... by the end of the run, my list had increased to 4, but I'll just give you the original 2 for now:
1. He defeated ISIS! And he hasn't gotten us into any new military adventures.
2. The Trump haters have gone so big for so long that it feels like extortion. I instinctively resist bullying.
ADDED:
3. The Democrats have given us a ridiculous candidate, a sort of mystery box. I don't know what this entity is. Some composite of Democrats who will act through him?
4. The Democrats pressure us to follow orders from experts, not to understand the evidence and analysis. When it comes to questions involving race and gender — which seem to be all questions nowadays — they impose an ideological template about how the human mind works without regard for any scientific method of analysis. I'm afraid of this irrationality presented as lofty learning, especially as it comes with a demand that we shut up and take orders.
Posts
167 comments:
Now do Biden.
Two good reasons. And he's putting China in their rightful place. And getting NATO countries to pay more of their share of defense expenses.
And the cherry on top... he's exposed the deep rot and corruption of the Democrat/Media complex.
KAGA
The one heuristic that has guided my analysis of the election so far is that 2016 Trump voters aren't likely switch to Biden, whereas some Hillary votes are up for grabs.
Cue the Biden ad that tries to breathe life into the opposite.
Western Pennsylvania farmer offers this explanation, as befuddling as Joe Biden himself, as to why Trump "gets the blame" for "this virus".
Huh?
Notice they didn't even try to go after Trump on economics, trade, foreign policy, judicial appointments, "law and order", etc.
"I instinctively resist bullying."
As a reason to vote FOR Trump?
"I instinctively resist bullying."
More like an infant's temper tantrum.
Tank’s top two reasons are the same as last time. He actually loves this country and is a fighter.
The corruption of the Obama admin should keep anyone with a conscience from voting for Biden
The Trump haters have gone so big for so long that it feels like extortion.
When someone shows you who they are, believe them the first time. — Maya Angelou
Number two should be sufficient.Unless you say you resist bullying but you secretly lime to be bullied...
I can give you a bunch of mine if you need them. I have too many reasons to vote for Trump...
Angelo Codevilla’s latest essay on the state of affairs suggests it doesn’t really matter.
Those are good enough reasons, though I’d like to point out that the Two Party System wins every time.
-willie
"I instinctively resist bullying."
Which we appreciate. Truly! We'll take it.
I'll refrain from mansplaining why that's not a good basis for voting, since I know you instinctively resist deplorable rationality.
The longer you think the longer the list of reasons will become.
Both good reasons, for very different reasons, thus a more robust basis. Reason #1 is broadly popular (as it should be: who doesn’t want us to stay out of wars?) and also objectively verifiable in simple terms (we can all see there is no war happening). Reason #2 is also broadly popular (nobody likes being bullied) and while not easily verifiable in simple terms (the bullies are smart enough not to state plainly what they are doing) it is intuitively obvious to pretty much anyone who has paid any attention to the past four years of Prog/MSM meltdown and #Resistance, now culminating in open anarchy on our streets.
Looking forward to reading of any and all additional reasons. My own favorite is that, as Lincoln said of Grant, “I cannot spare this man. He fights.”
For me, the key reasons is that the Trump administration regards China as an "opponent." Biden said just last week that he regards China as a "competitor."
China's leaders believe in the racial superiority of the Han people and their nation's divine destiny to be the center of the world, i.e. its undisputed leader. They have territorial ambitions against, it seems, all of their neighbors and openly talk of conquering Taiwan. (Military journals are filled with scholarly articles about how and when China will invade.) They've imprisoned millions of Muslims, Christians, worshippers of other faiths, and political dissenters in concentration camps and subjected those people to unspeakable horrors, including commercial organ harvesting and forced birth control. Of course, China has unfairly taken advantage of the global trading system, spied on us, stolen from us and other nations.
In the 1930s no one thought Germany would start another war. Throughout the decade, people thought Churchill was daft for warning others about what was coming. Again, who today in this country thinks China would risk global war by invading a peaceful nation of 24 million people off of its coast? We make the mistake of thinking that our opponents think like us. I've even read articles that suggest that Trump's Huawei ban parallels FDR's ban on the sale of oil to Japan and seizure of its U.S. assets in July 1941.
It is clear to me that the Trump administration sees what could be ahead. It is very unclear that Biden sees the world the same way, and he certainly seems to lack the vigor to rally supporters to our side. It is hard, very hard, to imagine him sitting down one-on-one with Xi.
I would ask the Professor what’s her feel for how other Madison residents may vote. Any others secretly peel off? I give Ann a lot of credit here. Seems dangerous in Madison to announce publicly that you may vote for Trump. No more vegan cocktail parties for you! Obviously Dane County it will be huge for Biden, but any votes migrating toward Trump in is pretty big in a tight swing state like Wisconsin. For all that Madison has been through in 2020, I can’t imagine some residents over 40 aren’t fed up. To save face in the community you have to put a Biden sign in your yard….but how you vote in private is another thing.
I agree these are two of the best reasons. People forget ISIS. Considering the peace accords, Trump has been a successful president in foreign affairs.
If I believed he would kill off CRT in the schools and government that would be a good reason. I am not sure he will stick to it, but at least he is trying.
The best reason is, he is not a Democrat. The Democrats alarm me very much this time. I think for example they will implement quotas in every jurisdiction they control.
Sad that a lawyer misuses legal term extortion.
BaduBois plus:
Middle East peace. A truly amazing achievement that must be brought to completion.
"2. The Trump haters have gone so big for so long that it feels like extortion. I instinctively resist bullying."
When everything is a crisis, nothing is. When everyone is racist, no one is. When everything you don't like is fascist, nothing is. When everyone is a nazi, no one is.
"He who defends everything, defends nothing." - Frederick The Great
"Perfect is the enemy of good enough." - Old Soviet Russian saying
That is a very good reason. People are exhausted at the constant apoplexy.
The visceral hatred displayed by many of the left, from the emotional and violent rioters all the way up to Speaker Pelosi theatrically ripping up Trump's State of the Union speech, is something which I cannot truly understand. George W. Bush, and Reagan before, received similar hatred, but not with the same intensity and not so dramatically from opposition party leaders. Many conservatives hated Clinton and Obama during their terms, but I do not think it was nearly of the same magnitude. There is a joke going around about imagining the choice between keeping Trump plugged into life support or charging your phone, that the choice would be easy. Is that something that is supposed to funny? I know, I know - Era of that's not funny and all that - but it reveals something about Trump haters in that they truly wish him harm, joke or not.
I hate to say this, but the Iranians and Syrians had more to do with defeating ISIS than the USA.
We could have prevented ISIS by staying engaged in Iraq instead of leaving in 2009. A battalion of American soldiers in Mosul in 2014 would have saved tens of thousands of lives. There was a total failure of presidential leadership.
Instead, what kept Baghdad from falling was massive Iranian intervention.
Agree with reason #2. I voted Gary Johnson last time. Trump is a known quantity now. He has a record.
