repeatedly?

I'm not claiming any kind of innocence or altruism on the past Presidents or Congress, but we've never seen this degree of disregard for the democratic process. I understand that we only know what's put out there, but we are indeed seeing the unprecedented here.

 

TBH the "we've done it so why wouldn't it be done to us" isn't really good evidence. In reality much of American influence has been direct, obvious and heavy-handed. The alleged interference last fall was covert and deceiving. Different mechanisms to yes, the same outcome.

Regarding the undermining of government, I'm referring specifically to the Judiciary. You're speaking about other mechanisms of power. I'm not complaining about those, I'm referring to the entity responsible for checking and balancing the influences of the executive and legislative branches. That's a big deal.

I'm completely aware of the Media's influence but there are number of us that are not easily swayed by editorials. There is objective truth in what some are saying.

 

I was actually referring to the tweets about a "so-called" Federal Judge in Washington regarding a travel ban ruling.

 

Your first point is derailing the original debate.

My original point: Our elections haven't been covertly influenced by a foreign power before.

Your response: We've influenced other people's elections, why wouldn't others influence our elections.

Apples and oranges TRD. I'm talking about stuff happening in the USA that's unprecedented in the USA. Your point may be that it's OK that it happened here because we do it elsewhere. Regardless of that, it hasn't been done here before. That's my point, that's why my antennae are perked right now.

Regarding what is egregious. The purpose of the Judiciary according to the Constitution is to provide unbiased, non-partisan, non-election oriented checks and balances to the Executive and Legislative branches. Having a President openly undermine members of that entity because they don't support his agenda is entirely undemocratic and on the verge of authoritarianism. As President you respect the process and regardless of how you actually feel you publicly support the democratic process. It absolutely is worse if the Judiciary is compopmised/undermined because we expect the Executive Branch and the Legislative Branch to have special interests because re-elections and power are at stake. That's why the Judiciary is part of the tri-fecta - to protect against those interests, in the interest of the American populous!

Regarding taxes. Are you a high income earner? Do you and your wife earn greater than $250,000 - and if you do that's completely fine - but otherwise the tax breaks coming from the ACA repeal will not fatten your pockets a dime. Akin to the Bush tax cuts which were coined as "middle class" tax cuts, they were absolutely not and I highly doubt the Trump tax breaks will either. Unless you are in the top 5% you are not going to receive a tax cut, assuming Trump follows Republican tax break precedent. If you are in the 5% I don't blame you for supporting the tax agenda, but sadly many Americans who support candidates with a tax agenda rarely actually benefit from those tax policies. In fact these same people would save far more money if that money was re-distributed as health coverage.

I'm for stricter borders, protection of American jobs, and fights against terrorism. But we need to be rational about our budget allocations. Health care coverage in this country (lack thereof) will cost us far far far more in the long run than the benefits reaped from high income earners pocketing 5% more income.