100% to #2!
He's stopping the Communist/ Socialist take over by the Radicals on the left....
Disagree with #1. It was primarily the Iranians and Syrians who defeated ISIS. Hate to say it, but it's true. We abandoned Iraq in 2009, and it would have fallen in 2014 if not for massive Iranian intervention. Obama didn't react fast enough. By the time Trump took over, ISIS was losing everywhere.
Agree with #2. I voted Gary Johnson last time. This time, Trump has a record and is a known quantity. I really, really don't like the violence and intimidation on the left. I really, really like the deregulation and the judges.
exhelodrvr1 said...
The corruption of the Obama admin should keep anyone with a conscience from voting for Biden
9/25/20, 8:43 AM
And to stop the Cloward and Pivening of our country....
A vote for Biden simply means that the sun will never come up again. We will plunge into eternal darkness. For real!
The threats really get to me too. I cannot comprehend not voting for Trump because of it.
Agree with #3, except Biden is a known quantity after 40 years of public life. If he's mysterious at this point, it's because there was nothing there to begin with.
Agree with #4, because Critical Theory is not scientific. It came out of literary criticism.
Readering: "Sad that a lawyer misuses legal term extortion."
LOL
Democraticals/LLR-lefties have been explicit that the only way to stop the riots is to vote for Biden.
Explicit.
Very explicit.
So explicit, one would have to be a complete idiot or tool to say otherwise, which brings us back to readering........
Western Pennsylvania farmer... wearing a union shirt.
I'd be a lot more interested in your top 4 reasons for NOT voting for Trump.
I'd be a lot more interested in your top 4 reasons for NOT voting for Trump.
Law and order.
BTW, how nice to see there is now documentary proof that readering and rest of Team Left/LLR-left liars have been exposed as being the team that colluded directly with actual suspected russian agents tied to Putin all along and that it was never Trump.
On top of now knowing that it was Hillary that the russkis preferred and that it was Commie Boy-Muslim Brotherhood lovin' Brennan who changed the analysts report to the lie that Putin wanted Trump to win.
I mean, its late in the game so the lefties/LLR-lefties delay tactics worked effectively to bury the truth for 4 years now, but at least we have it out now within the Dan Rather Hoax Effective Time Window For Rebuttal And Narrative Shifting.
All good reasons, and here's another that dovetails with No. 4 -- Biden is a liar on toxic racial issues, that continue to cause great damage to our country:
How dare Biden rest his campaign on a blatant lie — a lie that has been used to stir up fear and racial discord?! The hypocrisy of offering to bring us together and embrace lofty values when he is either repulsively ignorant or just plain lying!
I could not finish watching that video. I tried, but I couldn't force myself. It's utterly toxic bilge.
If Biden does not come forward and retract this video and apologize and commit himself to making amends, I consider him disqualified. He does not have the character or brain power to be President.
Posted by Ann Althouse at 10:33 AM 4.25.19
@Readering, she said it "feels like extortion". That isn't a misuse of the term at all; she's just describing how it feels to her (and to many others, including myself).
"I'm afraid of this irrationality presented as lofty learning, especially as it comes with a demand that we shut up and take orders."
I think being called "racist, fascist and deplorable" adds to the effect.
Careful Ann, once you take the Red Pill, there really is no going back. Once you make a decision to leave the cult, all you really get is an increasing horror as you realize what a chump you once were.
My first reason is the same Tank's and others: Trump loves America and has acted like he does the past 3 1/2 years.
The second reason is the only way the Democrats will become sane again is if they are destroyed as completely as Germany and Japan in WWII.
America, or any country, cannot be a safe and productive place with 1/2 the people completely nuts. Reasonable opposition and principled compromise prevent extremism in both parties!
Trump's greatest achievement may well be the renewed Democrat and Republican parties that rise from the ashes of the 20's...
Oso Negro said...
Angelo Codevilla’s latest essay on the state of affairs suggests it doesn’t really matter.
I disagree. It is gloomy, yes, but does lay out the issues.
It's long but read it yourself.
Progressivism’s foundational proposition—that the American way of life suffers from excessive freedom and insufficient latitude for experts to lead each into doing what is best for all—is the intellectual basis of the oligarchy’s ever-increasing size, wealth, and power.
That says it pretty well.
My first reason is the same Tank's and others: Trump loves America and has acted like he does the past 3 1/2 years.
The second reason is the only way the Democrats will become sane again is if they are destroyed as completely as Germany and Japan in WWII.
America, or any country, cannot be a safe and productive place with 1/2 the people completely nuts. Reasonable opposition and principled compromise prevent extremism in both parties!
Trump's greatest achievement may well be the renewed Democrat and Republican parties that rise from the ashes of the 20's...
Sad to see a lawyer recommend surrender to extortion.
---Sad that a lawyer misuses legal term extortion. [Readering]
How did she misuse the word? Ms. Althouse has said many times that the Democrats seem to be tolerating riots in an attempt to make people vote against Trump in hopes that then they'll stop. Pay us with your vote and then (maybe!) we'll stop trashing your cities.
This is so obvious, why do you bother with the dumpkopf act? Hmmm.
Readering said...
Sad that a lawyer misuses legal term extortion.
Missed the "feels like," did you? Changes things from a legal declaration to a subjective opinion.
My top two reasons why I would consider Trump:
(1) COVID Response-What is the more American response: hopeful, urgent, open-minded and creative (even if it's sometimes wrong) in an effort to defeat a cruel and brutal enemy, OR everyone hide in the basement until the rest of the world figures this out? Trump says plenty of silly things, but when you strip out all the b.s. Trump seems to "get it" better than any of his critics (including the "experts").
(2) Trump is the only one telling the truth about left-wing violence.
The reasons why I am unlikely to vote Trump are the same reason I didn't vote for Obama: deficits; overreaching executive authoritarianism (e.g., national eviction ban using the CDC); and too much corruption, graft, and boondoggle (Foxconn, Kodak, TikTik/Oracle instead of Solyndra).
"I'm afraid of this irrationality presented as lofty learning" [AA]
Bigtime ditto.
Re “the science”, thank you. “The science” of Disparate Impact, CV-19 and Climate Change.
As a person of faith, I would add that Trump would respect my right to practice my religion, where the Democrats have been antagonistic to it. If you want just a couple of relevant examples, note Feinstein's questioning of Amy Coney Barrett, and Harris' questioning of Brian Buescher.
The Dems and media must not be rewarded for putting up and covering up a mentally defective nominee.
5. a First lady, that doesn't just LOOK like a Super Model.... She IS a Super Model!!
Can we employ the "a heartbeat away from the presidency" argument? If Joe Biden wins, he will be 78 before Inauguration Day -- six years older than John McCain was on Inauguration Day in 2009.
Note that we may need to update that argument to reflect the Left's newfound affection for the 25th Amendment.
" The Democrats pressure us to follow orders from experts, not to understand the evidence and analysis."
Experts? Is there any evidence Joe Biden is an expert on anything except nepotistic featherbedding or that he would recognize an expert even if he was bitten in the ass by one?
""I instinctively resist bullying."/As a reason to vote FOR Trump?"
Absolutely. I don't experience Trump as a bully. He's more: Here I am/ I am what I am/Do you want me?
Western Pennsylvania farmer offers this explanation, as befuddling as Joe Biden himself, as to why Trump "gets the blame" for "this virus".
a "farmer" that Proudly wears a Union Local shirt.....
SURE! he's a farmer! Sure! he voted Trump in 2016!!
It'd be interesting for Biden voters in the Commentariat to post their reasons to vote for old Slow Joe. The key word is "reasons," so "Orange Man Bad" and "I hate Trump" would not pass muster.
Extra bonus for proffering reasons based on public policy, not personal style.
Biden voters of the blog unite! You have nothing to loose but your chains!
1. Trump doesn't want me dead.
2. Is related to 1. I think over the last four years, no one has tried to persuade me not to vote for Trump again. Threats, ridicule, sure, but no one's tried to engage mentally.
Those four reasons look good. I would expand on the last phrase in #4 to include “dissent is not tolerated.”
There are at least two more reasons:
5. Trump’s preCovid accomplishments, military, economy, etc.
6. The Democrat Party is corrupt, corrupts everything it touches, e.g., law enforcement, courts, the media, voting processes, and the base either applauds or doesn’t care.
There is also something warped about a political party whose minions have abandoned the “I vote the issues not the person” mentality and who refuse to discuss politics with family and friends, maybe former friends, because “Orange Man Bad” trump’s everything, no pun intended, particularly in light of the insanity that surrounds us..
You are the new WOKE.
"I don't experience Trump as a bully. He's more: Here I am/ I am what I am/Do you want me?"
Hello. I'm Trump. Is it me you're looking for?
I can see it in your eyes
I can see it in your smile.
You're all I've ever wanted and my arms are open wide
Trump...the Lionel Richie of politicians.
I want the D's to lose and lose big-time. They've behaved atrociously, they refused to accept Trump as President, refused to work with him for the good of the country, tried to impeach him over nothing, refused to vote for his nominees, and have behaved in the rudest, most degusting manner. And the same is true of the Press, which has abandoned any pretense of being objective or truthful when it comes to the President. They've supported riots, looting, and death/injuries because its anti-Trump. They even took CV-19 as a chance to attack trump and not get the facts out to the American people.
You get the feeling that if we had another 911 attack, the press and the Democrats would help the terrorists, just to get at Trump. I'm not joking about that.
I don't want to reward that, under ANY circumstances.
For me, the top reason to vote Trump is he is the only one that I can see that understands America must be a place where young people need the confidence and ability to start and raise a family. If they see no future, there is no future.
Without that everything else falls away.
One of the main reasons I voted for Trump in 2016 was oversight. The media is not giving oversight to Dem candidates - in fact, it just seems to be covering for them (except Fox - which my Democrat friends wouldn't be caught dead watching - so they never know what else is being said outside the usual CNN/MSNBC/Etc group). They dig through Palin's trash and discuss even the most far fetched charges against Republicans, but try to avoid talking about, let alone actually investigating, charges against Dems!
I don't think its safe for democracy to have a media that won't report on, in fact seems to be hiding, misconduct by people in power. Therefore, I can't vote for Dems to be in power.
I caution against reading too much into Ann's expressions here -- she's highly word-oriented, and she took care to employ the subjunctive mode (rather rare in modern usage) "if I WERE", which is often used to indicate "wish contrary to fact". As in, "if I were the King of the forest..."
Just saying, don't take this as some outright expression of true intent.
Before Cv-19 Trump gave us the best economy in 20 years, with record low unemployment. There's no reason he can't do it again, after we stop the lockdown. He's also stood up against the rioters and anti-American violence and tried to enforce Immigration laws. where were Biden and the D's? Either supporting the riots and the anti-American statue toppling, or AWOL. Not to mention throwing gas on the racial violence and tension in this country either because they hate the police or they cynically think it will benefit them.
5 - Made progress in peace in the Middle East & Serbia/Kosovo, containing Iran, winding down Iraq & Afghanistan wars
6 - Punished Russia for its meddling in our elections with sanctions, low energy prices, strong military, withdrawal from so-call Paris climate accords and sending arms to Ukraine.
7 - Strong economy with growth in wages, black and hispanic employment, and stock market.
The list, for me, is quite long. As a non-Trump supporter and voter in 2016 I have transformed into an ardent supporter and will vote for him this time around - even if it makes no difference here in my new home state of Maine. The biggest factor causing this change in me is the Left's (Democrats and media) relentless, inappropriate, false, and unhinged attacks on the guy and his administration. As a lifelong Boston, MA guy (until three months ago) I am naturally put off by New Yorkers, and especially the sort of bombastic self-promoter that Trump is. In his time in office he has produced many good things for America and Americans - no new foreign entanglements, improvements in foreign relationships - especially those that were previously strained, the economy, his handling of the pandemic crisis, and so on.
I am 100% Trump/Pence in 2020.
“Extortion”?
“Extortion” implies a desire to extract something from the victim based on the wrongful creation or exposure of some illegality; or some demand based on force or threat.
What do Trump-haters want from Trump? Nothing. We expect nothing from him; want nothing from him. We have no deals with Trump anymore. We oppose him; each for our own reasons which most of us can articulate in detail.
My own “deal” with voting for Trump was based on his promise to nominate conservatives to the federal judiciary. Tempered with the hope that he would begin to act presidential once he became President. Of course I also didn’t think Trump would win. And now I feel that Trump betrayed my vote in every other way apart from the judicial selection issue.
It’s Trump, who had the gall to say to those of us Republicans and conservatives who are open about our personal dislike of him. Trump has said, “You have no choice. You have to vote for me.”
Nope. I don’t have to. And I cannot be extorted into voting for Trump.
Last comment. And then we come to Biden. As shown by his pushing the Charlottsville Hoax (look at Biden to bring this up in the debate) and numerous comments since he declared his POTUS candidacy, Biden is a LIAR. You can be nice about it, and say Biden is just senile, but whatever it is, Biden lies constantly.
So when he flip-flops on the issues (he trying to pull back from his radical positions taken during the primaries), is the telling the truth? was he lying then, or is he lying now? I have ZERO confidence, he will tell us the truth as POTUS, or that he will stop Schumer and Pelosi and their radical agenda. Court Packing? Yep. No 2nd Amendment rights? Yep. Open Borders? Yep. Taxing people's 401k? Yep. Endorsing voter fraud and giving 16 y/o's and illegals the vote? Yep. DC/PR made states? Yep.
Ms. Althouse has said many times that the Democrats seem to be tolerating riots in an attempt to make people vote against Trump in hopes that then they'll stop.
*tolerating
There are so many reasons to vote for Trump over the dementia Biden but, Ann, your reasons are reason enough!!
For me it is the language - the cancelling of even the slightest defensive argument or logically questioning. Not understanding what words mean. For example, saying the word "niggardly" is racist. It is not, it is an old word. Calling everyone fascist, Hitler, Nazi, genocide for the slightest things. It minimizes true evil and true horrors.
For me it is the language - the cancelling of even the slightest defensive argument or logically questioning. Not understanding what words mean. For example, saying the word "niggardly" is racist. It is not, it is an old word. Calling everyone fascist, Hitler, Nazi, genocide for the slightest things. It minimizes true evil and true horrors.
It is a mistake to think of the race as Trump vs. Biden.
It is Trump vs the Democrat establishment.
Biden has been a professional bullshitter and nice guy for his 47 years in politics. Even if he is an obvious grifter, people like him. Even if he is in the early stages of dementia, people feel sorry for him.
However, if you vote for the demented nice guy, you will be getting the DNC to run your life now and forever.
Choose wisely.
If I had to name ONE reason to vote for Trump, I would say: Trump solves problems.
We have lived with the same problems for 50 years and they are never remedied by anyone we elect.
Until Trump.
He fixes things.
I like that.
""I instinctively resist bullying."/As a reason to vote FOR Trump?"
Point to us on this doll where the Bad Orange Man touched you.
More seriously, give us an example of someone Trump "bullied" who didn't attack Trump first.
Number three is a pretty fair characterization of Biden as he is now.
The Historic Biden no longer exists, and is not running.
100% to #4 as well.
“Science is the belief in the ignorance of experts. When someone says ‘science teaches such and such’, he is using the word incorrectly. Science doesn’t teach it; experience teaches it” Richard Feynman, "The Pleasure of Finding Things Out"
If I had to name ONE reason to vote for Trump, I would say: Trump solves problems.
We have lived with the same problems for 50 years and they are never remedied by anyone we elect.
Until Trump.
He fixes things.
I like that.
Joe Biden! He’s the only logical choice for 2020. He can fix the racial divide and solve the C-19 Crisis.
He didn’t do shit for almost 50 years (except line his family’s pockets), but TRUST HIM, he can get this all fixed.
Q: How, exactly?
A: C’mon man!
Ok that’s a Lid!
Defeated ISIS. I had forgotten that. There are perks that come with having the media on your side. I don't know for sure, but I think it's entirely possible that under Trump we have had the fewest number of military casualties in the last twenty years. If this statement is true, then congratulations to the media for having kept it under wraps.....The media in all its branches--news, entertainment, music, and now sports--is a special interest group with special perks, exceptional wealth, and overt biases. We should work to limit the influence of special interest groups on American elections.
Left Bank of the Charles said...
"I instinctively resist bullying."
As a reason to vote FOR Trump?
The only people who see Trump as a bully are enemies of freedom like you.
The masks are completely off at this point.
People who still say Trump is a Russian agent are evil.
Trump bullies the politicians who (try to) bully him. But that's what politics is. Because the democrats are by their nature bullies, they have found a bigger bully they cannot placate, so are taking it out on the people.
And reason #5, getting our economy back on its feet after COVID-19 will require a grasp of economics, which is something no Democrat possesses.
Well how 'bout this. We've been told that a President needs to be ready for that 3AM phone call. Biden - he of the mid morning "lid" on campaign activities - might have trouble with one at 3PM.
Pac
The "Vote for us or the riots will be even worse" is indeed extortion, but it's the lesser of two.
The much more threatening one is "Vote for us or we will keep you and the economy locked down."
It's not a coincidence that Dem governors are generally in favor of continuing "Covid 19" restrictions, and Republican governors are generally in favor of reopening their states as fast as possible.
The D's see a political advantage in a weak economy.
They believe that they can miraculously flip a switch and restart it the day after Joe Biden wins.
"The Trump haters have gone so big for so long that it feels like extortion."
It IS extortion. Conscious extortion. I wouldn't vote for these people if my life depended upon it.
"“Extortion”?
“Extortion” implies a desire to extract something from the victim based on the wrongful creation or exposure of some illegality; or some demand based on force or threat.
What do Trump-haters want from Trump?"
Trump isn't the target of the extortion. The rest of us are.
>>You get the feeling that if we had another 911 attack, the press and the Democrats would help the terrorists, just to get at Trump. I'm not joking about that.
Why would anyone think you are joking?
The New York Times had a decision to make, and they decided to help terrorists. They exposed the Terrorist Finance Tracking Program that told terrorists how the US was using the SWIFT network to identify and capture Al Queda operatives.
My primary motivation for voting for Trump is this:
"Don't give the pricks the satisfaction."
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4sLIMmmjh_U
1. For the first time this century, we aren't bombing anyone, and he has a middle east peace plan that seems to be working.
2. His policies cover the gamut from center left to center right. He may be the only classically liberal president in my lifetime (b. 1964).
Traditionally left of center policies include trade protection through tariffs, controlling immigration, permanently funding TBCU's, and fighting the criminalization of homosexuality globally. These policies protect working class jobs and the dispossessed and Trump has done them with great skill.
Traditionally right of center policies include deregulating business, reducing corporate tax rates and building a strong military.
Governing across the political spectrum is a tremendous accomplishment, and he's been able to do it because he isn't an ideologue and he isn't beholden to any special interest -- he just loves America and Americans. In 1990, he could have won as a Democrat.
What LilyBart said. If there were Journalists out there who hounded and hectored Democrats as often as they hound Trump, I'd be more inclined to consider Biden. I fear that a Biden Presidency will be watched over by an incurious Press.
No.
---Trump solves problems. [SoTheBlondSays]
Does he ever. This guy is an executive. What a treat to have one serving as the nation's Executive officer. Eisenhower probably was one, also, but I was too young to remember. Reagan was a good executive. But this man is a born executive -- not a lawyer, spinning words, like the vast majority of the Representative legislators. And not a pointless windbag, like most of the Senators.
For me, the key reasons is that the Trump administration regards China as an "opponent." Biden said just last week that he regards China as a "competitor."
When your "competitor" turns to genocide, you're no longer playing a game you can lose.
I don't experience Trump as a bully. He's more: Here I am/ I am what I am/Do you want me?
Trump never gave himself the power to determine who's black.
SoTheBlondSays said:
If I had to name ONE reason to vote for Trump, I would say: Trump solves problems.
We have lived with the same problems for 50 years and they are never remedied by anyone we elect.
Until Trump.
He fixes things.
I like that.
BRAVO!
Democrats, like China. are ASSHOE.
A vote for Biden simply means that the sun will never come up again. We will plunge into eternal darkness. For real!
This!!
After every state is forced to adopt California's power generating policies.
For me, it's two reasons:
#1. Policy: Deregulation, tax cuts, good judges, clear-headed foreign policy (like stopping the Obama era pussyfooting around with ISIS).
#2. Governance: The elites in media, government bureaucracy and academia have failure all around them and have been abusing the power they shouldn't even have. Trump represents electoral accountability and at least a partial purge of institutional rot.
Wait a minute, haven't you declared several of Biden's statements as "disqualifying?" So are you here deciding between voting for Trump and not voting for anyone?
Francisco D said...
It is a mistake to think of the race as Trump vs. Biden.
It is Trump vs the Democrat establishment.
This is the point of Codevilla's essay. The rich and anonymous, like the funders of Antifa, want to run things for their own benefit. This is class warfare.
It's good to be insulated from the economy.
Left Bank of the Charles said...
"I instinctively resist bullying."
As a reason to vote FOR Trump?
Yes Charlie.
You don't see Trump, or Trump supporters, out burning down cities while demanding that their political agenda be advanced.
Trump goes after people who go after him. The Left goes after everyone
Wince said...
The one heuristic that has guided my analysis of the election so far is that 2016 Trump voters aren't likely switch to Biden, whereas some Hillary votes are up for grabs.
Cue the Biden ad that tries to breathe life into the opposite.
Western Pennsylvania farmer offers this explanation, as befuddling as Joe Biden himself, as to why Trump "gets the blame" for "this virus".
Huh?
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has anybody interviewed that farmer to ask if he approved the edited clip and paste?
LLR-lefty Chuck: "My own “deal” with voting for Trump ...."
This is a continuing transparent and amusing lie. You never voted for Trump.
You are currently in full explicit support of the marxist dems and all their policies (as is the Bulwark which announced they would continue to support all democrats and all their programs even after Trump is gone in 2020 or 2024) and its, lets say, highly "unlikely" you just migrated to that position after the election of Trump.
You made a very big mistake at Althouse getting drunk and admitting your real purposes here and there is no getting that Mobying genie back into the bottle now.
But I do have to admit its fun watching you continue to pretend to be a "conservative" long, long, long after you've completely blown up that faux online persona.
Your usefulness as a lefty troll here has been permanently damaged so your time would be better spent with your lefty pals down at democrat party headquarters as you guys plot to steal the election with your mail-in vote fraud.
"4. The Democrats pressure us to follow orders from experts, not to understand the evidence and analysis."
This point is so well put and so important. Seems like it was a big part of the original Progressive movement (put well-trained, science-based "experts" in charge of various facets of life).
It's true many of us "peasants" think and behave like children (all across the spectrum). But not all of us are like that, and it is grossly arrogant for the "wise guys" to think they are smart enough to treat us all like children. Totally undemocratic.
He has successfully interrupted the flow of graft in Washington DC.
He has shown us who the real grifters are.
Browndog said...
For me, the top reason to vote Trump is he is the only one that I can see that understands America must be a place where young people need the confidence and ability to start and raise a family. If they see no future, there is no future.
Without that everything else falls away.
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USA will resemble as Palestine under PLO Arafat, Abbas, HAMAS etc
And Democrats were thoroughly behind the Russia Collusion travesty which is starting to unravel at the FBI right now. It has a very good chance of ending up in the Obama oval office with Susan Rice and Joe Biden present.
There is a very serious reason why Democrats NEED to have Trump defeated in November. There are major reputations and lives on the line. Not to mention a bright light on an actual coup attempt would not be a good look. Not for Obama. Not for any of the Democrats and Media who pushed this scenario.
For this reason as much as anything else, I'll vote for Trump. This investigation needs to get completed. All the way.
Oso Negro said...
Angelo Codevilla’s latest essay on the state of affairs suggests it doesn’t really matter.
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link please!
oso negro said...angelo codevilla’s latest essay on the state of affairs
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is this it?
@Michael K - it was indeed an excellent essay. I meant “it doesn’t matter” in the sense that whoever wins, the country is in deep trouble. It’s my personal belief that the best outcome is a Trump blowout. But that’s only enough to slow down the issues that Codevilla articulates. I spent an hour this morning after reading that essay wondering if I should divest all my property in the USA for good and relocate overseas permanently.
I'd have hoped for the instability of feelings in running national policy would be in there, at the top of the list.
I watched the words "I hate George Bush" become main stream in the early 2000's. Even though people always hated Presidents they didn't like, W was the first one for whom it became acceptable to say it out loud and often "I HATE him".
I watched friends and media treat Obama as though nothing he did could ever be wrong and to question even the slightest thing he did was to incur bullying and even hatred upon yourself. I had defended Obama when I thought he was right, but a post on FB about his inappropriate remarks at the time he spoke at a Prayer Breakfast earned me my first ever unfriendings. 7 "friends" cursed me and left, nowhere in proportion to my mild disapproval. I was called a racist. A racist. That was always the default position of Obama voters, fans, and media. In no way could rational conversation ever happen.
I view the President as an employee. The nice guy in a suit that everybody around the world likes and gives off nice vibes so we can sit and think, at least everyone like us can be a nice bedtime reassurance. But I agree with the poster above who quoted Lincoln needing and keeping the uncouth Grant. "He fights." Only Donald Trump is the fighter this country needs to survive and thrive in today's world. Anyone thinking different is a head-in-the-sand, backwards-looking, wishing-life-was-like-old-days, reality-denying, fearful and confused wanderer.
Voters decided what they wanted in 2016. The Democratic party refused to accept what the voters decided in 2016. The Democratic party has basically become the largest hate group in the nation. So the voters will have to repeat themselves in 2020 - once more, with feeling.
The ultimate bullying embodiment is antifa nazi brownshirt thuggery.
that's D-party, man.
Your reason number 4 is my reason number 1. I am old enough to remember when the Republicans were the evil, fascist, corporatist vermin who wanted to control everyone's lives. Boy, those were the days!
My primary reason to vote for Trump may be more personal and selfish. Biden and the Democrats have pledged to repeal the Trump tax cuts, in order to make the rich pay their fair share. Which we all know is BS since the really rich in this country are more likely to vote for Biden over Trump. The reality is that the really rich, who run the Dem party with all their money, want their unlimited SALT deduction back, paid for by the middle class, who got big tax breaks under Trump’s Tax Cuts, partially funded by the SALT deduction cap. I am in that demographic - I don’t pay nearly enough in state and local taxes to exceed the SALT deduction cap. Indeed, it hasn’t been worth it until maybe this year to even itemize. But the tax cuts have benefitted me and my brothers immensely. Dividends are up a lot because our corporate taxes are down. And we can efficiently proceed towards a Sub-S conversion, by paying out retained earnings, as even more dividends. We can probably get to that point (Sub-S election) by the time that Trump leaves office in 4 years, if he wins re-election.
Oh, and repealing the Trump Tax Cuts, as the Dems are panting so heavily to do, almost assuredly will force our economy into a steep recession. We should probably have entered a recession several years ago. We didn’t, because fiscal mismanagement was so bad under Obama that our recovery from the inevitable crash that followed him into office was so anemic. Worst recovery since FDR’s Great Depression, for the same reasons - brain dead government policies by Dem politicians. I doubt that the recovery would have outlasted Trump’s first term, except for his tax cuts. Another bullet missed by denying Crooked Hillary the Presidency.
An intriguing thought - economies in a number of Red States seem to be roaring back. Could this mean that the COVID-19 caused economic contraction was sufficient to wring out a lot of the economic inefficiencies that are at least partially responsible for recessions?
"He kept us out of war!" LOL
Pray we don't have a Great War to intervene in. I really do want Trump to get through four more years without one. Just to show it can be done.
It’s Trump, who had the gall to say to those of us Republicans and conservatives who are open about our personal dislike of him. Trump has said, “You have no choice. You have to vote for me.”
Well, you don’t have to. If your personal jealousy over Trump’s many successes influences you more than the country’s well-being, no-one can or will force you to vote for Trump.
Your pride over this small-mindedness is bizarre, though.
D.D. Driver said...
"The reasons why I am unlikely to vote Trump are the same reason I didn't vote for Obama: deficits; overreaching executive authoritarianism (e.g., national eviction ban using the CDC); and too much corruption, graft, and boondoggle (Foxconn, Kodak, TikTik/Oracle instead of Solyndra)."
Ah. So your plan is to write-in the Dalai Lama? I don't think he's eligible.
“ And Democrats were thoroughly behind the Russia Collusion travesty which is starting to unravel at the FBI right now. It has a very good chance of ending up in the Obama oval office with Susan Rice and Joe Biden present. “
“There is a very serious reason why Democrats NEED to have Trump defeated in November. There are major reputations and lives on the line. Not to mention a bright light on an actual coup attempt would not be a good look. Not for Obama. Not for any of the Democrats and Media who pushed this scenario. “
I think that is part of the desperation. We have learned in the last week that Andrew Weissman (who attended Crooked Hillary’s expected personal victory celebration election night 4 years ago) was the DOJ attorney who prevented her illegal use of her private email server for official business, from being competently investigated. He was apparently the one who blocked subpoenas for her server etc. Also, just filed in the Flynn case was the interview of the lead FBI agent (under Strzok) in the Crossfire Razor investigation of Flynn. He was the one who first suggested interviewing Flynn, but was subsequently cut out of it by top management (McCabe, etc). He moved with that investigation to the Mueller SC investigation, which he called prosecutor driven, instead of FBI investigator driven, as is almost always the case. Under Mueller, the FBI agents were merely gofers, doing the biddings of the prosecutors (all Democrats, deep into TDS). The lawyers would fill out warrant applications, for the FBI agents to sign, instead of the other way around.
Interestingly, the FBI appears to have been mostly cut out of the investigation into the conspiracy and organization behind the BLM and AntiFA riots, looting, and arsons. The lead appears to be with Homeland Security, with extra muscle provided by the US Marshals. That would have been the FBI in the lead in the past. I found it interesting that they were using Stingray devices (though no one called them that) to clone BLM and AntiFA phones, despite those devices being traditionally an FBI tool. The agency appears to be seriously compromised, and I expect Dir Wray to be pushed out after the election if Trump wins or maybe even if he loses.
Dr. Althouse: The Democrats pressure us to follow orders from experts, not to understand the evidence and analysis. When it comes to questions involving race and gender — which seem to be all questions nowadays — they impose an ideological template about how human mind works without regard for any scientific method of analysis. I'm afraid of this irrationality presented as lofty learning, especially as it comes with a demand that we shut up and take orders.
"Akin to, and largely responsible for the sweeping changes in our industrial-military posture, has been the technological revolution during recent decades.
In this revolution, research has become central, it also becomes more formalized, complex, and costly. A steadily increasing share is conducted for, by, or at the direction of, the Federal government.
Today, the solitary inventor, tinkering in his shop, has been overshadowed by task forces of scientists in laboratories and testing fields. In the same fashion, the free university, historically the fountainhead of free ideas and scientific discovery, has experienced a revolution in the conduct of research. Partly because of the huge costs involved, a government contract becomes virtually a substitute for intellectual curiosity. For every old blackboard there are now hundreds of new electronic computers.
The prospect of domination of the nation's scholars by Federal employment, project allocations, and the power of money is ever present – and is gravely to be regarded.
Yet, in holding scientific research and discovery in respect, as we should, we must also be alert to the equal and opposite danger that public policy could itself become the captive of a scientific-technological elite." — President Dwight D. Eisenhower, "Farewell Address to the Nation"
Someone already linked to Kim Strassel's list of questions in the WSJ. I'll repeat one here. Wouldn't it be refreshing if someone from the Press asked Biden this question. It's important to know the answer! (I wouldn't ask the last question, though, that gives Biden an out to say 'no' and to move on)
The FBI spent 2016-17 investigating a GOP political campaign, using tactics that were condemned by the Justice Department inspector general and are now the subject of a U.S. attorney’s investigation. How briefed was Vice President Biden on this probe? Why did he personally unmask Mike Flynn? Does he agree with the inspector general that these tactics were wrong? Should the public fear a Biden FBI will also investigate Mr. Biden’s political opponents?
Codevilla's latest essay is rather less well written than his usual.
But it makes his points well regardless. Its Codevilla's way of saying that this election is, again, a "flight 93" . Trends are coming to a head.
The other points and premises are in his other essays.
In re parties, per Codevilla, and I agree, it is the wrong way to see this conflict. Parties are near irrelevant, incidental, and describe too little. The conflict is between classes in his view. I like castes better, as even social classes, usually defined by wealth alone, are split.
"I instinctively resist bullying."
As a reason to vote FOR Trump?
Punching back isn't bullying.
Respect.
Biden is demonstrably unfit to perform the office. This has nothing to do with policy or politics, but the simple physical and mental capacity to perform the role. The fact that he is effectively checking out of his own campaign for days at a time, seemingly at random simply disqualifies him. The 3AM phone call test falls very flat if they don't even bother to pick up the phone. If this results in others running things then the entire idea of an election choice is revealed to be a farce.
But Biden's behavior is being well witnessed abroad. I've watched far too many foreign TV segments reacting in bewilderment to Biden's behavior, the butt of jokes. Expanding on that to a 4 year term of a cipher President. Diplomacy, negotiations, trade policy, conflict - if there is no real ultimate authority, then that will degrade the US's standing on a grand scale. With no one to ultimately respect, to speak for US policy at the highest level...we toy with Chaos.
Let's say we invoke the 25th and elevate Harris, what does that say about our society abroad, the caliber of person we choose to entrust with power? If a mental incompetent gains the Office, it will say nothing good to all our enemies, and far too many of our friends.
Blogger Temujin said..."And Democrats were thoroughly behind the Russia Collusion travesty which is starting to unravel at the FBI right now. It has a very good chance of ending up in the Obama oval office with Susan Rice and Joe Biden present.
There is a very serious reason why Democrats NEED to have Trump defeated in November. There are major reputations and lives on the line. Not to mention a bright light on an actual coup attempt would not be a good look. Not for Obama. Not for any of the Democrats and Media who pushed this scenario.
For this reason as much as anything else, I'll vote for Trump. This investigation needs to get completed. All the way."
Scott Adams today on why the Democrat establishments has installed such an incompetent candidate; Biden was in on the coup and can be trusted to bury it.
And yes, completing the investigation is high on my list too.
I am a single issue voter: China
If trump was weak on china, I'd probably sit this one out or vote for Biden if he showed that he understood the china threat.
Codevilla essay
HE IS BUILDING THE WALL! A HALT TO THE DISMAL TIDE!
The corruption (READ: stealing money) of the Obama Administration is the reason for the CIA/FBI/DOJ coverup.
Period.
Full stop.
That bunch laundered more money than they could spend.
And that justifies all the criminal behavior since.
Politics and power, sure, that played a role.
But it was the trappings if power that they put their hands on.
No proof will likely ever be uncovered.
But I find it hard to believe that any other excuse fits the known facts as well.
Greed.
"The [FBI] appears to be seriously compromised, and I expect Dir Wray to be pushed out after the election if Trump wins or maybe even if he loses."
Wray's appointment has been a Sessions-level mistake. He needs to be shown the door.
"But Biden's behavior is being well witnessed abroad. I've watched far too many foreign TV segments reacting in bewilderment to Biden's behavior, the butt of jokes. Expanding on that to a 4 year term of a cipher President. Diplomacy, negotiations, trade policy, conflict - if there is no real ultimate authority, then that will degrade the US's standing on a grand scale. With no one to ultimately respect, to speak for US policy at the highest level...we toy with Chaos."
I've watched some Aussie news pieces that have been just brutal.
The agency appears to be seriously compromised, and I expect Dir Wray to be pushed out after the election if Trump wins or maybe even if he loses.
I could see the FBI being largely dismantled if Trump wins. Turn the usable parts over to the Marshall's Service. Remember the role in the movie "The Fugitive."
The CIA also needs a close haircut, maybe to bone.
Chuck: We expect nothing from him; want nothing from him. We have no deals with Trump anymore.
Did you give up on him testifying on bank fraud in the Stormy Daniels matter? You were so sure that that was going to do him in.
If you can't vote for Trump, vote against the Democratic ticket; that's what I did last time.
Glad to see several of you referenced Angelo Codevilla's latest essay, "Revolution 2020". I read that first thing this morning when I got up. It brings together a number of ideas that he, Michael Anton, and Joel Kotkin have discussed over the past 3 months or so. I think it is the most important essay anyone has written this year. I wish it were possible to get everyone to read it before the election.
Pray we don't have a Great War to intervene in. I really do want Trump to get through four more years without one. Just to show it can be done
We're at war. With China. We have been for decades. It's just that Trump follows Sun Tzu. And is battling on the ground that we can win on. Trade.
We have the greatest military ever assembled. But its useless for what we need to achieve in the current war. Trump sees that. Bush did not. He's battling the war with our other great asset. Trade. Innovation. Alliances.
China is battling it with our weaknesses, media propaganda, political corruption, and bullying weaker countries (and arguably, viral outbreaks).
The war will continue. Or we will lose. Trump is trying to keep it bloodless. Biden is just trying to give up. Trump is winning.
John Marzan said... "... vote for Biden if he showed that he understood the china threat."
Joe Biden is the China threat.
A vote for Biden is really a vote for Kamala! She is just a Hillary Clinton of color!
Chuck!
Got that Harris/Biden sticker on your car?
Chuck said...
It’s Trump, who had the gall to say to those of us Republicans and conservatives who are open about our personal dislike of him. Trump has said, “You have no choice. You have to vote for me.”
Are you an emo 12 year old, or ar you an adult with political beliefs (or are you a lying hack leftie)
Trump advances my political agenda. If he doesn't advance yours, it's because you are neither a Republican, nor a conservative.
If Trump advances your political agenda, but you won't vote for him because he hurt your feelings, you're pathetic
Otherwise, you're just a lying lefties pretending to be a republican
Over this past week, I had a chance to watch 10 videos of "Joe Biden" giving speeches and interviews. I was astonished by his many incoherent answers on all 10 events. Which tells me that "Joe Biden" has some serious health issues. What I don't understand is why the Democrats have stuck with him for so long? 2 videos where as far back as late 2019. It almost seems like the Democrats want to lose! After watching these videos - there's no way I would vote for "Biden".
Can anyone comment on this Democratic snafu of historical proportions. And I don't buy the Democrats setting the stage for Harris. That's pure B.S., she didn't do sh*t during the primaries and her personal poll numbers are horrific - which just further adds to my disbelief. Why'll I always thought the Republicans where dumb pumpkins until Trump came along. Maybe now it's the Democrats time to be "dumb pumpkins". The Democratic leadership sure doesn't give me much confidence. I know - politicians!
walter" "Chuck! Got that Harris/Biden sticker on your car?"
LLR-lefty Chuck might not have room for a Harris/biden sticker since he has yet to remove his "Hillary!", "Whitmer!" and "NPR Supporter" stickers to make room.
walter" "Chuck! Got that Harris/Biden sticker on your car?"
LLR-lefty Chuck might not have room for a Harris/biden sticker since he has yet to remove his "Hillary!", "Whitmer!" and "NPR Supporter" stickers to make room.
walter" "Chuck! Got that Harris/Biden sticker on your car?"
LLR-lefty Chuck might not have room for a Harris/biden sticker since he has yet to remove his "Hillary!", "Whitmer!" and "NPR Supporter" stickers to make room.
2016 was for independents/undecideds like me a "lesser of two evils choice"
2020 is the same but no as in one person vs another but as in one person vs a party. And what I see and hear from the Dems lately scares the shit out of me.
Another reason: sad to say I've gotten used to the "Trump" noise. And when you get past that and all the left of center but equally "noisy" reaction you realized things were going pretty good. The intervening issue was COVID19 and I don't think anyone, Dem or Rep would have had a meaningfully better reaction.
BUT there is A LOT of Trump disgust and Trump hatred out there.
Brian said..."...We're at war. With China. We have been for decades. It's just that Trump follows Sun Tzu. And is battling on the ground that we can win on. Trade..."
I agree "Trade" and especially stealing of Technology. Without that theft China would collapse - except for 600 million (poor by 3rd world standards) - including its military. May anyway since "Trade" is the instrument which created some semblance of the 'Middle Class'. But I've been advising wealthy Chinese for close to 20 years and the money flowing out of China is at levels I've not seen in my lifetime. The 'Rich' in China are voting!
Support for Biden is support for Antifa and our corrupt press.
Bruce Hayden said:
We should probably have entered a recession several years ago. We didn’t, because fiscal mismanagement was so bad under Obama that our recovery from the inevitable crash that followed him into office was so anemic.
That anemic recovery was a feature, not a bug. It was large enough to keep Obama in office, but not enough to really benefit the country. It allowed him to screw us for eight years instead of only four. If Hillary had won, it would have been a 12-year screw-over.
Number 4 is the best one.
As Brian said, Trade is Trump's preferred method of war. He's used it very effectively against Russia - Sanctions and low energy prices. Same for Iran and North Korea. He uses the military for specific, targeted purposes - taking out Solemani and 300 Russian mercenaries in Syria.
Trump's method of solving the Palestinian problem is reminiscent of how U.S. Grant took Vicksburg. Grant tried 7 times to take Vicksburg by direct assault, all of which failed. Part of this was to keep the troops busy while the Mississippi River dropped navigable levels. After he could move his armies below Vicksburg, he crossed the river, cut loose from his base of supplies and attacked the Jackson, a rail hub and capital of Mississippi. He defeated the two Confederate field armies in separate engagements and forced the Pemberton's army back into Vicksburg. Grant laid siege to Vicksburg. Pemberton surrendered on July 4.
Trump is doing the same - make peace with the surrounding countries and then lay siege to the Palestinian's support structures until they are figuratively starved out and sue for peace with Isreal.
As pointed out earlier--by me among others--Ann sent a strong signal who she will vote for when she bought a gun.
A leftie writes "We expect nothing from him; want nothing from him." That is an obvious and blatant lie. In fact you all want everything from Trump. You quite obviously want him to die a slow and painful death, preferably a public and totally humiliating death, e.g. from tertiary syphilis. You are unlikely to get your wish: Trump's family loves him enough to help him retire to a well-deserved and private retirement if he ever finds himself unable to handle his presidential duties.
All four of those "reasons" scream that AA is still open to voting for Biden, even after all her posts coming to the realization that Biden and today's Dems and the whole of the left are bent on the utter destruction of the country.
The Number One reason to vote for Trump is to stop Biden and the Dems -- a reason that supersedes even utter personal contempt and hate of Trump himself.
The Democrats must be stopped at all costs. The fact that Trump has actually accomplished some good and great things is bonus.
Trump is a bully only to the insecure.
How about two reasons not to vote FOR Joe Biden?
1) His son made millions raffling off access to his dad when pop was "only" the vice president and nominally in charge of foreign policy in China and Ukraine.
2) He never once has seemed to tell his loser kid to knock it off, even as news reports tell us that fine, upstanding allies like China and Iran are agitating for Biden's election.
We can go on and on about how Joe's half-century at the federal trough has enriched three generations of his relatives. But leave all that aside. Even if you despise Trump, and often I do, these two points are reasons enough not to vote for the latest cynically chosen Democratic presidential candidate -- a squish?, a potted plant? -- this year.
"None of the above," my frequent default, looks a courageous vote by comparison.
My primary reason to vote for Trump is that I want to restore a functioning two-party system of governance in this country.
Our constitutional system evolved to work in an environment in which two sides contended for control, but whichever side gained control at a particular time knew it needed the cooperation of the other side -- or at least its acquiesence -- to govern effectively (this was true to some extent even in the 1930's). The Democratic Party became so polarized during the Obama Administration that it was unable to cooperate with a Republican President who succeeded Obama. Yes, sure, Trump was more confrontational than a "moderate" Republican (say Jeb Bush) would have been, but if Jeb had won in 2016 (unlikely) the people in control of the Democratic Party would no more have cooperated with him than they did with Trump. Those who now control the Democratic Party are unable even to criticize rioters, arsonists, and insurrectionists. Trump (unpleasant as he often is) must be re-elected, and the Republicans need to elected to control of the House and Senate -- even if you have to hold your nose and vote for some Republican squish. The alternative is a government dominated by the likes of Pelosi, Harris, Schumer, Nadler, etc.
Jupiter said...
"Ah. So your plan is to write-in the Dalai Lama? I don't think he's eligible.
F#5k No! I'm pretty sure he is a Marxist or crypto-Marxist.
But, I'm (probably) not going to vote for Trump or Biden.
So except for number one, which is unlikely to need repeating, your vote would have nothing to do with merit, performance or actually getting things done. You seem to be voting for a symbol or a message, but the Presidency is an actual job with incredible responsibilities and power. It sounds like you either forgot that or don't care, which makes you opinion kind of trivial. Just flip a coin. It's not like you are picking someone to paint your house or something.
D.D. Driver said...
My top two reasons why I would consider Trump:
Oh who are you kidding, you'll vote Biden like you always planned. I hope this time it tastes like pineapple because it's going to be quite a mouthful.
Here's a substantive reason you should vote for all Republicans this year and for some time to come (this may tie in with your reasons #2 and especially #4):
The Democrats are in colossal need of reform. Only defeat will encourage this. They need to take the body blow of an epic loss and realize that their product is bad, not just their marketing.
Or those who can must do so, and there must be resolved the simmering internecine conflict between the relative "moderate" and "radical" elements of the Party. The, arguendo, Clinton-Pelosi-Obama(?) wing must defeat, perhaps even purge if one may use the word, the Sanders-Squad-Antifa wing.
Or vice versa.
This will not happen in the wake of a D victory. Enough graft of power and money will oil the waters, make everyone happy, and paper over the differences some more.
While resuming the drowning of the Republic, which only PDT's election interrupted, in an overflowing chamberpot.
If the Ds really listen and improve, they may recover by 2024. If not, surely 2028. By which time the Republic may be saved once more, if the Ds suppress those who want the opposite. Right now they don't want a Constitutional Republic a la the Founding Fathers (ooh, patriarchy!), they want a Democratic or People's Republic a la China or North Korea.
Your #3 re Biden - he's just a figurehead. You're voting, if so, for D-Legion. D-Blob. D-Trust Us. You will never know who is making decisions in a Biden or a Harris administration.
Your #1 - PDT has many other positive accomplishments and will achieve many more, if allowed. It's not accidental - you would not have the peace movement in the Middle East, for instance, minus the achievements against ISIS, against Iraq, and against Russia and China.
Biden/Legion won't do this. He can't. They don't want to.
D.D. Driver said...
Jupiter said...
"Ah. So your plan is to write-in the Dalai Lama? I don't think he's eligible.
F#5k No! I'm pretty sure he is a Marxist or crypto-Marxist.
But, I'm (probably) not going to vote for Trump or Biden.
9/25/20, 10:31 PM
Your rationale against PDT is beyond tedious, but at least you don't appear to be considering voting D. I would therefore let you be, but in my opinion the defeat of the D entity is so crucial to any hope of the free country we remember that it is necessary for you to support the President. As he himself plays at his rallies:
You can't always get what you want
But if you try sometimes
You just might find
You get what you need
We need PDT. We need to defeat the D.
In my humble opinion there is no alternative.
Even if you are in a "safe state" the nature of the propaganda war waged against the Republic makes every tally in the popular vote column more crucial.
Please don't not vote. Please do vote for the reelection of President Trump.
Those are all good reasons for voting for Trump. Do you have any good reasons for voting for Biden?
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